#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.

Contempt of Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis

Min. Jordan Palmer

Following is a special statement from Minister Jordan Palmer, secretary-general of the Kentucky Equality Federation alliance, its member and dependant organizations:

Kentucky Equality Federation firmly supports Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis' rights to freedom of conscience, faith, and speech. We believe these rights belong to all people regardless of any defining characteristic imposed on them by society or governments.

However, irrespective of how the Family Foundation of Kentucky chooses to spin the news report, the fact is, Davis is not in prison because of her beliefs. She is being held in contempt of court because she refuses to resolve the job taxpayers elected her to perform and has broken her oath of office. She could easily resign and end the entire situation, but I suspect the national spotlight is truly the motivation. The office of an elected official is a public trust, not a personal platform for refusing service to the "wrong" sort of people; this reeks of the oppression of far-off lands where officials can make discriminatory rules and enforce summary judgement against certain classes, genders, orientations, races, and castes.

Kentucky Equality Federation
v. Commonwealth ruling by Judge Wingate

We are all equal before the law, and we encourage Davis to do the right thing, embrace the standard of public service (as she swore an oath to do), and comply with Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Thomas D. Wingate's ruling in Kentucky Equality Federation v. Commonwealth of Kentucky and the ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court.

This situation is analogous to Governor Steve Beshear refusing to aid a region of the Commonwealth during a disaster because they are Methodist, Catholic, or they voted for a different political party. It is similar to a clerk refusing to issue driver's licenses to taxpayers of a certain gender because they don't believe they are religiously permitted to drive. Would we tolerate a governor or president who refused to repel an invasion or defend the lives they have sworn to safeguard?

The end of discrimination is not simply the elimination of flagrant abuses, rather it is the ability of a person to fully exercise their Kentucky human rights to the same full extent enjoyed by their peers, without fear of retribution, aspersion, or harm, be that harm political or social. The religious beliefs of Davis remain intact however, and unharmed, but incompatible with the elected office she holds.

#KY #KYGA16 Jordan Palmer and Kentucky Equality Federation call for Rowan County Clerk impeachment

"Today, we call on Governor Steve Beshear to call a Special Session of the Kentucky General Assembly to impeach the Rowan County Clerk. The action of the Clerk defies Kentucky and U.S. Court rulings. This violates the oath of office taken by Kim Davis and if she cannot complete her job because of "religious beliefs" then she should resign. Government is free of religion and religious beliefs. Perhaps Ms. Davis would be happier in a religious state such as Afghanistan, Iran, or Iraq." - Minister Jordan Palmer, Secretary-General of Kentucky Equality Federation and its member organization, Marriage Equality Kentucky.

"Kentucky Equality Federation attorneys are working now to file a lawsuit in Kentucky Courts." On April 16, 2015 Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Thomas D. Wingate struck-down Kentucky's 2004 Ban on Same-Sex Marriage in the Commonwealth of Kentucky stating, "Kentucky's statutory and constitutional bans on same-sex marriage void and unenforceable for violating Plaintiff and Plaintiff's Members Constitutional Rights."

COURT RULING: https://www.facebook.com/KYEquality/photos/p.10153373501693563/10153373501693563/?type=1

See history of media coverages in: KEF IN PROP 8, KY-SUPREME COURT, and PALMER MARRIAGE LICENSE.

The county clerk issues marriage licenses (KRS 402.080) and files and records all marriage certificates (KRS 402.220 and 402.230). Military discharges may also be recorded in the county clerk’s office (KRS 422.090).

On or before the 10th day of each month, the county clerk reports to the state registrar of vital statistics all marriage licenses issued and all marriage certificates returned (KRS 213.116).

Each county clerk must furnish each applicant for a marriage license with a copy of a marriage manual to be prepared and printed by the Human Resources Coordinating Commission of Kentucky (KRS 402.270).

Kentucky Equality Federation sues the Commonwealth of Kentucky for marriage equality

On Tuesday, September 10, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Kentucky Equality Federation against the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

This lawsuit is the latest attempt to achieve equal rights and protections for families across the Commonwealth whose very existence has been banned by the forces of religious zealotry and hatred.

NOTE: A complete digital copy of Kentucky Equality Federation v. Commonwealth of Kentucky is available here in PDF format, the Case # 13-CI-1074. The lawsuit was conceived by President Jordan Palmer, written and signed by Vice President of Legal Jillian Hall, Esq., and Mark A. Morenz-Harbinger, Esq.

At the heart of the suit is the premise that the 2004 amendment to the Kentucky Constitution was passed in violation of the Constitution.

Jill Hall, Esq.,
Vice President of Legal

"In 2004, social conservatives, who normally try to hide behind the Constitution, decided that it wasn't good enough for them anymore," said Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer.

They decided to rewrite a document which guarantees freedom and to pervert it to fit their own jaded hatred of gay and lesbian couples. This was done despite the fact that it negated part of the bill of rights. We, as Kentuckians, must undo this immoral amendment which subverts the soul of our Commonwealth, our rights, and the government of Kentucky.

Lawmakers in Frankfort put something to the people for a vote that was unconstitutional if you read Kentucky’s constitution. The Kentucky constitution is the supreme governing document of the commonwealth; its provisions provide GREATER freedoms than the U.S. constitution.

Kentucky added a facially unconstitutional amendment to its constitution via a ballot initiative process. Thus, the attempt to abrogate constitutional sensibilities in favor of a ballot initiative, as was done for Section 233A of the Kentucky Constitution in 2004, is against the very notion of equal protection as guaranteed to each and all of Kentucky’s population. This should be held as true as a matter of law by the Courts, regardless of the ballot’s outcome."

"Fear of the LGBTI community reached a high-water mark after DOMA," said Kentucky Equality Federation Vice President of Policy & Public Relations Joshua Koch.

"Roving bands of lobbyists funded by extremist elements traveled the country for years vandalizing generations-old institutions and spreading lies and fear in several states. In 2004, they struck Kentucky, traditionally a leader in the region on civil rights, and managed to apply their graffiti to the Constitution, which had been in effect for 113 years. We are simply trying to undo the damage done."