47% of transgender are fired, denied a job or promotion

The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund released this startling statistic today:

47%. That's the unbearable percentage of transgender people who report being fired, or denied a job or promotion, just because of who they are. Today, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was reintroduced in the United States House of Representatives. The bill would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees from workplace discrimination, and the protections it would offer are urgently needed.

In an already difficult economy, transgender workers face the added threat of being fired or passed over for a job just because of who they are. We need ENDA's protections in these difficult economic times to make sure that qualified, hardworking transgender people can get jobs to support themselves and their families.

ENDA would make it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to promote an employee based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. Despite the tremendous discrimination that transgender workers face, only 12 states and Washington, DC currently protect transgender people from employment discrimination.

Transgender people deserve the same employment opportunities as everyone else. What matters is not who you are, but how well you do your job.

We thank Congressman Barney Frank for his work in introducing this bill. We will continue to keep you informed of developments relating to ENDA and our work to ensure equal employment opportunity.

At Kentucky Equality Federation, we agree that this number is outrageous and support the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund.

-> Posted by a volunteer Community Blogger of Kentucky Equality Federation. This is the official blog of Kentucky Equality Federation. Posts contained in this blog may not be the official position of Kentucky Equality Federation, its volunteer officers, directors, management, supported organizations, allies or coalitions, but rather the personal opinions or views of the volunteer Community Bloggers. The opinions or views expressed in the blog are protected by Section 1 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky as non-slanderous free speech; blogs are personal views or opinions and not journalistic news sites.

University of Kentucky Sign: How Do You Spell N*****? OBAMA"

By: Jordan Palmer

Regardless of what you think about the U.S. President, Governor, or ANYONE, this is childish; are we not better than this?  This is the second time this has happened at the University of Kentucky. The sign said: "How Do You Spell N*****? OBAMA."

In 2008, two college-age men were arrested after hanging an effigy of Obama from a tree on the UK campus with a noose around its neck. All charges against the people behind the 2008 stunt was dismissed as being protected by the Kentucky Constitution's Freedom of Expression, and they graduated from the University of Kentucky.

Yes, your right to post such things are protected by the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the United States of America.  

However, this pure racism, and we must oppose racism and the lack of equality for all communities; we should not tolerate it, and stand proud with the Black community.  How would we feel if someone posted "How Do You Spell F****? (Fagot) Mayor Gray?"

The letters appear to be cut from a menu, glued to a piece of paper and photocopied.

We find this distasteful, and racist!

College police launched an investigation after one of the posters was found hanging on the door of the College of Law - and a second was found by a student on a nearby bus shelter.

Quote from Josh Koch, Kentucky Equality Federation's Public Relations and Media Director:  "Many people and groups are victims discrimination. Some are discriminated against because of their sexual orientation, sexual identity, race, gender, veteran status, or political identification (or lack thereof).  Discrimination takes many forms, and it is necessary that the victims of such treatment strive for a better world where all groups, orientations, identities, creeds, and political groups can achieve equality."

We need your help to change this; take the first step and join our mailing list!

Peace, Liberty, Equality for All.

Obama has also been compared to Hitler (massive Billboards in the Arizona and other States), etc. due to the passage of his Healthcare Act which the U.S. House of Representative have vowed to repeal.  In addition, some States have condemned and nullified the federal legislation. 

--> Posted by a volunteer Community Blogger of Kentucky Equality Federation. This is the official blog of Kentucky Equality Federation. Posts contained in this blog may not be the official position of Kentucky Equality Federation, its volunteer officers, directors, management, supported organizations, allies or coalitions, but rather the personal opinions or views of the volunteer Community Bloggers. The opinions or views expressed in the blog are protected by Section 1 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky as non-slanderous free speech; blogs are personal views or opinions and not journalistic news sites.

The changing face of the Roman Catholic Church? Kentucky and U.S. Catholics support gay rights?

VATICAN CITY — A Vatican official has told a United Nations body that people who openly object to homosexual behavior are at risk of losing their human rights when they are prosecuted or stigmatized for their beliefs.

