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MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release
August 09, 2010
Contact: info@kentuckyfairness.org / 270-703-1582
KENTUCKY FAIRNESS ALLIANCE RECOGNIZED
IN STATE-BASED LGBT MOVEMENT
Louisville – Kentucky Fairness Alliance (KFA) leaders gathered last week in Baltimore, Maryland for the annual conference, known as Summer Meeting, organized by the Equality Federation Institute, the educational arm of the national alliance of statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) advocacy and education organizations.
The annual conference offered a tremendous opportunity for member organizations to network with other statewide fairness leaders. In addition to learning about the good work of this year's host Equality Maryland, workshops were offered on a variety of topics, including: increased collaboration between LGBT organizations and state executive branches of government, building partnerships between the LGBT community and labor organizations, and social attitudes towards our community.
Attending from Kentucky were KFA Board Chairperson Travis Myles, Treasurer David Corbett, and Board members Jody Cofer and Nick Wilkerson.
On Friday, Myles and Cofer attended a historic White House briefing organized by Director Christina Tchen and Deputy Director Brian Bond, White House Office of Public Engagement. The briefing brought together administration representatives from the Departments of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, and Defense.
Leading up to the annual gathering, state member organizations submitted nominations and voted for annual “Feddie” awards recognizing outstanding work taking place in the movement. This year,
KFA brought home two of five awards joining Equality Maine and Equality Utah in being recognized during the closing brunch held on Sunday where Maryland State Delegate Ben Barnes addressed the group.
The “Most Out of the Box Strategy” award was presented to KFA for our “Limos to E-Town” component at the 2009 Out & About gala. In 2009 KFA decided to host its annual statewide gala for the first time outside of our two largest metros (Louisville and Lexington). While the statement made by having Out & About in Elizabethtown was important, the gala is still a critical component to KFA’s annual fundraising plan. Then KFA Board member Michael Handley was confronted with this problem and hit upon a novel approach—let’s make the trip to Elizabethtown both fun and safe. Capitalizing on the imagery associated with the venue, KFA assembled chauffeured transportation packages suitable for Hollywood royalty. The gala was incredibly successful with 400 attending. The limos helped set the tone for the entire evening.
The “Most ImPRESSive” award was presented to KFA for our press coverage surrounding our legal battle to block state appropriations from being handed out to the University of the Cumberlands – a religion-based institution in south central Kentucky. Initiated in 2006 with the Jefferson County Teachers Association, Rev. Albert Pennybacker, and others, this case reached its end when the Supreme Court of Kentucky ruled this year on the side of fairness settling the issue. KFA was able to utilize this case to repeatedly draw attention in media outlets over the lifespan of the case to highlight the need for education around LGBT matters at institutions of higher education. Outlets such as The Herald-Leader, The Courtier- Journal, and Inside Higher Education covered the case among others.
During the closing days of the gathering the Federation ratified its Board member slate for 2010-2011. Each year, approximately half of the Board is elected by the approximate 55 organizations making up the Federation. Cofer has served on the Federation’s Meetings Committee for the past four years and was elected to their Board in 2009. The newly seated Board met Saturday to elect officers. Cofer was selected to serve as Co-Chair of the Board, alongside A.J. Bockelman of Missouri. Other officers elected were Treasurer David Toth of Maryland and Secretary Katie Belanger of Wisconsin. Immediately ahead of the Board is an executive transition process given their recent announcement regarding the late August departure in Executive Director Toni Broaddus. An interim is expected to be hired in the near future as well as a search/transition consultant.
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Kentucky Fairness Alliance is the leading statewide nonprofit organization that seeks to advance fairness for LGBT people through leadership development, public education and by encouraging participation in the democratic process. kentuckyfairness.org
Equality Federation is the national alliance of statewide LGBT organizations working to grow and sustain state LGBT organizations for a strong state-based movement towards full equality. equalityfederation.org
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.
