The Kentucky Fairness campaign declares loudly, “Get organized. Get involved. Make a change.” Kentuckians from across the Commonwealth marched on Capitol Hill in Frankfurt today for the Fairness Campaign.
The Fairness Campaign demands support in the Fairness Rally for Kentucky House Bill 171, which amends a standing law to include verbage protecting those discriminated against for “sexual orientation” and “gender identity”.
Senator Morgan McGarvey convenes with the Fairness Campaign at the Ketnucky American Civil Liberties Union offices to prep for the rally.
Several dozen Kentuckians gather for the Fairness rally in the Capitol rotunda before the rally begins at 1:30pm.
Michael Hommrich, Louisville, shows off a hand made sign in support of the Statewide Fairness bill.
Known as the statewide Fairness Bill, 16 co-sponsors have singed on in support of HB 171. On Monday, Kentucky house speaker, Greg Stumbo (D-Prestonsburg) signed onto the LGBT anti-discrimination fairness bill. While fairness ordinances exist in Louisville, Lexington, Frankfurt and other cities, the statewide bill encompasses and protects all Kentuckians.
Chris Hartman, Fairness campaign director, said, “This type of unprecedented support at the statewide level is clear and compelling evidence that Kentucky is moving in the right direction towards LGBT Fairness,” in a news release. Hartman continues “with the tremendous progress across the whole commonwealth, these new co-sponsors should compel House leadership and the Judiciary committee to finally hold a hearing on the legislation, which they have avoided the past fifteen years.”
The Fairness Coalition consists of five organizations working for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality: ACLU of Kentucky, Fairness Campaign, Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, and Lexington Fairness.
Sunday the Fairness Campaign hosted a “Catholics for Fairness Pilgrimage” marching from the Volunteers of America offices on 4th street to the Cathedral of the Assumption a few blocks away followed by a mass at the cathedral. Marchers held signs with eh words of Pope Francis on them, “Who am I to judge?” The march urged Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz to endorse a the statewide fairness law.
Today Kentuckians wore shirts declaring “Another Kentuckian for Fairness.” In a poll conducted by the Kentucky Fairness Coalition, 83 percent of registered Kentucky voters agree that gay and transgender people should be protected from discrimination in the workplace, housing, and restaurants and all other forms of public accommodations. The current number is contrasted with 65 percent of voters in 2004 who supported the same non-discrimination policies.
At a rally on Feb. 20 Kentuckians of all ages declared, “Together we stand, together we fight, we demand our equal rights.” The Fairness coalition and ACLU of Kentucky hope to continue the fight for fairness in Kentucky.
Photos Courtesy Twitter
