United We Stand

• Marriage equality in New York defeated as anti-gay organization promises to repeal gay marriage in all states

  Number of comments: 1
  Opponents of gay marriage are celebrating another decisive vote in the New York Senate, where a proposal to legalize same-sex marriage was defeated 38 to 24 on late Wednesday. Opponents said New York lawmakers heeded the outcome of a Nov. 3 ballot measure in Maine, where voters repealed a gay [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 9:45am EST
  by Tony Begley, Contributor

• What can a Gay Kentuckian really do?

  Number of comments: 1
  Viewpoint: I see the Fairness Campaign, Kentucky Fairness Alliance, and the Kentucky Equality Federation tirelessly show up for -fight after fight, and I think- geez, when will this ever end? And I also wonder, what can we really do for today's gay teenager in Elizabethtown or Paducah? I came across [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 12:01am EST
  by Michael Thomas, Editor

• Legislation filed to end Kentucky’s same-sex marriage ban

  Number of comments: 5
  Representative Mary Lou Marzian (D-Louisville) pre-filed legislation to overturn Kentucky's same-sex marriage, civil unions, and the domestic partnerships ban. Marzian, a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives since 1994 told United We Stand News™ that she filed the legislation "to let Kentucky's LGBT citizens know that there are people...[...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 8:00am EST
  by Casey Kurtis, Journalist

• Kentucky Young Democrats also looking to oust Senate President David Williams

  Number of comments: 5
  The Kentucky Young Democrats, and the Young Democrats of America ("YDA") also have their eyes on the Kentucky Senate, as Democrats have an opportunity to retake the upper chamber of the Kentucky General Assembly.
  
  This is a summary only; please visit http://www.UnitedWeStandKY.com to read the entire article. Email tips [...]
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  Posted: November 28, 2009, 1:36pm EST
  by Tony Begley, Contributor

• Hate crimes against gays increase 11% with Puerto Rico having one of the worst hate crimes in U.S. history this month

  Data released by the FBI shows that hate crimes in the United States has reached a seven-year high, yet another increase from 2005's report. 64 hate crimes related to sexual orientation or gender identity happened here in Kentucky.
  
  This is a summary only; please visit http://www.UnitedWeStandKY.com to read the [...]
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  Posted: November 24, 2009, 3:03am EST
  by Michael Thomas, Editor

• World AIDS Day, AIDS in Kentucky and AVOL

  Since the termination of the Kentucky AIDS Assistance Program people living with HIV/AIDS are in need of assistance today more than ever. With December 1st being World Aids Day, I can think of no better way to contribute to the Worldwide event than to make a donate to AVOL, or [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 2:37pm EST
  by Trevor Ashley, Contributor

• Advocate Magazine the latest casulty in LGBT media

  Number of comments: 1
  The 41 year old magazine The Advocate is the latest casualty in the gay and lesbian community's loss of newspapers and magazines. Pictured if the first over of The Advocate in 1972.
  
  This is a summary only; please visit http://www.UnitedWeStandKY.com to read the entire article. Email tips to tips@UnitedWeStandKY.com. [...]
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  Posted: November 22, 2009, 3:14pm EST
  by Casey Kurtis, Journalist

• No Texas marriage may be legal because of a legal error in passing 2005’s same-sex marriage ban

  Number of comments: 2
  Barbara Ann Radnofsky, the Democratic candidate for Texas Attorney General says no marriages in the state of Texas may be legal because of the 2005 constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and unions. The problem is with Subsection B, which declares neither the state or a political subdivision of the state [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 8:27am EST
  by tonyb

• Church, state and gay marriage

  The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is warning the District of Columbia Council that the church will stop contracting to provide social services if the city approves same-sex marriage as planned. To which the only valid response is, "OK."
  