"People are being attacked for taking positions that do not support sexual behavior between people of the same sex," said Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, the Vatican's representative to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The latest research that finds many U.S. Catholics out of sync with their church's teachings on personal morality is out. This time it's a look at Catholics' support for gay rights, in particular marriage and civil unions.

The Public Religion Research Institute report, based on surveys of 3,000 people, finds:

• 43% of Catholic favor allowing gay and lesbian people to marry
• 31% would allow them to form civil unions
• 22% say there should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship.

The Catholic church teaches that all persons deserve dignity but that homosexual behavior is "disordered." But the laity isn't buying that. According to the report:

A majority of Catholics (56%) believe that sexual relations between two adults of the same gender is not a sin. Among the general population, less than half (46%) believe it is not a sin. 60% of Catholics favored adoption rights for same-sex couples, 49% percent think gays should be allowed to be ordained as clergy, and 73% percent believe they should have legal protections in the workplace – all higher percentages than found in the general population, the Public Religion Research Institute said.

"When they express their moral beliefs or beliefs about human nature, which may also be expressions of religious convictions, or state opinions about scientific claims, they are stigmatized, and worse — they are vilified, and prosecuted," Tomasi said on Tuesday.

TM & (C) Kentucky Equality Federation

"The truth is, these attacks are violations of fundamental human rights, and cannot be justified under any circumstances."

In his statement, Tomasi said the Vatican "condemn(ed) all violence that is targeted against people because of their sexual feelings and thoughts, or sexual behaviors." The Vatican also rejects all legal discrimination "based just on the person's feelings and thoughts, including sexual thoughts and feelings."

But the Vatican envoy said that there is an international "consensus between societies that certain kinds of sexual behaviors must be forbidden by law," citing pedophilia and incest as examples.

The conclusions fit with a strong pattern of liberalism among Catholics that stands in opposition to the church hierarchy, said Michele Dillon, a sociologist at the University of New Hampshire asked by researchers to comment. There has been a gulf on social issues between church teachings and the American laity since the mid-1970s on subjects such as abortion, divorce without an annulment, premarital sex and artificial contraception.

“Catholics make up their own minds about these moral issues irrespective – or almost in spite of – what the bishops and official church teachings say,” Dillon said.

Catholics tend not to like or even may resent having politics in church, Dillon said. The survey found about one-quarter of church-going Catholics reported hearing about homosexuality in church – a much lower proportion than in Protestant churches. Two-thirds of the messages about homosexuality in church were negative.

--> Posted by a volunteer Community Blogger of Kentucky Equality Federation. This is the official blog of Kentucky Equality Federation. Posts contained in this blog may not be the official position of Kentucky Equality Federation, its volunteer officers, directors, management, supported organizations, allies or coalitions, but rather the personal opinions or views of the volunteer Community Bloggers. The opinions or views expressed in the blog are protected by Section 1 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky as non-slanderous free speech; blogs are personal views or opinions and not journalistic news sites.

R.I.P. Elizabeth Taylor we will never forget you; without you the initial stages of HIV/AIDS epidemic would have been much worse!

We love you Elizabeth Taylor. R.I.P.  The legend died today at 79 years of age. 

Without Elizabeth Tayor talking about HIV/AIDS in public, holding press conferences, and creating private foundations, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, the public would never have been as educated in the 1980's.

Elizabeth Taylor was perhaps the driving force behind education and awareness during the initial states of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

She was a true legend who never stopped giving back to her fans.

"I don't think President Bush (the first one 1989–1993), is doing anything at all about Aids. In fact, I'm not sure he even knows how to spell Aids." - Elizabeth Taylor

Taylor was the most loyal of friends and a defender of gays in Hollywood when AIDS was new to the industry and beyond.

Artist, AIDS sufferer and activist Aileen Getty is pictured with actress Elizabeth Taylor at an AIDS event. Aileen was, at one time married to Elizabeth Taylor's son, Chris Wilding. 

Her advocacy for AIDS research and for other causes earned her a special Oscar, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, in 1993. As she accepted it, to a long ovation, she declared, "I call upon you to draw from the depths of your being — to prove that we are a human race, to prove that our love outweighs our need to hate, that our compassion is more compelling than our need to blame."

