#KY #CA California extending travel ban to include Kentucky

The Earth Equality Alliance, Kentucky Equality Federation, and Marriage Equality Kentucky (an alliance of more than eight (8) organizations with a common spokesperson and unifying secretary-general) today commented on the California Attorney General adding the Commonwealth of Kentucky to its travel ban.

After the passage of Kentucky Senate Bill 17, Kentucky Equality Federation promised to sue should a student suffer from discrimination as a result of the law, as reported by the Lexington Herald-Leader.

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CONTACT:
Dillan Marsh, Executive Director
Secretary General Jordan Palmer's Office of Special Affairs
PH: (502) 219-2533
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"Fanatics are now trying to turn religious freedom into a license to discriminate and it will not be tolerated,” stated Secretary-General Jordan Palmer.

“Kentucky Equality Federation and its attorneys have never lost a lawsuit, from NKU, Hazard, to the Warren County Detention Center to striking down Kentucky’s same-sex marriage ban by a Kentucky judge. We are eager to sink our teeth into what fanatics are twisting as so-called religious freedom. Perhaps it is the religious belief of someone to sell they're first born female child into slavery, but that person would also be convicted of a criminal act and this is much the same.

The freedom of religion gives you permission to worship as you see fit as per the constitution of this Commonwealth. If someone believes that isn't the definition of religious freedom, then they do not understand the meaning of it. But, religious freedom is commonly understood.

No law may supersede the Constitution, even with a ballot outcome (see Kentucky Equality Federation v. Governor Steve Beshear)."

Section V of the Commonwealth's Constitution states (bold emphases added):

No preference shall ever be given by law to any religious sect, society or denomination; nor to any particular creed, mode of worship or system of ecclesiastical polity; nor shall any person be compelled to attend any place of worship, to contribute to the erection or maintenance of any such place, or to the salary or support of any minister of religion; nor shall any man be compelled to send his child to any school to which he may be conscientiously opposed; and the civil rights, privileges or capacities of no person shall be taken away, or in anywise diminished or enlarged, on account of his belief or disbelief of any religious tenet, dogma or teaching. No human authority shall, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience.

Palmer continued: “The Kentucky Constitution guarantees freedom of religion as intended, that neither the commonwealth nor any power shared with the federal government, shall ever force a religious belief on its citizens or force them to attend any particular religious services.”

The travel ban was first put into effect January 1 when state measure AB 1887 became law. The law says California is "a leader in protecting civil rights and preventing discrimination" and should not support or finance "discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people."

The California travel ban included Tennessee, North Carolina, Mississippi and Kansas, and now included Alabama, Kentucky, and Texas.

This will also have a great impact on sports.

Condemnation of Black Youth Project Statements: "Keep your white friends and partners away from Black Pride events," and "When white people enter a space, anti-Blackness always does too"

SPECIAL STATEMENT
SECRETARY-GENERAL JORDAN PALMER

Condemnation of Black Youth Project Statements: "Keep your white friends and partners away from Black Pride events," and "When white people enter a space, anti-Blackness always does too"

LEXINGTON, KY -- #Pride #AllLivesMatter #DefendEquality The Kentucky Equality Federation, the American Federation of NGO’s, and their member organizations recognize the renewed energy of activists in the Trump era, but we must act with tact and skill and resist a relapse to what Trump represents, especially to the LGBTI, Black, Latino communities and Women. Additionally, we will not permit so-called Right Wing ‘Christian’ fundamentalism to conquer and divide us. We shall stand tall and walk tall, united in love and friendship, that is the biggest threat we represent to the current era, but we shall not falter, we will prevail. Love and friendship are stronger than hate and prejudice.

However, we must strongly condemn the recent Black Youth Project communication titled “Keep your white friends and partners away from Black Pride events,” and “When white people enter a space, anti-Blackness always does too,” and they call for segregationism and racism in the LGBTI community and the same between White and Black America.

The use of the word queer is also condemned and vehemently rejected, by the brain fart organization (credit to Bruce A. Dixon of the Black Agenda Report for the use of the name ‘Brain Fart’ when describing this organization) and its sub-units; I am not a queer nor a fag, but I am gay.

The statements of Hari Zared and the parent, Black Youth Project 100 (BYP100) a non-government organization (NGO) identified as being part of, or the power behind, #BlackLivesMatter.

In the published articles, the Black Youth Project dismisses #jurisprudence, coalition building with other communities, and is constantly bombarding our Black youth with anti-Black articles, pictures, and opinions attempting to ‘conquer and divide.’

The true mentality of these articles is pure racism, bigotry, and hate.

Additionally, I will attend whatever events I so desire. The information these organizations are bombarding our youth with is an offense to individual rights, with delusions of being politically correct or remotely accurate.

