This blog will be shutting down.

Hi everyone,

Due to my involvement with the Fairness Campaign and other activities, I’ve decided that it will be best to shut down this page and all related spheres with Queer Louisville. Unfortunately, I’m not left with much time to do provide updates anymore. I will dismantle the blog beginning today.

I highly encourage you to become a fan of the Fairness Campaign to stay up to date with current information about LGBT events, resources and issues.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know; I am at your
service. Thank you for your commitment and for being a part of Queer
Louisville.

Best,
Keith

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UPCOMING: Statewide Fairness Summit this Saturday!

I haven’t been able to post in a while, but what a perfect way to kick of the new year with some big news!

The Statewide Fairness Coalition, a group of progressive organizations around the state (which includes Fairness Campaign, Kentucky Fairness and ACLU-KY) is hosting its second annual Statewide Fairness Summit this weekend, where activists, community organizers and friends of fairness and social justice come to together to make some change in the Bluegrass.

The goal? To create a legislative strategy which includes:

-fighting anti-gay legislation
-passing a statewide fairness law
-protecting GLBTQ Kentuckians from discrimination
-learning to lobby

This event is FREE and open to all who come. Registration is required, but breakfast and lunch are provided. So bring a friend and come!

And, if you’re a student, you get FREE hotel lodging and travel subsides if you RSVP by January 14, Thursday, 12 PM.

To RSVP, please email kyle@fairness.org.

WHEN:
Saturday, January 16
9 AM – 5 PM

WHERE:
Paul Sawyier Public Library
319 Wapping Street
Frankfort, KY

HOW MUCH:
Free; if student traveling out of town, subsides  and hotels are available (costs covered)

GOING OUT: 5th Annual Out and About Gala by Kentucky Fairness Alliance

Hi everyone!

I haven’t had a lot of time to blog recently, but I wanted to mention one big — MAJOR — event coming this weekend.

The Kentucky Fairness Alliance is holding its Fifth Annual About & About Gala this Saturday, to be held at the State Historic Theater in Elizabethtown, KY. And you can get in on the action!

KFA has set up a limo to leave from Louisville to Elizabethtown, but this isn’t just an ordinary limo. There’s an open bar, dinner and other great ammenities. And of course, fabulous company!

The tickets are only $75, benefitting the Kentucky Fairness Alliance. If you want to buy one, contact Chris Hartman at chris@fairness.org or call (502) 640-1095. It’s not too late to get seats!

WHEN:
Tomorrow, Saturday, November 14
7PM – Midnight

WHERE:
209 West Dixie Highway
Elizabethtown, KY
LIMO from Louisville-Elizabethtown: Contact Chris Hartman by email or call (502) 640-1095

HOW MUCH:
$75

TONIGHT: Reading of the “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later,” at Actors Theatre

Actors Theatre of Louisville will be putting on a stage reading of “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later” in memory of the tragic and violent death of Matthew Shepard. The reading is actually part of a country-wide event, as hundreds of theaters will also be putting on readings and performances at the same time. After the reading there will be a discussion to follow, which the audience can participate in.

This event is free to attend, but tickets are required. Visit the box office to pick them up or call (502) 584-1205 to make reservations.

WHEN:
Tonight, 8 PM

WHERE:
Actors Theatre of Louisville
316 W. Main Street

HOW MUCH:
Free

BREAKING: Fairness Campaign announces boycott of Woody’s Tavern

Fairness Campaign has released a statement announcing the boycott of Woody’s Tavern. The owner, David Norton, has once again been accused of making racist and volatile comments to customers in his bar. If you have been following this story, Norton drove a group of students and a professor out of his bar a year ago due to racist and sexist comments, which he publicly apologized for almost two month ago.

Unfortunately, it looks like Norton has not learned his lesson and that his apology was meant only for the cameras. Some of the remarks  Norton is accused of saying include “trashy faggots,” and “Look at their skin color. You know what’s on the tip of my tongue” in reference to African-American patrons.

It’s truly sad to witness this horribly blatant form of prejudice coming from our own community. Fairness Campaign will be announcing the boycott outside of Woody’s at 4 PM tomorrow, followed by a discussion during their monthly Dismantling Racism meetings on Wednesday (details below). The University of Louisville will also have a public forum about the events on October 28 (time and location to be determined).

All are encouraged to attend. Please spread the word to family, friends and those who you know within the community.

