We are freedom’s watchdog, working in courts, legislatures and communities
to defend the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people by the
Constitution of the United States and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Fairness Coalition receives vote of confidence from National funders!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 6:45 pm
The Tides Foundation’s
State Equality Fund, a philanthropic partnership that includes the Evelyn and
Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, the Gill Foundation, and anonymous donors, has awarded
the Kentucky Statewide Fairness Coalition $30,000 to promote lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality. The Fund is programmatically staffed
on behalf of the donors by the Gill Foundation’s Movement Building Center.
The
Fairness Coalition is an alliance of the various organizations and individuals
working for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights in Kentucky.Our primary goal is to win a statewide
ordinance that extends protections based on sexual orientation and gender
identity within the Kentucky Civil Rights statute.We recognize that to accomplish this long-term goal we will
need to build a statewide base of support with incremental victories on the
local level.By joining forces, we
enhance the capacity of the individual organizations with a sharing of
resources, strategies, and goals, increased communication, and a strengthened
and expanded base of allies of LGBT equality.
Founding members of the
Fairness Coalition include the ACLU of Kentucky, Fairness Campaign, Kentucky
Commission on Human Rights, Kentucky Fairness Alliance, and Lexington Fairness.
During the summer of 2009,
the Kentucky Statewide Fairness Coalition submitted a letter of intent seeking
to submit a complete grant proposal for support. Shortly after submission, the
Coalition was invited to apply.
“The State Equality Fund
promotes equality through the work of state and local organizations,” said Toni
Broaddus, Executive Director of the Equality Federation, national alliance
working to further equality in a state-based movement. “Support from the State
Equality Fund will assist the Coalition in advancing their work around
nondiscrimination and parenting rights of LGBT Kentuckians.”
The Coalition began its
2010 work this past weekend with the 2nd Statewide Fairness Summit. Nearly 100 supporters
from across the state convened in Frankfort to develop strategy towards passage
of a statewide Fairness statute. The legislation proposed, pre-filed in the
House by Representative Mary Lou Marzian, would extend employment, housing, and
public accommodations protections to all Kentuckians.
The Coalition has scheduled its 2010
Statewide Fairness Lobby Day and Rally in Frankfort for Wednesday, February 24.
American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky
