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Statement from the President on Marriage Equality Kentucky begins Online Marriage Petition to Overturn Kentucky's Same-Sex Marriage Ban

Monday, August 3, 2009

Our thanks to everyone for supporting equality and fairness in our great Commonwealth. The Marriage Declaration is receiving a lot of attention, most recently we received an email from Gays & Lesbians United Against Discrimination which stated: "Your staff is doing a fantastic job! I would love to see something like the "Marriage Declaration" available for others outside Kentucky, and have them make an impact in some form. Every voice counts in this issue! Keep up the marvelous work! - Caleb Laieski, Legislative Affairs Director, Gays & Lesbians United Against Discrimination"

We would also like to thank all the HRC Local Steering Committee members, and the other organizations that have emailed us about this initiative.

REMINDER: Marriage Equality Kentucky and Kentucky Equality Federation invite all other Kentucky LGBTI Rights Organizations to join us in this action! All participating organizations will be treated as co-organizers. Together, we can change our Commonwealth!

If you haven't signed Marriage Equality Kentucky's Marriage Declaration, please do so now: http://kentuckylgbt.org/ht/d/Join/pid/1267412

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

- Why now?
http://www.kentuckylgbt.org/ht/display/ContentDetails/i/1267695

- What rights does the Commonwealth deny same-sex couples?
http://www.kyequality.org/marriageequality/whymarriage.htm

THE REAL CREDIT:

My personal thanks to all of our regional directors, outreach directors, and all of our other volunteers (18 total around the Commonwealth). They are the "foot soldiers" of our grassroots movement, working daily to make real change happen on a day to day basis.

My role as President is largely 'ceremonial' in nature. Our volunteer Board of Directors, volunteer Regional Directors, volunteer Outreach Directors, volunteer Legislative Coordinators, etc. and most importantly, our members and followers (YOU) are the ones who truly deserve all credit.

A wise person once said: "Cowardice asks the question - is it safe? Vanity asks the question - is it popular? Expediency asks the question - is it political? But conscience asks the question - is it right? There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, popular, or political; but because it is right."

Well, marriage equality is a constitutional right, and it is right to fight for it! At the end of the day, everyone is similar (or alike), the problem is that our our differences are more susceptible to definition than our similarities. We all want to love, cherish, and protect our families.

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE:

We must remember that a government that is big enough to give you all you want is also big enough to take it all away. Government must constantly be placed in-check by her citizens. The first freedom denied by a government to one of its citizens chains us all, and paves the road to begin deconstruction of another liberty, another freedom.

I will be here with you, until we have Peace, Liberty, and Equality for all.


Regards,


Jordan Palmer, President
Kentucky Equality Federation

PH: (877) KEF-5775 - Ext. 5

Last Updated (2009-08-13 03:03:41)


Every day, LGBTI people are denied many of the freedoms enjoyed by other Americans. We are committed to secure full equality for the LGBTI community of the Commonwealth. Your support is critical to our success. Please fund our efforts to end discrimination in Kentucky.

The origins of the Federation can be traced back to November 01, 2005 when Jordan Palmer created a political group of MySpace.com to discuss gay politics in Kentucky.  The group reached over 500 members within 3 months and was named “Kentucky Equal Rights.”

On March 22, 2006, Jordan Palmer and Nick Herweck organized a protest at the Governor’s Mansion to protest funding to a religious Baptist school in Southern Kentucky that had expelled a gay student. The protest, held when 20,000 people visited the Capitol for the Governor’s Annual Derby Breakfast made headlines across Kentucky, and the nation.  Soon thereafter, Kentucky Equality was incorporated as Federation for Kentucky Equality, Inc.

Today, Federation for Kentucky Equality is a statewide organization that reaches nearly 11,000 individuals and 6 groups across the Commonwealth of Kentucky and is a member of the International Lesbian & Gay Association.

 

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