  This is a summary only; please visit http://www.UnitedWeStandKY.com to read the [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 5:34am EST
  by trevora

• Nations largest gay newspapers close, including the Wasington Blade

  Number of comments: 4
  The nation's oldest LGBTI newspaper, the Washington Blade closed today after having just turned 40 years old. The Washington Blade, owned by Window Media, the nation's largest owner of gay newspapers, also closed the South Florida Blade, Southern Voice, Houston Voice, David Atlanta Magazine, bitchsession.com, Genre Magazine, and the 411 [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 1:43pm EST
  by michaelt

• Marriage equality lost, but not losing

  But whether it is the National Organization for Marriage, the Liberty Counsel, the American Family Association, or the Family Foundation of Kentucky, anyone who denies that "American opinion is shifting" inhabits a fool's paradise. Opposition to gay marriage is shrinking. In 1996, 65 percent took a negative view. Since then,' [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 9:50am EST
  by trevora

• Kentucky Fairness Alliance moves annual event to Elizabethtown

  This year the Kentucky Fairness Alliance decided not to hold their annual fundraiser in Lexington, Louisville, Covington or any of the "usual" prospects for large cities in Kentucky. Instead, they held the event in Elizabethtown, a central city that allowed more people to participate.
  
  This is a summary only; [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 9:29am EST
  by caseky

• Maine gay marriage supporters working to strip churches of tax-exemption

  Number of comments: 1
  More than 80,000 people have joined an online movement seeking the revocation of tax-exempt status from churches that were involved in the repeal of Maine's marriage equality law. The law was repealed last week when 53 percent of voters chose to repeal the law using Maine's unique system of law [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 11:13pm EST
  by caseky

• Students at Perdue University fight back after a professor wrote that gays are an economic drain

  Professor Bert Chapman from Perdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana has caused a firestorm because of his views on homosexuality. Chapman believes gays are an "economic drain" and blames the LGBTI community for AIDS research and prevention spending. The university has rejected calls to fire Chapman, but students at the [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 7:51am EST
  by michaelt

• Democrats could be closer to taking over the Kentucky Senate

  Number of comments: 1
  Until the politicians who take our community for granted realize that they can no longer count on our votes unless we can count on theirs, things will never change for Kentucky's LGBTI community. A Democratic majority in the Kentucky Senate could also mean a school bullying bill would be passed,' [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 12:21pm EST
  by michaelt

• Michigan's House Speaker Pro Tempore Pam Byrnes introduces legislation to overturn ban on same-sex marriage

  Only days after Kalamazoo city voters approved an anti-discrimination ordinance to protect gays, lesbians and transgender individuals, Michigan Representative Pam Byrnes, current House speaker pro tem, has filed legislation to overturn Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage.
  
  This is a summary only; please visit http://www.UnitedWeStandKY.com to read the entire article.' [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 2:12pm EST
  by admin

• U.S. House moves to extend health benefits to gay couples

  U.S. House moves to extend health benefits to gay couples, but its future in the U.S. Senate remains unclear. Kentucky's Mitch McConnell (R) a senior Senator and the U.S. Senate Minority Leader will like vote against it, or worse still, attempt to stop the bill in the U.S. Senate.
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 9:08am EST
  by admin

• U.S. House moves to extend health benefits to gay couples

  The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a health care reform bill Saturday that recognizes gay unions and makes health care more affordable for gay families. Titled The Affordable Health Care for America Act, it extends Medicaid to subsidize moderate-income people who otherwise could not afford quality health insurance. Also...
  
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 9:01am EST
  

• Matthew Vanderpool (D-Lexington) running against incumbent Stan Lee (R-Lexington)

  Matthew Vanderpool (D-Lexington), an openly gay male is running against conservative incumbent Stan Lee (R-Lexington). If elected, Vanderpool would be the only gay lawmaker in Kentucky. Representative Lee has been responsible for filing a lot of anti-gay legislation.
  