LGBTI pride belongs to all members of the community, including our Black family. We must continue to pursue acceptance within our efforts, rather than seeking to segregate them. It is unthinkable that this brain fart organization and its subunits would seek to divide the community, down to individual partners and relationships, using racism as a weapon.

This year, the broader LGBTI community finds itself under more pressure and attacks than it has been since the dawn of the marriage equality struggle, nearly two decades ago. Now is a time for us to all stand firmly together. When we divide due to pettiness and prejudice, the forces of inequality and intolerance gain an advantage against all of us.

We will not be shoved back in the closet, and we will most certainly never allow it to be done because of neo-segregationism in our midst. We can overcome with love, but we must do so together and reject the offensive rhetoric of brain fart organizations who teach hatred and racism.

People from all walks of life are welcome at LGBTI pride events, united in love and friendship.

#GayLivesMatter, #AllLivesMatter, #WhiteLivesMatter, #BlackLivesMatter, and to use the Flag of the Races (also called the Flag of the Human Race) #RedLivesMatter, #WhiteLivesMatter, #BrownLivesMatter, #YellowLivesMatter, #BlackLivesMatter. The Flag of the Human Race has five horizontal stripes (from top to bottom they were red, white, brown, yellow, and black). This is said to be the inspiration behind #TheFreedomFlag, also called #NewGlory, and #PrideFlag, created by #GilbertBaker who passed away earlier this year.

Catastrophic Bullying Compliance issues in Kentucky – School Districts have no knowledge of existing Kentucky laws – The Kentucky Department of Education is to blame

The Kentucky Equality Federation is appalled at the lack of administrative education provided by the Kentucky Department of Education on bullying-related topics.

In Clay, Grayson, Jefferson, Kenton, Lincoln, Pulaski, Whitley, and several other counties, we have received alarming reports from guidance counselors, principals, and other school district staff that they have received no briefings or information about complying with years-old Kentucky regulations regarding bullying in public schools. This lack of information is leading to a lack of enforcement of laws that are already in effect.

"These laws were written to protect students," said Kentucky Equality Federation President Joshua Koch. "We hear cries for more legislation from the public, but we know there are laws in effect already. This is an insult to the visionary legislators who have already passed excellent laws to protect Kentucky's children.

“When we confront these local school districts about their lack of enforcement, we are finding an epidemic of knowledge," Koch said. "These districts don't even know Kentucky has these laws. We have laws and continuing education requirements for a reason. They are there to allow and encourage administrative communication, but that only works when the Department of Education understands the law and communicates it to the 120 counties and their school districts. The Kentucky Department of Education should have ensured all school districts in Kentucky enforced existing school bullying laws when the legislation was passed and especially after the first suicide.

"It does no good to lobby for new school bullying legislation when principals and guidance counselors are not ever aware of existing laws. Frankfort can pass new laws indefinitely, but without enforcement and education regarding Kentucky’s existing laws, adding additional laws to the books if futile. Our law has received an A++ rating by a national bullying watchdog group, something we made public and the Family Foundation of Kentucky used to stop new legislation this year. The problem is not a lack of applicable laws. The fundamental crisis is that no one in the education administration in Kentucky seems to know laws exist to confront school bullying. This is a tragedy that is costing lives and damage, and it has already been addressed in detail by the legislature. There is simply no excuse for this negligence. Under existing Kentucky law, all school bullying must be submitted in writing to the principal who must then forward the complaints to the County Attorney for investigation. One County Attorney in Southern Kentucky informed us that so many new laws are passed each year, they struggle to keep-up."

"In recent years, bullying in schools has gotten out of control," stated Attorney Jillian Hall, Kentucky Equality Foundation’s Legal Director. "The legislature has done their part by enacting laws to protect the students, now the Department of Education must accept responsibility and educate teachers and staff on how to put these laws into practice and protect the victims of this behavior. Kentucky Equality Federation is ready to take legal action to ensure this happens. Most of the parents involved want the school districts and the Commonwealth to be sued for damages. However, Kentucky Equality Federation would rather have the cooperation of the Kentucky Department of Education in educating school districts in all 120 Kentucky counties."

Kentucky Equality Federation requests assistance from the Kentucky Department of Education in informing school districts in the Commonwealth about the applicable sections of KRS, especially sections 158 and 525, and any other statutory or administrative laws applicable to anti-bullying reporting and enforcement. The Department of Education has a responsibility to make school districts aware of their duties and authority to confront this problem. Kentucky Equality Federation has started this process in most Eastern, Northern, Southern, Southeastern, and Western Kentucky school districts. Clay and Grayson counties are perhaps the worst; one superintendent closed a meeting when a parent wanted to discuss school bulling after the superintendent received a warning from Kentucky Equality Federation, another completely refused to cooperate though the principals wanted the information and a school bullying impact presentation from Kentucky Equality Federation.

