Two gay men forced to leave a government recreational facility in Hazard, KY

Hazard, KY — Kentucky Equality Federation today condemned The Pavilion for ejecting two gay males from their facility. A maintenance technician told the couple and the group present “we own this place and can tell you to leave if we want to.” Kentucky Equality Federation was contacted by Mending Hearts, Inc. an organization that receives […]

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Teaching sexual orientation in Kentucky schools; Kentucky Department of Education Model Curriculum Framework

Lexington, KY — The Family Foundation of Kentucky yesterday unleashed an absurd attack on the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) for mentioning “sexual orientation” a single time in the KDE’s draft Model Curriculum Framework. In addition, it appears that the Family Foundation of Kentucky is opposed to mentioning critical thinking. The Kentucky Equality Foundation, by

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Second Kentucky church stops signing marriage licenses

Lexington, KY — Kentucky Equality Federation applauds Rev. Dawn Cooley and the First Unitarian Church located on South 4th Street in Louisville for being the second Kentucky Church to take a stand for equality. Douglass Boulevard Christian Church was the first to take the initiative. Both churches have stated they will continue to perform religious

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Out of State Anti-Equality National Leader to be Keynote Speaker at Bluegrass Freedom Rally 2011

In 2007, a UCLA report reflected the attitudes of college freshmen nationwide. The acceptance of same-sex marriage grew even as far back as 2005 and 2006, when the national poll was conducted. The study found that 61% of incoming freshmen in 2006 agreed that same-sex couples should have the right to marriage, up 3.3 percentage

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In 2007, a UCLA report reflected the attitudes of college freshmen nationwide. The acceptance of same-sex marriage grew even as far back as 2005 and 2006, when the poll national poll was conducted. The study found that 61% of incoming freshmen in 2006 agreed that same-sex couples should have the right to marriage, up 3.3

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Kentucky Equality Federation terminates alliance with the Libertarian Party of Kentucky

Lexington, KY — Kentucky Equality Federation today officially terminated a strategic alliance with the Libertarian Party of Kentucky today that began on April 10, 2008. (previous press release) This announcement is being released by Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer. “Until recently we had open dialogue with the Libertarian Party of Kentucky and they rallied

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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

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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

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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

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StoryCorps recordings will speak to sexual orientation in rural Kentucky

When Shannon Ratliff was growing up in Hindman, she didn’t know she was lesbian, but she knew she was different. Ratliff gravitated to a group of girls and boys who loved each other unconditionally, she says, and as they went their separate ways to jobs or college, they kept in touch. And nearly all of

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