  This is a summary only; please visit http://www.UnitedWeStandKY.com to read the [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2009, 4:11am EST
  by admin

• House of Representatives Candidate Matthew Vanderpool talks about his campaign against conservative incumbent Stan Lee

  Education is key to electing politicians. As an effort to educate everyone* in the importance of voting, not only in U.S. Presidential elections, but your elected lawmakers in Frankfort, United We Stand will be conducting interviews with conservative and progressive candidates so you know exactly who you are voting for [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 6:36am EST
  

• Voters in the State of Maine repeal Marriage Equality - Washington's Referendum - 71 Update

  With the defeat in the State of Maine, our interview with Mr. Vanderpool is being delayed until tomorrow. Equality Maine has yet to issue any official press release, but the Associated Press has quoted several other organization, mainly the ones who repealed the law. Echoes of Prop 8 as Maine Voters Repeal [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 6:12am EST
  

• Finally, Rep. Stan Lee (R-Lexington), a nightmare to Kentucky's gay population, will be unopposed.

  Finally, one of the biggest nightmares to Kentucky's gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersex community, Representative Stan Lee (R-Lexington) (pictured) has competition in the upcoming 2010 election.  Lee is not only a nightmare to the LGBTI community, but everyone who wants to move Kentucky forward and stands for equality, justice,...[...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 4:25am EST
  

• Citizens in Maine and Washington will vote to repeal gay marriage or domestic partnership laws in defiance of their lawmakers and Governor

  Citizens in two states decide whether or not to keep gay marriage, or institutions similar to them.   In Maine voters will decide to override the Maine House of Representatives, Senate, and even the Governor to repeal their new "same-sex marriage law," or more appropriately chartered,  Maine's Marriage Equality Act. In Washington...
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  Posted: November 01, 2009, 11:39pm EST
  

• Kentucky Human Rights Commission 2009 Annual Report released

  The Commonwealth News Center, the official media center for the Kentucky Government reports that the Kentucky Human Rights Commission annual report was released yesterday: As has been the case for all of its 49 years, the commission received the most discrimination complaints based on the protected classes of race and color....
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  Posted: October 31, 2009, 2:56pm EDT
  

• Obama has been busy, but will sign the symbolic Matthew Shepard Act

  By: Tony Begley I admit that along with the rest of the gay community, the contributors here at United We Stand have been tough on U.S. President Obama. U.S. State Department Secretary Hillary Clinton has done more for LGBTI people since assuming office for the U.S. Department of State... all it takes [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 2:16am EDT
  

• Equality in Kentucky is getting closer; the truth about the Kentucky Senate

  Want to know why Kentucky doesn't have a statewide law banning discrimination against gay and lesbian people (the entire community, LGBTI) in employment, housing, credit, and accommodations? The answer is simple, Republicans in the Kentucky Senate always defeat the measure, most of the time without the legislation making it out' [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 1:28am EDT
  

• Mountain Shopper in Southern Kentucky posts anti-gay article: The Fall of UK because of "homosexuals"

  The Mountain Shopper, "The Leader for Buying, Selling and Trading; Community News, and Special Events" has been identified as the paper that published an anti-gay article, effectively blaming gay and lesbian people (or homosexuals as the articles refers to our community) as the reason the University of Kentucky has fallen [...]
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  Posted: October 19, 2009, 5:29pm EDT
  

• Online site refuses gay/lesbian screenplays.

  An online site, "Write Like the Pros" lists homosexual screenplays as something they will not accept, and likens it to pornography, and "darkly sinister evil." The site sells CD's, DVD's, and offers writing tips in addition to them reading your screenplay. They assist in character development, narration, and dialogue. According to their...
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  Posted: October 16, 2009, 2:01pm EDT
  

• Are you in favor of amending the Constitution to remove language requiring that separate schools for "white" and "colored" children be maintained?

  Did you just suffer from a time warp? Would it surprise you to learn that Kentucky citizens voted on that again in 1996? Political elites were stunned when a third of those voting, and majorities in five counties, rejected the change. Poll result in McLean County, KY (they voted in [...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2009, 4:35am EDT
  

• Andrew Sullivan calls for the resignation of HRC President Joe Solmonese

  Andrew Sullivan, one of the most influential and popular gay authors, blogger, and reporter is calling for the resignation of the President of the nations self proclaimed 'largest' gay rights organization, HRC President Joe Solmonese. Solmonese, who draws a salary of nearly $500,000.00 per year has yet to comment. Who is Andrew [...]
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  Posted: October 13, 2009, 5:37pm EDT
  

