On Wednesday, February 22nd, Kentuckians from around the state, including Louisville, will converge on Frankfort for an annual Statewide Fairness Rally hosted by the Statewide Fairness Coalition. The coalition includes the ACLU of Kentucky, the Fairness Campaign from Louisville, the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, the Kentucky Fairness Alliance (of which the author is Chair), and Lexington Fairness.
The day will start with a first-ever Prayer Breakfast hosted by the Faith Leaders for Fairness in the private dining room of the Capitol Cafeteria at 8:00 AM. The breakfast is free, but donations will be accepted to help defray costs.
There will be a brief lobby training session by lobbyists from the coalition members in Room 111 of the Capitol Annex at 9:00 AM, followed by lobby meetings with state legislators. Everyone will be given materials to share with legislators if desired.
After a break for lunch at 12:30 PM, the Fairness Rally will be held in the Capitol Rotunda. The rally will close with a prayer led by the Faith Leaders for Fairness.
The LGBT community and allies will be rallying in support of both the Statewide Fairness Bill, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes to the existing civil rights act, protecting Kentuckians from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations (Senate Bill 69/House Bill 188); and the Anti-Bullying Bill, which would strengthen the existing bullying bill (House Bill 336).
In a recent poll commissioned by the Statewide Fairness Coalition, 83% of Kentuckians support these protections.
