Go, Rep. Watkins for saying enough is enough. Did anyone else find it interesting that the Family Foundation representative sat at the testimony table with Sen. McGaha? Didn't Chairman Burch say that only he (McGaha) was going to speak to the bill before action? Oh well, yet again - the Family Foundation isn't truly looking out for everyone's family - I know they aren't mine.
~Jody
Ban on insurance for domestic partners rejected
By Deborah Yetter • dyetter@courier-journal.com • March 20, 2008
FRANKFORT, Ky. — A House committee today killed a Senate bill that would bar state universities and other public agencies from providing health insurance for domestic partners of employees.The 9-6 vote rejecting Senate Bill 112 appears to kill the controversial measure for the current legislative session. And it prompted Rep. David Watkins, D-Henderson, to deliver a tongue-lashing to the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Vernie McGaha, R-Russell Springs, before he voted against it.Watkins, a family physician, called the measure divisive and said the Senate is ignoring the state’s biggest health problems, including smoking, obesity and a lack of adequate mental health services.“I am tired of the same petty issues coming before us when we’ve got major issues to address,’’ he said.The bill would ban public agencies from providing health coverage for unmarried couples — gay or straight. McGaha afterward said his concern is the “sanctity of marriage” and that he was offended by Watkins’ comments.“Dr. Watkins is totally off-base,” McGaha said. “He is a disgrace to the process we have here.”McGaha said if the measure is dead this year, he will bring it back next year.
Reporter Deborah Yetter can be reached at (502) 582-4228.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
"Minorities in Politics" - 3/26/08
Hi, folks: The political science honor society has organized a forum entitled "Minorities in Politics" for Wednesday, March 26th. The forum will be in the Curris Center theater beginning at 3:00 p.m. and is open to everyone.
There will be four speakers. I have been asked to speak on the LGBT community's participation/role in politics. The other speakers include Eleanor Jordan, Executive Director of the Kentucky Commission on Women and former state representative, Danny Hudsbeth, Murray City Councilman, and a judge that I do not know the name of. It is my understanding that each speaker will focus on different things, such as the role of women and African-Americans.
Mark your calendars to support the good folks over in the political science honor society for organizing this forum and plan to attend if possible.
~Jody
There will be four speakers. I have been asked to speak on the LGBT community's participation/role in politics. The other speakers include Eleanor Jordan, Executive Director of the Kentucky Commission on Women and former state representative, Danny Hudsbeth, Murray City Councilman, and a judge that I do not know the name of. It is my understanding that each speaker will focus on different things, such as the role of women and African-Americans.
Mark your calendars to support the good folks over in the political science honor society for organizing this forum and plan to attend if possible.
~Jody
Thursday, March 6, 2008
How's that for a week's work?
So, in less than one week Kentucky has seen two victories on the fairness front. The final piece in Kentucky's public university puzzle adopted a fair workplace policy by inserting sexual orientation into their non-discrimination policy and a judge ruled against state dollars going to a private, religion-based institution. How's that for a week's work?
Judge: Money For Anti-Gay Baptist School Wrong
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: March 6, 2008 - 3:00 pm ET
(Frankfort, Kentucky) A judge ruled Thursday that Kentucky GOP lawmakers and former Gov. Ernie Fletcher violated the state constitution by appropriating $11 million in state funding to a Baptist university.
The state had argued that the money, to be used to create a pharmacy school at the University of the Cumberlands, was for the betterment of the state's health and welfare and therefore constitutional.
The LGBT rights group Kentucky Fairness Alliance filed a lawsuit along with advocates for the separation of church and state and the Jefferson County Teachers Association.
Named as defendants were the university, Fletcher and a dozen Republican lawmakers.
Kentucky Fairness Alliance executive director Christina Gilgor called the ruling a victory against state-subsidized discrimination.
The $11 million grant was approved by the GOP controlled legislature and despite pressure to veto the measure Fletcher signed the appropriation but said the funds would be held until after the legal question was resolved.
The legality of the grant grew out of a 2006 incident in which the university expelled a student it found out is gay.
Jason Johnson, 20, was expelled after posting his sexual orientation on a Web site.
The dean's list student received all Fs on his transcript when he was expelled. (story)
Following public outrage the university agreed to allow Johnson to send in work to finish his courses and receive final grades but he was barred from the campus.'
Although the suit was filed by the Kentucky Fairness Alliance there was scant mention of the Johnson situation in legal arguments.
Attorney David Tachau instead argued that the grant did not fall under the heading of "health and welfare" and was instead in support of education at a private, sectarian institution. That, said Tachau, makes it unconstitutional.
In his argument he cited a 1983 ruling that said public money could not be used to buy textbooks for private schools.
The university, represented by Timothy J. Tracey, of the Virginia-based Center for Law & Religious Freedom, argued that the legislature acted responsibly and legally by seeking to address the state's shortage of pharmacists.
Judge: Money For Anti-Gay Baptist School Wrong
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: March 6, 2008 - 3:00 pm ET
(Frankfort, Kentucky) A judge ruled Thursday that Kentucky GOP lawmakers and former Gov. Ernie Fletcher violated the state constitution by appropriating $11 million in state funding to a Baptist university.
The state had argued that the money, to be used to create a pharmacy school at the University of the Cumberlands, was for the betterment of the state's health and welfare and therefore constitutional.
The LGBT rights group Kentucky Fairness Alliance filed a lawsuit along with advocates for the separation of church and state and the Jefferson County Teachers Association.
Named as defendants were the university, Fletcher and a dozen Republican lawmakers.
Kentucky Fairness Alliance executive director Christina Gilgor called the ruling a victory against state-subsidized discrimination.
The $11 million grant was approved by the GOP controlled legislature and despite pressure to veto the measure Fletcher signed the appropriation but said the funds would be held until after the legal question was resolved.
The legality of the grant grew out of a 2006 incident in which the university expelled a student it found out is gay.
Jason Johnson, 20, was expelled after posting his sexual orientation on a Web site.
The dean's list student received all Fs on his transcript when he was expelled. (story)
Following public outrage the university agreed to allow Johnson to send in work to finish his courses and receive final grades but he was barred from the campus.'
Although the suit was filed by the Kentucky Fairness Alliance there was scant mention of the Johnson situation in legal arguments.
Attorney David Tachau instead argued that the grant did not fall under the heading of "health and welfare" and was instead in support of education at a private, sectarian institution. That, said Tachau, makes it unconstitutional.
In his argument he cited a 1983 ruling that said public money could not be used to buy textbooks for private schools.
The university, represented by Timothy J. Tracey, of the Virginia-based Center for Law & Religious Freedom, argued that the legislature acted responsibly and legally by seeking to address the state's shortage of pharmacists.
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