• Louisville's Fairness Campaign wants to boycott Woody's Tavern, but Woody's may not be legally operating in Kentucky

  After David P. Norton apologized in August for racist and sexist comments made about a year ago, Louisville's Fairness Campaign, a champion for LGBTI civil rights in Jefferson County, is again boycotting the bar owned by David Norton. David Norton, owner of Woody’s Tavern, went public in August to apologize' [...]
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  Posted: October 10, 2009, 1:22am EDT
  

• Russia raises the stakes against gay and lesbian people at the United Nations with a new resolution

  Urge the United Nations to decriminalization homosexuality worldwide; oppose the Russian Federation's "Traditional Values Resolution." Shared via AddThis On September 15, 2009, the United Nations elected a new President of the General Assembly. They elected Ali Abdussalam Treki, the former Foreign Minister of the Great Socialist People's Libyan...
  
  This is a [...]
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  Posted: September 29, 2009, 2:41am EDT
  

• Decriminalization of Homosexuality in danger at the United Nations; new General Assembly President says Muslim faith makes it illegal

  Ali Abdussalam Treki, the former Foreign Minister of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (Libya) assumed office as president of the United Nations General Assembly on September 15, 2009. One of the first official statements of his office is outrageous and is being condemned by the International Lesbian & Gay' [...]
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  Posted: September 26, 2009, 6:34pm EDT
  

• The repeal of DoMA is dying because it isn't the 'right time.' When is the 'right time'?

  Support for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act is wavering in the U.S. House of Representatives since it was introduced by U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-New York) last Tuesday (previous story). Even openly gay U.S. Representative Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts) opposes it, though the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has sued the [...]
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  Posted: September 22, 2009, 8:11am EDT
  

• U.S. House Speaker Pelosi likens healthcare protests to anti-gay rhetoric

  U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) said Thursday that she worries that the protests over President Obama's healthcare legislation may resemble the anti-gay rhetoric of the late 1970s. In 1978, Harvey Milk, the first openly gay member of the city's board of supervisors, and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone [...]
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  Posted: September 18, 2009, 12:24am EDT
  

• Bill to repeal DOMA to be filed in the U.S. House on Sept. 15th

  Since the U.S. Government has been repeatedly attacked with multiple lawsuits (including, a prominent and founding Union member, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts) over the Defense of Marriage Act (DoMA), U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-New York) will file a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to repeal it. The bill [...]
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  Posted: September 11, 2009, 4:30pm EDT
  

• Roman Catholic Church to fund efforts in Maine to defeat gay marriage

  In direct defiance of the teachings of the The New Testament (for those who are religious or spiritual) which never once condemns homosexuality, or says it is a sin, another church (this time it isn't the Mormon's, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), the [...]
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  Posted: September 06, 2009, 7:56pm EDT
  

• What does the new Senate mean for the Commonwealth's LGBTI population? Anything? Is it an indication of future?

  With members of the Democratic Party gaining strength in the Kentucky Senate, what does this mean for Kentucky's gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and interex population? One must wonder if Senate President David L. Williams is feeling the squeeze despite what he recently said to the Courier-Journal: “It won't make any difference.” This [...]
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  Posted: September 05, 2009, 3:41am EDT
  

• All hope of striking down DOMA is with Massachusetts; Obama Administration plans to fight it

  All hope of striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) passed in 1996 which prevents the federal government from recognizing marriages performed within states resides with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts says The National Law Journal, and the National Legal Scholars Council. "If you're looking to effect legal change, you're...[...]
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  Posted: August 31, 2009, 4:11pm EDT
  

• Utah Governor Gary Herbert: No protected class for gay people

  Does the Governor of Utah live in the 21st Century? Does he realize how much the Republican Party has suffered because of the type of statement he made today? "Discriminating against gay people shouldn't be illegal, although he would prefer it if everyone were treated with respect. We don't have" [...]
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  Posted: August 27, 2009, 7:50pm EDT
  