The American Foundation for AIDS Research, for which Taylor was a longtime advocate, noted in a statement that she was "among the first to speak out on behalf of people living with HIV when others reacted with fear and often outright hostility."

"She leaves a monumental legacy that has improved and extended millions of lives and will enrich countless more for generations to come," the group said.

She received the Legion of Honor, France's most prestigious award, in 1987, for her efforts to support AIDS research.

In May 2000, Queen Elizabeth II made Taylor a dame — the female equivalent of a knight — for her services to the entertainment industry and to charity.

The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation released the following statement:

We mourn the loss of legendary actress, businesswoman, and fearless activist Elizabeth Taylor. If you want to honor the memory of Elizabeth, you may do so either by making a contribution in her name to the foundation or by posting a personal message here: https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethTaylorTribute

 

Elizabeth Taylor testified before the United States Congress, and many State Legislatures, and State Health Departments about HIV/AIDS awareness, education, and prevention.  

The dark-haired Taylor made an unforgettable impression in Hollywood with "National Velvet," the 1945 film in which the 12-year-old belle rode a steeplechase horse to victory in the Grand National.

Elizabeth Taylor sharred in over 30 films, over 20 special television appearances.

The Westboro Baptist Church have chosen Elizabeth Taylor's funeral to be the site of their next publicity stunt, a daughter of WBC Pastor Fred Phelps announced today.

--> Posted by a volunteer Community Blogger of Kentucky Equality Federation. This is the official blog of Kentucky Equality Federation. Posts contained in this blog may not be the official position of Kentucky Equality Federation, its volunteer officers, directors, management, supported organizations, allies or coalitions, but rather the personal opinions or views of the volunteer Community Bloggers. The opinions or views expressed in the blog are protected by Section 1 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky as non-slanderous free speech; blogs are personal views or opinions and not journalistic news sites.

Hate is not limited to the Westboro Baptist Church (please leave all comments on this blog for everyone to see)

By: Richard T. Jones

Using a fake IP address, Kentucky Equality Federation received the threat below; we are not new to threats, even death threats. For some people, hate cannot be released.   

In Facebook, YouTube, and emails, our elected president, Jordan Palmer urged people to donate to HIV/AIDS Organizations in Kentucky from their official sites.

As for the Westboro Baptist Church, there is no greater justice than to donate to HIV/AIDS Organizations in Kentucky to spite an organization who shows children holding signs "Thank God for AIDS," "AIDS is God's Punishment," "Thank God for dead soldiers," "Pope is in Hell," and "God killed your children."  

I feel sad for our nation, we have lost our core beliefs. What values are we going to pass on to our children for generations to come?

A city ordinance? Really? That must have taken a lot of digging. The scripted YouTube message clearly stated for people to give their donations online in the interest of security. In addition, Kentucky Equality Federation will defend anyone who receives a citation.

At the end of the message the person said "Nice Try!"

To Bob, I leave this message:  

• "My grandfather once told me that there are two kinds of people; those who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was much less competition." - Indira Gandhi

--> Posted by a volunteer Community Blogger of Kentucky Equality Federation. This is the official blog of Kentucky Equality Federation. Posts contained in this blog may not be the official position of Kentucky Equality Federation, its volunteer officers, directors, management, supported organizations, allies or coalitions, but rather the personal opinions or views of the volunteer Community Bloggers. The opinions or views expressed in the blog are protected by Section 1 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky as non-slanderous free speech; blogs are personal views or opinions and not journalistic news sites.

Community donates to HIV/AIDS Organizations in Kentucky to spite the Westboro Baptist Church

The dogma preached by the Westboro Baptist Church should be transformed into a positive event instead of a negative one by engaging the community to get involved and support local and statewide organizations for people suffering with HIV/AIDS.

From the Courier-Journal: Members of Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas have announced plans for protests Sunday at a Louisville parish and three Owensboro churches. The independent Baptist group said in faxes to The Courier-Journal that it would target two Catholic and two Protestant churches, claiming that "God hates Catholics" and "God hates lying false prophets" and using slurs against gay people, the pope and others.

