Kentucky Equality Federation
Encyclopedia
Kentucky Equality Federation is an umbrella gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization in the Commonwealth of Kentucky consisting of Federation for Kentucky Equality, Inc., Kentucky Equality Coalition, Inc., and Kentucky Equality PAC.
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's refusal to veto funding to the University of the Cumberlands after expelling a student for revealing he was gay on the social networking site MySpace
. The Kentucky state budget, passed by the 2006 Kentucky legislature, includes $10 million of state debt to construct a pharmacy building on the school's Whitley County campus. Additionally, one million dollars for scholarships for the pharmacy program are included.
On July 7, 2009 Kentucky Equality Federation condemned the University of the Cumberlands
for uninviting the Broadway Baptist Church of Texas' church choir from participating in its community based Mountain Outreach Program because of their "tolerant stance toward homosexuality." The following day Kentucky Equality Federation also condemned $1.2 million in federal funding to expand programs at the university.
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According to published reports, one reason for the dispute between the two organizations was related to Bluegrass Fairness of Central Kentucky, once a chapter of Kentucky Fairness Alliance. Kentucky Equality Federation’s General Advisory Council also sited problems in working with the Executive Director of Kentucky Fairness Alliance.
The condemnation was short lived; on April 18, 2008 Kentucky Equality Federation's Board of Directors rescinded the General Advisory Council's condemnation of Kentucky Fairness Alliance and terminated 9 of the 14 members on the General Advisory Council.
and Loose Change to Loosen Change. The Federation was awarded a $10,000.00 cash prize and promotional support from MySpace
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in Northern Kentucky. On July 19, 2006 Boone County High School ended more than a year of stonewalling and avoided a federal and state lawsuit by finally approving the formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance. Jordan Palmer, founder and president of the Kentucky Equality Federation warned school officials that he would file a lawsuit in federal court for violating the federal Equal Access Act which requires schools to treat Gay-Straight Alliance’s as they would any other school group, and a separate lawsuit with the Kentucky Court of Justice for violating the Kentucky Education Reform Act.
History and leadership
The organization was founded by Jordan Palmer on November 1, 2005, and became the second gay rights organization in the commonwealth, with the first being the Kentucky Fairness AllianceKentucky Fairness Alliance
The Kentucky Fairness Alliance is an American gay rights organization formed in 1993 and based in Kentucky. The organization provides public education and advocacy on issues affecting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals and families in Kentucky.-History:Because of its role as an...
.
Name
Originally called Kentucky Equal Rights, the organization changed its name to Kentucky Equality, with either "Association" or "Federation" always appearing afterward. Kentucky Equality has "The Equality Party", "Commonwealth Equality", "Kentucky Equality Federation", and "Kentucky Equality Association" listed as assumed names with the Kentucky Secretary of State.Organizational management
Kentucky Equality Federation is an organization of volunteer management, there is no paid staff such as an Executive Director. The President is the chief executive officer of the organization and is supervised by a volunteer Board of Directors (as required by Kentucky law for non-profits).University of the Cumberlands
Kentucky Equality made national, state, and local headlines on May 6, 2006 when they led a protest at the Governor's Annual Derby Breakfast. The protest was in response to Governor Ernie FletcherErnie Fletcher
Ernest Lee "Ernie" Fletcher is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. In 1999, he was elected to the first of three consecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives; he resigned in 2003 after being elected the 60th governor of Kentucky and served in that office...
's refusal to veto funding to the University of the Cumberlands after expelling a student for revealing he was gay on the social networking site MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
. The Kentucky state budget, passed by the 2006 Kentucky legislature, includes $10 million of state debt to construct a pharmacy building on the school's Whitley County campus. Additionally, one million dollars for scholarships for the pharmacy program are included.
On July 7, 2009 Kentucky Equality Federation condemned the University of the Cumberlands
University of the Cumberlands
University of the Cumberlands is a private, liberal arts college located in Williamsburg, Kentucky, with an enrollment of approximately 3,200 students...
for uninviting the Broadway Baptist Church of Texas' church choir from participating in its community based Mountain Outreach Program because of their "tolerant stance toward homosexuality." The following day Kentucky Equality Federation also condemned $1.2 million in federal funding to expand programs at the university.
Relationship with Kentucky Fairness Alliance
On January 9, 2008 Kentucky Equality Federation’s General Advisory Council condemned Kentucky Fairness AllianceKentucky Fairness Alliance
The Kentucky Fairness Alliance is an American gay rights organization formed in 1993 and based in Kentucky. The organization provides public education and advocacy on issues affecting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals and families in Kentucky.-History:Because of its role as an...
.
According to published reports, one reason for the dispute between the two organizations was related to Bluegrass Fairness of Central Kentucky, once a chapter of Kentucky Fairness Alliance. Kentucky Equality Federation’s General Advisory Council also sited problems in working with the Executive Director of Kentucky Fairness Alliance.
The condemnation was short lived; on April 18, 2008 Kentucky Equality Federation's Board of Directors rescinded the General Advisory Council's condemnation of Kentucky Fairness Alliance and terminated 9 of the 14 members on the General Advisory Council.
Impact Award
In March 2007 the Kentucky Equality Federation won a MySpace Impact Award in the area of Social Justice, beating Do SomethingDo Something
Do Something is a non-profit organization that motivates young people to take action around social changes through national campaigns and grants for projects that make an impact. The organization's CEO is Nancy Lublin, who founded Dress for Success in 1996.-History:The organization was co-founded...
and Loose Change to Loosen Change. The Federation was awarded a $10,000.00 cash prize and promotional support from MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
.
Incident with Representative Fischer
Prior to the November 2006 General Election Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer verbally attacked Kentucky Representative Joseph Fisher (R) after he stated "homosexuals have not experienced the same type of insidious discrimination in housing and employment as blacks and women." In addition, Fischer stated he believed homosexuals could easily change their sexual orientation.Complaint resolution
On September 5, 2006 the Kentucky Equality Federation announced they would act as a "buffer" for victims of discrimination, hate crimes, and school bullying establishing a toll-free number, 877-KEF-5775 and an online complaint system to report incidents. The federation stated they believe a lot of incidents go unreported each year throughout Kentucky because of bad experiences in working with law enforcement, while others feared being “outed” or reprisals would ensue from their perpetrators.Boone County High School
Kentucky Equality was key to getting the first Gay-Straight Alliance approved at Boone County High SchoolBoone County High School
Boone County High School is located in Florence, Kentucky. The school was opened in 1954. The school mascot is the Rebel.-Sports:In the past years Boone County High School as been known for its athletics. Both men's and women's basketball have shown to be two of the strongest programs in the region...
in Northern Kentucky. On July 19, 2006 Boone County High School ended more than a year of stonewalling and avoided a federal and state lawsuit by finally approving the formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance. Jordan Palmer, founder and president of the Kentucky Equality Federation warned school officials that he would file a lawsuit in federal court for violating the federal Equal Access Act which requires schools to treat Gay-Straight Alliance’s as they would any other school group, and a separate lawsuit with the Kentucky Court of Justice for violating the Kentucky Education Reform Act.
See also
- LGBT rights in the United States
- List of LGBT rights organizations