Download PDF Version
Printable Version
Tell a friend
Del.icio.us
Digg
StumbleUpon
Technorati
Google
Yahoo
more...
Southern Kentucky article blasts homosexual benefits at the University of Kentucky.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Contact: Public Relations Team
(877) KEF-5775 - Ext 1 (office)
An article
recently appeared in a Southern Kentucky
newspaper chastising the University of Kentucky
for offering 'homosexual' benefits, and
attributing this to UK's 'fall in national
rankings.'
The Article appears below, followed by our
response:
# # # # #
10/18/2009 Update: Since the owner will not respond to our telephone calls or emails, we are identifying the paper as "The Mountain Shopper." They claim to be "The Leader for Buying, Selling, Trading, Community News, and Special Sections in and around Perry County, Kentucky.
The following was mailed and emailed to the editor:
The University of Kentucky is not 'reaping what is sewed' as stated in a recent article in your paper written by Don Pinson (attached). Failure to offer equal benefits to everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, implies those professors are not going to be among the highest quality. With healthcare costs continuing to rise, how could any Kentuckian not see the benefits of allowing more people access to healthcare? The University of Kentucky offers this to both homosexual and heterosexual couples.
Is UK's drop in ranking a direct result of offering domestic partner benefits?
- Looking at the
schools currently in the top spots among the
1400 ranked by US News and World Report, of the
top 125 (UK is currently 128), 60 offer
domestic partner benefits.
- Of the top 10
schools, the University of Wisconsin is the
only one not to offer equal benefits.
- Without exception,
all of the Ivy League schools offer benefits on
an equal basis.
- Michigan State has adapted pretty well to the problem by creating a pilot program for a new class called O.E.I. or Other Eligible Individual. This program which began in 2007 and is scheduled to end at the end of this plan year was designed to allow policy holders to include one extra person on their coverage that was not family or married to them. Thus far this program has effectively worked within the parameters of the existing law in Michigan which is very similar to that in Kentucky.
The Kentucky Constitution guarantees the separate of church and state, and for good reason; more wars have been fought over differences in religious beliefs that any other wars in recorded history. Former Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo (whose legal opinions are binding on all subdivisions of the Commonwealth) ruled that a domestic partner benefit was not a violation of the Commonwealth's Constitution so long as changes were made (and the universities complied).
Speaking for Louisville's Fairness Campaign, a champion for LGBTI civil rights in Jefferson County, Rev. Ryan Kemp-Pappan, Associate Minister for Spiritual Formation of the Douglas Boulevard Christian Church stated, "I grow weary of folks using 'God' as a weapon against the challenge to their own bigotry and hate. In his article titled 'UK Is Reaping What It Has Sown,' Don Pinson evokes a dividing God that demands utter allegiance to 'The Law.' In doing so he dominates the civil voices of other citizens to judge and convict their behavior as immoral. Don uses Old Testament scripture to support his claim. I never trust a person that proof text scripture to form a God that sounds and acts a lot like they do. Don may I remind you of the call of Jesus the Christ in the Gospel of John [13:34-35] "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." Where is the love in withholding health insurance to all of the employees and their partners? It is not a matter of who is right or wrong as much as it is a matter of what is right and wrong. That is an issue you have no right in proclaiming."
The American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, and National Association of Social Workers have stated that homosexuality is a normal variant of human sexuality, and that different people realize at different points in their lives that they are heterosexual, gay, lesbian, or bisexual. People are born heterosexual or homosexual, it isn't a choice.
"Mr. Pinson ends his article with 'think about it; because if you don’t someone else will do your thinking for you---and for your children.' This is a great line and very true. The only part that is a bit hypocritical is that to do your own thinking, you need to be informed from all aspects and not blindly accept what you are being told. Mr. Pinson here is obviously trying to do the thinking for his readers. Hopefully by pointing out some other facts that will put his opinions into context, the readers really will be able to think about it," stated Kentucky Equality Federation Latino Outreach Director John Bentley.
"Reaping what you have sown? Double check your seeds before you plant the next time Mr. Pinson and perhaps you won't be left with a garden where nothing has sprouted. Articles should not be based on hatred, lies, and fear of what you don't understand and refuse to tolerate. Thankfully our ancestors from Great Britain, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, and other countries learned the value of acceptance and tolerance [even though their home countries hated each other] otherwise, our nation would never have been born," added Palmer. "No moral is qualified or justified in judging me or the gay community; this right is reserved solely by God."
# # # # #
Related Documents
- Southern Kentucky article blasts homosexual benefits at the University of Kentucky.
Kentucky Equality Federation and Louisville's Fairness Campaign respond.
This document requires Acrobat Reader to view the PDF files. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, please click on the logo to download it. This is a free download.
Comments
On the way home yesterday I was listening to the radio about the Washington, D.C. gay rally. A 78 year old straight woman said, "People should be able to marry who they love." A black woman said "Blacks and women had to fight for equal rights now the gays are, nothing has changed, it is the same struggle."