• Gay community morns the death of U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy

  The gay community has lost a valuable ally in the United States Senate, U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy. U.S. Senator Kennedy represented the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but was a very powerful and influential figure as the Chairman of key U.S. Senate Committees; he therefore represented the entire LGBTI community. Though facing medical [...]
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  Posted: August 26, 2009, 6:42am EDT
  

• Religous Hate in Western Kentucky Borders on the Occult

  Click here for the story from Hillbilly Report. Keep this in mind also: "The plague of mankind is the fear and rejection of diversity: monotheism, monarchy, monogamy and, in our age, monomedicine. The belief that there is only one right way to live, only one right way to regulate religious, political," [...]
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  Posted: August 24, 2009, 2:57pm EDT
  

• Ex-gay programs dropped for now.....NO MONEY!

  Focus on the Family, the powerful evangelical Christian group founded by James Dobson, is being forced by budget problems to do away with its controversial “Love Won Out” ex-gay ministry conferences. A “serious budget shortfall” at Focus on the Family has prompted the conservative Christian group to issue a special [...]
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  Posted: August 14, 2009, 12:30pm EDT
  

• Kentucky Pro-Gay Marriage Signs Destroyed

  A motivated supporter of Kentucky Equality Federation and Marriage Equality Kentucky's Marriage Declaration (more) has posted signs around Harlan County in Southern Kentucky to raise awareness of the declaration. Today however, the 25 year-old supporter contacted Kentucky Equality Federation and reported that his hand made signs (pictured) have...
  
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  Posted: August 13, 2009, 2:56pm EDT
  

• Equality California: 2012 before Prop 8 is repealed; others disagree

  When Marc Solomon, the former executive director of Equality Massachusetts, and now the 'marriage director' of Equality California speaks, it is generally a good idea to listen closely to his advice. Solomon was the head of Equality Massachusetts when the commonwealth legalized same-sex marriage, and later defeated a constitutional amendment...
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  Posted: August 12, 2009, 3:47pm EDT
  

• Gay marriage lawyers tell the City of San Francisco and other to stay out of it!

  The attorneys that sued the State of California in federal court (many disagree, click here to find out why) asked a judge late Friday to bar the city of San Francisco and three other groups supportive of same-sex weddings from joining. In court papers filed late Friday, attorneys David Boies and [...]
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  Posted: August 07, 2009, 11:39pm EDT
  

• Wisconsin Domestic partner registry starts Monday; Referendum 71 update for Wasington

  On Monday, County Clerks across the State of Wisconsin will begin issuing "Applications for Declaration of Domestic Partnerships." Couples will also have to file with the state Register of Deeds. In order to qualify for the registry people must be 18 years of age of older and of the same sex. [...]
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  Posted: July 31, 2009, 8:50am EDT
  

• City of San Francisco wants to redefine U.S. lawsuit on Prop 8; California Attorney General's Office remains silent

  The city of San Francisco (many of our young readers do not understand that cities, counties, parishes, townships, and boroughs are political subdivisions of a state, and subordinate to the state; a state however is sovereign, but shares joint sovereignty with the federal government as outlined in the U.S. Constitution), [...]
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  Posted: July 24, 2009, 1:44am EDT
  

• The time for Kentucky is now; ignore the "Oh Lord, Not Now!" movement!

  When reading a blog post about why former Clinton White House advisor David Mixner doesn't want to wait until 2012 to challenge Prop 8 at the ballot, I realized that this applies to Kentucky's Constitution Section 223A, passed by Constitutional Amendment in 2004. I completely agree with the observations made by [...]
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  Posted: July 21, 2009, 12:10pm EDT
  

• Marriage Equality Kentucky begins collecting pro-gay marriage signatures

  Marriage Equality Kentucky is launching a campaign to collect signatures for marriage equality in Kentucky. From the website: The Marriage Equality Kentucky Marriage Declaration is a proclamation that marriage is a basic constitutional right that should be extended to all people. Currently, the Commonwealth of Kentucky will not recognize any...
  
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  Posted: July 19, 2009, 10:22pm EDT