The group plans three protests on Sunday morning in Owensboro — at Blessed Mother Catholic Church, Owensboro Christian Church and Bellevue Baptist Church. It then plans to picket St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Louisville just before its afternoon Mass.

Of the four churches, the Westboro faxes only gave a specific reason for protests at Blessed Mother, capitalizing on the suicide outside the church last month of a young man who left a final note describing the trauma of being sexually abused.

Kentucky Equality Federation wants to engage the community to get involved and support local and statewide organizations for people suffering with HIV or AIDS.  Make to donation to HIV/AIDS Organizations in the Commonwealth in the name of "Westboro Baptist Church."

INSTRUCTIONS

• MAKE A DONATION (to an HIV/AIDS Organization in Kentucky)
• YOU-TUBE OUTREACH & INSTRUCTIONS
• PRESS RELEASE
• COUNTER PROTEST INFORMATION

Click here for a list of people who have donated!

--> Posted by a volunteer Community Blogger of Kentucky Equality Federation. This is the official blog of Kentucky Equality Federation. Posts contained in this blog may not be the official position of Kentucky Equality Federation, its volunteer officers, directors, management, supported organizations, allies or coalitions, but rather the personal opinions or views of the volunteer Community Bloggers. The opinions or views expressed in the blog are protected by Section 1 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky as non-slanderous free speech; blogs are personal views or opinions and not journalistic news sites.

America becoming less Christian; Black Church Leaders Ask Forgiveness From the LGBT Community

In an unusual meeting, several ministers apologize to gays about how they have been treated.

Yesterday a rather unusual event recently took place in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Fort Washington, Md. Several ministers of black churches met with members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community -- and formally apologized for what the organizers described as the church's judgmental attitude toward individuals who experience same-sex attraction and their loved ones.

................

There were similar stories throughout the two-hour forum, all with one common theme: The church, the one place that should represent the epitome of love, was often the most uncaring and unsafe place for these individuals when they were at their most vulnerable.

................

Moore listened intently as people shared their experiences, often taking notes while they spoke. Toward the end of the event, he reinforced the sincerity of the church's apology by pledging to continue the dialogue and to make concerted efforts to make his ministry more inclusive of members of the LGBT community.

According to CNN, America is a less Christian nation than it was 20 years ago, and Christianity is not losing out to other religions, but primarily to a rejection of religion altogether, in a survey published CNN published.

Seventy-five percent of Americans call themselves Christian, according to the American Religious Identification Survey from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. In 1990, the figure was 86 percent.

William Donohue, president of the Catholic League said he thinks a radical shift towards individualism over the last quarter-century has a lot to do it.

................

Faith leaders should not shy away from confronting issues that affect both the spiritual and material condition of their communities. The church should be a place where all people, especially those who are hurting and vulnerable, can come to experience God's love and grace. This should be true regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, political affiliation or sexual orientation.

The tension between black churches' theological stances on homosexuality and their central principle of "whosoever will, let him come" is something that churches must address honestly and lovingly in moving forward.

• Read more from The Root:  http://www.theroot.com/views/black-church-and-lgbt-community

Hopefully, religious leaders across Kentucky will read this message and re-evaluable their position, especially people like Kentucky Representative Mike Harmon (R-Danville) who is running for Lieutenant Governor on a ticket with Phil Moffett, to be the next Governor of the Commonwealth. Moffett describes himself as America's Tea Party Governor 2011  (what does the rest of the nation have to do with Kentucky's chief executive and commander-in-chief?).

The anti-gay Harmon recently killed House 370 by attaching amendments to it that neither House Speaker Greg Stumbo nor Senior Representative Mary Lou Marzian (D-Louisville), who sponsored the bill would accept.

House Bill 370 would have made schools across Kentucky safer for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered students. School bullying can be reported to Kentucky Equality Federation at (877) KEF-5775. Kentucky Equality Federation will act as your advocate! 

