It’s that time again when tens of thousands across the commonwealth head back to school. So, we thought we would share a refresher course on issues of importance to fair-minded Kentuckians. We’ll have class the middle of each week for the next several weeks on a variety of topics to include: adoption and parenting, “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” employment protections, inclusive hate crime laws, estate planning, and religion. It wouldn’t be school without homework, so don’t think you’re getting out of it. Your assignment each week will be to ponder the information presented and post personal stories or comments on our Leading Light blog, engaging each other on the topics.
Recently, a phrase was coined by the Movement Advancement Project that we’re really digging at Kentucky Fairness Alliance. For everyone worried that this crash course is going to be a drag listen up: “This is about everyday Americans who want the same chance as everyone else to earn a living, be safe in their communities, serve their country, and take care of the ones they love.”
We’re going to give you the facts just like you’re sitting through an old-school lecture, but your personal stories are what will make this class shine. Sharing your stories through the homework assignments will get you an “A.”
So, we've told you that class doesn’t start until next week, but we’re giving you homework today. The assignment is to ponder the following terms and share through a personal story how they fit into your everyday life as an LGBT or fair-minded Kentuckian: 1) hard working, 2) security, 3) responsibility, and 4) caring. Turn in your assignment by posting here (and, yes, we’ll even let you turn it in anonymously).
That’s it. See you next Wednesday when we talk about “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”
Class dismissed!
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2 comments:
I'll respond to this first. You know, it aggravates me to no end when I read or hear about extremists portraying the lgbt community in a way that says we’re not hard working or responsible folks. Those that encounter discrimination let’s say in their jobs have to rise to a higher expectation to prove they are hard working more so than others. Everyone I know in the lgbt community, with the exception of a few folks that are in every segment of today’s world, are hard workers trying to accomplish something for themselves and their families. You can call me a lot of things (all agree with you on some of them) and even find ways to link them to who I am (my orientation), but don’t dare try to say I’m not hard working or responsible. Those are fighting words for me. ~Jody
No good has come from everyone setting around and doing nothing about the problems that face them everyday. Now, every individual must set a plan into action composed of small but meaningful alterations to our daily activities which reflect the world inwhich we wish to live. Every revolution starts with changes inside each individual. This will be difficult, and inconvenient, but isn't living in a world of intolerance, ignorance, and hate a greater inconvenience?
In order to secure the rights of every individual to partake of everything life has to offer, we must start on the road toward education. Educate those who are ignorant that they are insulting theirselves by saying that how other people live their lives is an attack on their identity. We should teach them that they need to be more secure in their own identity inorder to dispell this commonly held false belief. The only way to become secure in your own skin is to be honest with yourself and ask yourself difficult questions about what you want out of life. Rational thinking will dispell all these hateful ideations.
Personal responsibility is nearly extinct in the world today. Every individual should take responsibility for their own actions, ideas and in securing their place in the world. We have allowed others to make major decisions for us for far too long. Every individual must take their own honest personal steps toward a better, safer world.
This also implies caring. You cannot only care for yourself and your own place in the world if we are to live so close to each other. Everyone should care for their own needs first, then they should give of themselves to secure the future of others. A secure future in a world with as little ignorance as possible.
The only way to do this is through education. This education must be readily available in a safe and secure environment that cares for the current misgivings each student might hold and attend to each of those on a one-on-one basis. This educational structure is everyone's responsibility, and everyone should put in as much effort as their situation will allow to provide a better future for every individual alive today and for those to come.
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