"It is irresponsible of Kentucky's Department of Education to not empower their administrators and instructors with the knowledge and processes affiliated with in-school harassment or bullying,” stated Kentucky Equality Federation Chairman of the Board Brandon Combs. “This same information should also be extended to parents as out-of-school bullying, or harassment, is a criminal offense in the commonwealth of Kentucky. What's worse is the administrative regulation regarding harassment in school has been on the books and available for enforcement for years. This is not an issue where the Department of Education has lacked sufficient time to pass along the information to its personnel. Only when administrators, teachers, and parents are armed with the knowledge and empowered to act will the issue of school bullying in Kentucky finally be put to rest."

This has been an ongoing issue. Kentucky Equality Federation’s former president, Jordan Palmer, publicly warned three school districts about their non-compliance with the law in March (http://community.kyequality.org/2012/03/kentucky-equality-federation-warns.html).

Kentucky Equality Federation founder and board member Jordan Palmer, still on the mend, stated: "Kentucky Equality Federation reiterates that it seeks the assistance of the Department of Education and Kentucky Secretary of Education Joseph U. Meyer in making presentations to these schools and educating the student body for the coming school year. Though additional legislation may be needed to protect youth and prevent suicides, until we discover and resolve the government communications breakdown with existing legislation, we cannot endorse new legislation that could fall by the wayside as "The Golden Rule Act of 1998" has."

Kentucky Equality Federation welcomes new Board leadership and attorney Jillian Hall

Kentucky Equality Federation President Joshua Koch extends a welcome to Kentucky Equality Federation's new Board members, in addition to new Board leadership.

President Koch also welcomed attorney Jillian Hall as Kentucky Equality Federation's Legal Director and its Allies Community Outreach Director.

"We are absolutely excited at the new group of leaders who have risen to the challenge," Koch said. "We are constantly moving forward, and this election is vital to shaping our strategy going forward. This team's recent sacrifices and capacity to seize the initiative portends great things for Kentucky Equality Federation and the Kentucky equality movement."

This brings Kentucky Equality Federation's total Board members to its maximum of ten (10) per new Bylaws approved by the official membership.

New Board members and Board leadership include:

• Brandon Combs, M.S., Chairman of the Board (Telecommunications Supervisor for the University of Kentucky Police Department)
• Gary Fowler, Psy.D., Vice Chairman of the Board (former chair of the Governor’s HIV/AIDS Planning Committee, the Kentucky Advocate and a Board member for the Southern AIDS Coalition (SAC), and the former president of the Kentucky HIV/AIDS Advocacy Action Group, a Kentucky Equality Federation member organization)
• Fran Everage, Secretary of the Corporation
• Dean Byrd, Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Corporation
• Minister Edith Baker, Ph.D.
• Jody Gregory
• Dale Cochran

All previous Board members remain part of the Board of Directors per Kentucky Equality Federation's rotating Board election schedule, including founder Jordan Palmer.

Kentucky Equality Federation's Interim Committee for Official Membership did retire several Board members prior to new elections being held. Official membership typically meets once a year to elect the Board of Directors and the President. Between these times the interim committee handles most items with unlimited authority.

The Board elects its own non-executive Chair (sometimes legally referred to as the Board President), Treasurer, Secretary of the Corporation, and other Board leadership.

Administration consists of the president, officers appointed by the president, all regional directors, outreach directors, and all other volunteers and interns appointed by the president as the chief executive officer of Kentucky Equality Federation and its affiliates.

Former Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer, the Board of Directors, and Membership made sweeping changes several years ago to get Board members out of day-to-day operations and make the Board an oversight and legislative body for Kentucky Equality Federation and its affiliates. This included extensive changes to Bylaws which only official membership or the Interim Committee for Official Membership may change.

At the time, former Chairman Richard T. Jones and Secretary Dean Byrd also called the changes necessary.

Former President Jordan Palmer called the changes "a must" to make the Board of Directors "a truly independent and oversight board; management can justify any action so long as management also makes the sum of board members. Without an independent body supervising management, management has complete authority to run amok without answering to anyone. Without an independent Board you effectively have a "clique," that can do or say anything without consequences. A key attribute of an effective board is that it is comprised of a majority of independent outsiders; a board with a majority of insiders is often viewed as being stacked with sycophants, especially in cases where the executive and the chair are the same person."

In 2011 Palmer also pointed out: "Most non-profits and private companies now have or are seeking independent boards. Most now require that a minimum of two-thirds be independent. Having a chair and a president who are one in the same is toxic to any corporation, non-profit or for-profit. I am proud of the changes we have instituted at Kentucky Equality Federation and our affiliates."