Fairness Rally and Lobby Day in Frankfort, KY
March 4, 2009
Dozens arrived early last Wednesday morning to lobby their state legislators before the Kentuckians Value Fairness rally in Frankfort. Over 150 attended the rally hosted by Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, Kentucky Equality Federation, Kentucky Fairness Alliance and Lexington Fairness. Burley Thomas, from Lexington Fairness, reported back about the two events:
The day began early for fairness activists across the state of Kentucky. Students gathered at sunrise to load their cars for a trip to the State’s capitol to see their senators and representatives.
The bill that seemed to draw the most response was Senate Bill 68, the so called “Child Welfare Adoption Act.” This bill would prohibit adoption or foster parenting by any individual "cohabiting with a sexual partner outside of a marriage that is legally valid in Kentucky."
With over 7,000 children currently in the care of the state and with an estimated cost of over $5.3 million the first year alone (Williams Institute, UCLA), there can be no benefit for Kentucky or Kentucky families with the passing of Senate Bill 68.
Over 600 HRC supporters sent emails to their state senators in opposition of this bill. In DC, Ellen Kahn of HRC’s Family Project said, “Our community has been and will continue to be a tremendous resource for the thousands of children and youth in foster care—we must stand up not only for our own interests in building families, but for the children who are waiting for loving, permanent families, families like ours.” Burley went on to say:
The rally wasn’t all about having to defend our rights; there was a also a wonderful sense of hope for the proposed House Bill 72, a bill that would extend existing anti-discrimination laws to apply to sexual orientation and gender identity. Passing this bill would protect the LGBT community’s right to fair housing, job protection, and access to public services without fear of discrimination.
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