WHEN:
Tomorrow, October 6
4 PM

WHERE:
Woody’s Tavern
208 E. Burnett Street (corner of Brook and E. Burnett St)

—

Dismantling Racism Sessions

WHEN:
Wednesday, October 7
6 PM

WHERE:
Fairness Campaign Office
2263 Frankfort Avenue

GOING OUT: Hard Candy One-Year Anniversary and G3 Soiree

What happens when two big, fabulous events collide? KABAAM! More fabulousness!

Hotel Nightclub and G3 Illustrated are joining forces to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Hard Candy, Hotel’s gay entertainment night aimed at the GLBTQ community and G3’s monthly soiree, which has had a steady following.

This event is going to be BIG. Why? Well, for one Onch Movement is going to be there, along with Stephen Hampton from MTV’s Paris Hilton’s My New BFF. And then DJ Syimone and the Ladykillers are also going to be DJing, so the music will be off the chain. Oh, and did I mention that the event has NO cover?

Bring your friends and dress to impress, red carpet style! If you want to reserve a table, call Daniel Cole at (502) 548.4082 or send him an email. This will surely be a gay night!

WHEN:
Tomorrow, October 1
8 PM – 4 AM

WHERE:
Hotel Nightclub
410 S. Fourth Street

HOW MUCH:
Free

UPCOMING: Fairness Campaign endorses National Equality March, October 10-11, 2009

Fairness Campaign has endorsed the National Equality March, set to take place on October 11th, 2009 in Washington, D.C. The march, sparked by the long-time activist and Harvey Milk confidant Cleve Jones, is set to be one of the biggest events this year targeting gay and lesbian rights.

The march will be one of a kind, with various groups and progressive organizations from legislative districts around the country joining together to demand equal protection in every area of civil law. The event will deal with a wide range of issues, from the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, adoption rights, Hate Crimes legislation and more. The march is being put together by Equality Across America, a new community organizing group focused on GLBTQ rights. The goal: declaring equal rights for all.

You can be a part of this once in a lifetime event! Fairness is offering travel and hotel packages, all aimed at making it affordable for you to go. Details are listed below. Folks of all ages and all backgrounds are will be there, as the event will truly be a monumental and inspiring one.

PRICE:
Bus + Four People per Room = $121
Bus + Three People per Room = $128
Bus + Two People per Room = $140
Bus + One Person per Room = $225
Bus Fare ONLY (NO hotel accommodations) = $75

HOTEL LOCATION:
Washington Plaza Hotel
Ten Thomas Circle, NW
Washington, DC 20005

*Bus reservations established upon receipt of $75 by check, cash or credit card. Hotel fees and charges paid upon checkout at hotel. Charges can be split among attendees.

The deadline to reserve your seat is September 18 at 5 PM. Please email Kyle Riggs or call (502) 893-0788.

Also, if you do need help paying for the trip, Fairness is offering grants up to $50 to help you out. But you better hurry, grants are on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Supporters can also donate $150, $250 and $500 to become official sponsors of the event.

For more info, please visit Fairness’s Facebook event or the Equality Across America Web site.

10 awesome reasons for why you should go to the KY Social Forum!

By now you’ve probably heard about the Kentucky Social Forum going down this weekend. But are you wondering why you should go? Well, here are ten great reasons:

1. Anyone who calls themselves an activist will be there. This is the first time the Bluegrass has ever had a social forum of this magnitude, modeling after the successful national social forum from last year. All kinds of people fighting for human rights and social justice will be attending, from retired union workers to high school and college students. If you’ve got cred or want to get some, you’ve got to be there!

2. GLBTQ workshops and more. There are TONS of workshops, ranging from economic and environmental issues to racism, sexism and others -isms, political engagement and of course, ones relating to heterosexism, homophobia and queer rights. If you’re like me, you may be equally excited about the other workshops, as it’s a great chance to learn about what your allies are fighting for.

3. Networking. You may not get a chance to hobknob with so many professionals, activists, lobbyists and general cool folk until the next social forum, so bring your business card (or just your energy), and make yourself or your issue known! Come out and speak out!

4. Events, events, events! Let’s see: concerts, poetry slams, arts and crafts seminars galore, film fest, interfaith services. All FREE and open to those who register!

5. Berea, Berea. KYSF is taking place on the beautiful Berea College campus, situated in the namesake town known for its artsy scene and progressive, yet laid-back personality. If you’re traveling some ways away, another treat is the scenic route to this quirky little town.

6. It’s cheap. And now the numbers. Only $15-$50 to register, all on a sliding scale to fit your budget! And housing? Berea College is offering rooms for only $15 a night (please click here to download the housing registration form). If you can’t afford this, there are still scholarships available, but you need to apply for them NOW.  Click here to download the scholarship application, fill it out and send it to kentuckysocialfofum@yahoo.com.