Needless to say, the Moffett/Harmon ticket for will not receive any LGBTI votes. 

--> Posted by a volunteer Community Blogger of Kentucky Equality Federation. This is the official blog of Kentucky Equality Federation. Posts contained in this blog may not be the official position of Kentucky Equality Federation, its volunteer officers, directors, management, supported organizations, allies or coalitions, but rather the personal opinions or views of the volunteer Community Bloggers. The opinions or views expressed in the blog are protected by Section 1 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky as non-slanderous free speech; blogs are personal views or opinions and not journalistic news sites.

Kentucky House Bill 370 - Rep. Harmon misrepresents the religious community

By: Jordan Palmer

Lexington, KY -- Kentucky Representative Mike Harmon (R-Danville) disgraces himself with amendments filed to House Bill 370.

What if a male student wishes to bully people for "getting their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, and their beard, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. If this is against a student's personal religious beliefs, does Representative Mike Harmon (R-Danville) sanction this bullying?

"The Old Testament contains 6 admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to heterosexuals." - Lynn Lavner.  Those numbers are accurate according to Rev. Geoff D. Leonard-Robinson of the Metropolitan Community Church.  

Society's biases against those with a same-sex orientation are rooted within the religious community, its lack of accurate biblical interpretation, and its blatant misrepresentation of God’s creation and the message of Jesus Christ.  Representative Mike Harmon (R-Danville) should watch this from CBS about Americans and Religion: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6909300n.

* CBS found that although the majority of Americans may consider themselves to be religious, many are in fact unaware of basic tenets concerning their faith.

Representative Mike Harmon cannot put labels on everything, and we deal with him with understanding, realizing that he doesn't know any better.

This is not simply an attack on the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered community, but all citizens of Kentucky. Governments based on religion such as Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. are dangerous to those who do not share their religious beliefs or interpretations of scripture.  This is why Section V of the Commonwealth's Constitution protects us from religious dogma.

Our youth go to school to be taught math, grammar, spelling, biology, chemistry, and things to prepare them to compete for jobs, not to be taught Bible lessons, which should be reserved for a religion of their choosing. School bullying can be reported to Kentucky Equality Federation at (877) KEF-5775.

I am a Christian and a practicing Taoist and I pray for wisdom, and the courage to continue to fight the fanatics who, in the name of God, spread judgment, hate, and fear and I maintain a personal blog to educated LGBTI youth about the Bible and homosexuality: http://www.jordan-palmer.com

Representative Mike Harmon (R-Danville) claims to love God, but 1 John 4:20 disagrees: "If someone says, "I love God," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?"

As Archbishop Desmond Tutu stated: "If God, as they say, is homophobic, I wouldn't worship that God. When will we learn that human beings are of infinite value because they have been created in the image of God, and that it is a blasphemy to treat them as if they were less than this and to do so ultimately recoils on those who do this? In dehumanizing others, they are themselves dehumanized. Perhaps oppression dehumanizes the oppressor as much as, if not more than, the oppressed. They need each other to become truly free, to become human. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people are part of so many families. They are part of the human family. They are part of God's family. And of course they are part of the African family."

If you are religious, then you know Jesus died for our sins, thereby creating a New Covenant, also known as the New Testament which we are supposed to live by.  Jesus also instituted "The Greatest Commandment," to love God and your neighbors and no Commandments are greater than those two.

I personally thank Senior Representative Mary Lou Marzian (D-Louisville) for her service to the Commonwealth, for attempting to bring it into the 21st Century by making it a place for diversity and tolerance, the building blocks of our entire nation.

Some of these quotes come from a radio talk show I did in 2008. (link)

--> Posted by a volunteer Community Blogger of Kentucky Equality Federation. This is the official blog of Kentucky Equality Federation. Posts contained in this blog may not be the official position of Kentucky Equality Federation, its volunteer officers, directors, management, supported organizations, allies or coalitions, but rather the personal opinions or views of the volunteer Community Bloggers. The opinions or views expressed in the blog are protected by Section 1 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky as non-slanderous free speech; blogs are personal views or opinions and not journalistic news sites.