 |
||||||||||
 |
|
 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||
 |
 |
 |
||||||||
MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release
August 2, 2009
Contact: Travis Myles
info@kentuckyfairness.org / 270-703-1582
KENTUCKIAN ELECTED TO NATIONAL LGBT ORGANIZATION GOVERNING BOARD
FRANKFORT - Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) statewide human rights leaders gathered in St. Louis, MO July 29-Aug. 2 for their 2009 Summer Meeting. This annual gathering is a professional retreat organized by the Equality Federation (www.equalityfederation.org), the national alliance for LGBT advocacy and education organizations working to build a strong and sustainable state-based movement.
During the Federation’s annual business session at the Summer Meeting, leaders voted on a slate of candidates for the organization’s Board of Directors. Kentuckian Jody Cofer was elected to the Federation’s Board.
“Mr. Cofer’s election to the Federation Board is a great step toward securing fairness in public policy for all Americans. His passion for achieving civil rights for people regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity plays a valuable role in the Kentucky community, and it will now do so in the national community,” said John J. Johnson, executive director of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights (www.kchr.ky.gov).
Jody Cofer is Program Specialist for Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activity at Murray State University (MSU), and he has been with MSU since 2001. In 2008, Jody was designated as Murray’s LGBT Liaison and is a member of the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals. He serves as the faculty/staff advisor for MSU Alliance, the gay-straight student organization, and recently was invited to serve as an inaugural member of the MSU Commission on Diversity and Inclusion organized by President Randy J. Dunn. Jody joined the Board of Kentucky Fairness Alliance in 2006. Shortly after, he became involved in the Equality Federation as a member of the Meetings Committee serving most recently as the chairperson of that committee. Jody was the founding chairperson of the Marshall County Commission for the Arts and a former Board member of the Kentucky Alliance for Arts Education. Through the LGBT Movement Advancement Project in 2009, he completed three Harvard ManageMentor Certificate Programs.
Others from Kentucky attending the annual leadership gathering wereMichael Handley, Travis Myles, and Nick Wilkerson, all of Louisville.
# # #
The Kentucky Fairness Alliance is the leading statewide nonprofit organization in Kentucky seeking to advance equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people through leadership development, public education and by encouraging participation in the democratic process.
The Ampersand symbolizes the solidarity we are building through Friends & Family, and suggests the inclusiveness we are working toward. It reflects the idea that no one individual, legislator, organization, or city can carry all the water for equality. Our success lies in our solidarity.
