PRESS RELEASE: The Repeal of Kentucky's Same-Sex Marriage Ban

This is a joke, right?

Kentucky is so very far, far away from undoing their nasty 2004 amendment.

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by: S1 @ Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 13:45:13 PM CST

Inane

Complete waste of time, in a state that doesn't have non-discrimination protections for its LGBT citizens.  

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by: Bruno @ Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 14:08:16 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Wrong Bruno

Perhaps this particular issue might be a waste of time but Louisville was one of the very first cities to pass an anti-discrimination policy that covers sexual orientation AND gender identity.  This includes employment, housing and public accommodations.  A couple of years later, Lexington followed suit as did Covington outside of Cincinnati.  In addition, the Governor signed an executive order prohibiting descrimination for state employees based upon sexual orientation AND gender identity.

Last year, the Jefferson County Public Schools (Louisville), one of the largest school districts in the country, passed a sweeping anti-discrimination policy as well.  Louisville has a very large GLBT population that is very diverse, quite active and fighting just as hard for equal rights as those on the coasts.  I live and work in a city where no one really cares about my sexual orientation or gender identity.  It's a live and let live city and I'm proud of that.

Mary Lou Marzian, my state representative, is as liberal and progressive as one can get and I personally applaud her for doing the right thing.  She is a champion for for progressive causes and basically a pain in the ass to some of the idiots in the state legislature.  People who live in New York or California or other so called blue states have no idea how hard we in fly over country are fighting for equal rights.  So yeah, it won't happen but based upon the facts, Kentucky is no different than California, Maine and all the other states that have voted to ban gay marriage.  


"If ignorance is bliss, why aren't there more happy people?"

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by: kellyvision @ Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 21:03:36 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I know this isn't the point here, but

Maine didn't ban gay marriage. I keep seeing people say that and I get a little frustrated, because it's not illegal; it just wasn't legalized. I know it probably seems like splitting hairs, but to me, there's a difference between what was done here and banning it altogether.  

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by: Lexie @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 07:43:09 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Check Pandagon

Amanda at Pandagon has a post titled "Why You Can't Trust A Damn Thing They Say".  

Please read it.

That post makes very clear why you really can't trust ANYTHING they say.

         http://pandagon.net/

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by: tsokol1 @ Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 13:57:36 PM CST

time to lay down the crack pipe?

No offense to anybody, but Kentucky voting to repeal their marriage amendment?  Good luck with that.....

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by: Kokas @ Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 14:52:45 PM CST

I applaud their good intentions

but this will happen when hell freezes over. :(

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by: tbaxfer @ Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 15:53:01 PM CST

Sorry, couldn't resist.

____________________________________
Cuius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum.

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by: tavdy79 @ Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 17:33:03 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I Hope!

This is a pipe dream that will not happen in the next 20 years. You can file all the bills you want but it's not gonna do any good. The Democrats (our usual allies) are farther right than most people who love Pat Robertson.

I live in the Eastern part and have full faith and knowledge of which I speak. There's virtually no chance it even gets an up or down vote in committee in this year, decade or longer.

Sad but true.

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by: thevertman @ Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 16:20:54 PM CST

K-K-K-K-Kentucky?!

(stunned)

Decades MORE of Psychological Abuse? - OR - Stonewall.  Nationwide.  NOW!

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by: John Bisceglia @ Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 16:44:45 PM CST

not "illegal" - just not legally recognized

Currently, the Commonwealth [of Kentucky] will not recognize any type of same-sex union. Marriage, domestic partnerships, and civil unions are all illegal in Kentucky (even if performed in other countries or states).

 Strictly speaking, this use of the word "illegal" fits with Merriam-Webster.  Colloquially and etymologically though, "illegal" means "not lawful."  Or against the law; a violation of the law.  Gets my panties all in a bunch when even we can't get the language right.  (In this case, the Kentucky Equality groups.)

Same-sex religious marriages are not illegal in the U.S., and cannot be made so per the first ammendment.  The Constitution prohibits government from interfering with religion.  Various faiths that support same-sex marriage can and do perform these unions in all 50 states.  They can't stop us from marrying.  What they can do is refuse to provide the mirror-image civil status of marriage (and all related protections, spousal/parental status, tax breaks, etc.) that is afforded to heterosexual couples.

Why do I think these words matter?  Because I don't doubt that a significant number of the citizens and elected representatives who vote to refuse us the civil status of marriage think they are somehow stopping us from marrying or coupling or having kids or existing.  They think they are stopping the great and terrifying homosexual tide sweeping not just the nation but the world, threatening to take up little Janey and Johnny and even themselves maybe cuz Lord knows what would happen if we didn't have rules and punishments to keep us all marching to our pre-assigned gender roles instead of giving in to all the homasexshul urges simmering just under the veneer.  

But they are not stopping our marriages or our relationships or our having children.  They are only robbing us and f*cking over our families, while we continue to support specific socially approved crudely defined relationships and families through our tax dollars.  Brittney Spears and Jason Alexander - 55 hours; but not Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon - 56 years?  Really?

I think the thing they find most reprehensible is that we dare to stand before our communities and our gods with loved ones around us and declare our commitments and unions to each other.  They think they are stopping that, and they aren't.  They are only stopping what is by one perspective the very meanest of the recognitions (when compared to God, community, family) ... the legal status.

Queer wedding announcements in local papers.  Open support from the wedding industry and associated businesses (I know you're all in, Petey).  Out married couples.  That will help them see that their petty, hateful actions are nothing but pissing in the wind.

Listen to your fairy Godmother, my dear: you will go to the ball.

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by: 555catnap @ Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 23:44:15 PM CST

Priorities?

Kentucky doesn't have a nondiscrimination law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity, does it?  What the heck are the Kentucky Equality Federation and Marriage Equality Kentucky thinking??

Maybe it's just that their treasury needs a boost?

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by: Emelye Waldherr @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 09:34:31 AM CST