In the News

Jordan Palmer and Kentucky Equality Federation In the News

Growing Up Gay and Transgendered in Appalachia

Growing Up Gay and Transgendered in Kentucky’s Appalachia. Awareness about sexuality and gender differences remains painfully limited in much of the region, but some have begun sharing their stories. Jordan Palmer, founder and president of the Kentucky Equality Federation (Equality Kentucky) speaks. Tyler Watts remembers having a happy childhood: His parents gave him everything he […]

Growing Up Gay and Transgendered in Appalachia Read More »

StoryCorps Recording Rural Gays and Lesbians

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Growing up, Hindman resident Shannon Ratliff didn’t know she was a lesbian, but like her friends –a group of girls and boys who loved one another unconditionally — she understood that she was different, she says. Although they went their separate ways, they kept in touch and learned in adulthood that

StoryCorps Recording Rural Gays and Lesbians Read More »

StoryCorps recording rural gays and lesbians

Gay civil rights activist Jordan Palmer with the Kentucky Equality Federation brings StoryCorps to Kentucky to be archived in the Library of Congress. LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – The oral-history recording project StoryCorps is planning to spend two months in Whitesburg and Lexington recording pieces including one about struggling to find acceptance in rural, culturally conservative

StoryCorps recording rural gays and lesbians Read More »

Mom Says Bus Driver Made Fun Of Girl For Gay Parents

A Jefferson County school bus driver made fun of a student for having lesbian parents. The mother called gay civil rights activist Jordan Palmer and the Kentucky Equality Federation for help. WLKY-TV Louisville — (CBS Affiliate) A mother said a Jefferson County school bus driver made fun of her child for having lesbian parents. A

Mom Says Bus Driver Made Fun Of Girl For Gay Parents Read More »

Gay-rights group offers support to attacked teen

By Mary Meehan A Kentucky gay rights group has offered financial support to the family of the Jackson County teen whose classmates have been charged with kidnapping and attempted murder in a case police have deemed a prank pushed too far. The Kentucky Equality Federation, an all-volunteer group, held a news conference in Lexington on

Gay-rights group offers support to attacked teen Read More »

Jackson County student won’t return to school after the hate crime attack

Jackson County student won’t return to school after the hate crime attack. Jordan Palmer and the Kentucky Equality Federation respond. Controversy continues to build over an incident at an eastern Kentucky high school that some call a hate crime. State police have said they believe the arrest of three Jackson County High School seniors for

Jackson County student won’t return to school after the hate crime attack Read More »

Kentucky lesbian student beaten

Kentucky lesbian student was kidnapped by classmates and taken to a remote area south of Lexington, Ky., where they beat her and tried to push her off a cliff. By Paula Brooks A gay rights advocacy group says the Kentucky lesbian student who was kidnapped by three of her classmates and taken to a remote

Kentucky lesbian student beaten Read More »

Gay student won’t return to high school

MCKEE, Ky. —- The mother of a gay teenager says her daughter won’t return to Jackson County High School after an incident in which she claims three other girls tried to kill her. Dee Johnson told The Lexington Herald-Leader her daughter, 18-year-old Cheyenne Williams, has enough credits to graduate and it would be unsafe for

Gay student won’t return to high school Read More »

Gay student won’t return to school after attack

A student at Jackson County High School won’t return to school after an attempted murder. Jordan Palmer and the Kentucky Equality Federation dispute it was a prank. Wave3 The Associated Press MCKEE, KY (AP) — The mother of a gay teenager says her daughter won’t return to Jackson County High School after an incident in

Gay student won’t return to school after attack Read More »

12 Kentucky Organizations Slam Frankfort over KADAP; most have uncertain future

In a proposed commonwealth budget that allocates over $3.4 billion for road projects, a small request of $3.5 million to fund the Kentucky AIDS Drug Assistance Program (KADAP) has been ignored, leaving hundreds living with HIV/AIDS facing difficult choices. The cost for HIV/AIDS medication averages around $1,200/month—more than the entire monthly income of most families

12 Kentucky Organizations Slam Frankfort over KADAP; most have uncertain future Read More »