7. It’s on a weekend. Seriously, what else are you doing Saturday morning? This is one of the biggest events of the year and it’s going to be BIG, so unless your best friend is getting married, you’ll need to come up with a better excuse if you decide to be a no-show.

8. You can win $100. What? Well, if you’re following the Kentucky Social Forum on Twitter, then you’d know that they’re giving away a prize for the person who comes up with the most creative Tweet about KYSF. (And yes, even if you don’t win you should still go!)

9. Call to action. The national social forum is taking place next year, so it’s important to show all the other states what’s happening in Kentucky! All of the workshops are aimed to rev up your activist juices and highlight issues around the Commonwealth, helping to create a progressive coalition. If we work together to solve our own issues, it will certainly build momentum for nationwide issues, including gay, bisexual, lesbian and trans ones.

10. It’s for everyone. Anyone can attend. Carpools are also available if you don’t have a ride. If you’re a parent or guardian, there will be daycare services available, so bring your kids!

As I mentioned before, REGISTRATION IS HAPPENING NOW, and if you need housing, APPLICATIONS and  SCHOLARSHIPS ARE STILL AVAILABLE for housing. But you need to apply RIGHT NOW, time is running out! And if you’ve already registered and paid, you can also help out KYSF even more by making a donation — any amount is awesome!

I forgot the most important reason for why you should go — it’s going to be FUN! If you’re even thinking about going, please find out more from their Web site or email them. A new Kentucky is on her way, are you ready?

WHEN:
July 31-August 2

WHERE:
Berea College
Berea, KY

From Louisville:
Take I-64 E toward Lexington. Merge onto I-75 S toward Richmond/Knoxville. Take Exit 77 toward Berea and then make a left onto Walnut Meadow Pike. Continue until you reach Estill St/US-25. Make a right and follow until you reach Chestnut St.

From Cincinnati/Northern KY:
Take I-71 S toward Cincinnati. Merge onto I-75 S toward Lexington. Take Exit 77 toward Berea and then make a left onto Walnut Meadow Pike. Continue until you reach Estill St/US-25. Make a right and follow until you reach Chestnut St on the left.

HOW MUCH:
Fees ($15-$50) vary depending on registration. Please visit the Web site for more details.

UPCOMING: Kentucky Social Forum at Berea College, July 31-Aug 2

In several weeks, one of the biggest social justice events is happening in the state. And by big I mean BIG.

If you’re an activist, volunteer or just an average Joe or Jane working for change, then the Kentucky Social Forum is right up your alley. This weekend-long event is the first of its kind in the state, modeling after national social forums by hosting a series of events aimed at spreading progressiveness across the Bluegrass. There will be workshops covering anything and everything you need to know about human rights issues, from homelessness to hunger, economic and environmental justice and of course, lots of things for the GLBTQ community.

But that’s not all! There will also be poetry slams, concerts and interfaith services for you to participate in. All of this is going on at Berea, a small college town known for its eclectic, artsy scene. Anyone and everyone, from students to retired union workers will be there so you’ll fit right in.

Registration is required and prices vary on a sliding scale. If you want to host a workshop or just attend, please visit the Web site. Housing is also provided and scholarships may be available for accommodation and travel, but it’s first-come, first-serve! Register today!

WHEN:
July 31-August 2

WHERE:
Berea College
Berea, KY

From Louisville:
Take I-64 E toward Lexington. Merge onto I-75 S toward Richmond/Knoxville. Take Exit 77 toward Berea and then make a left onto Walnut Meadow Pike. Continue until you reach Estill St/US-25. Make a right and follow until you reach Chestnut St.

From Cincinnati/Northern KY:
Take I-71 S toward Cincinnati. Merge onto I-75 S toward Lexington. Take Exit 77 toward Berea and then make a left onto Walnut Meadow Pike. Continue until you reach Estill St/US-25. Make a right and follow until you reach Chestnut St on the left.

HOW MUCH:
Fees ($15-$50) vary depending on registration. Please visit the Web site for more details.

“My Stonewall Remarks: 40 Years Ago” from Ryan Kemp-Pappan

I’m really late in posting this, but I wanted to share a speech by my friend Ryan Kemp-Pappan, a pastor for Douglass Boulevard Christian Church and a tireless ally for the GLBTQ community. Ryan, who spoke at the Candles Across the Commonwealth vigil last Sunday in celebration of Stonewall’s 40th anniversary, is one of many in the faith-based community seeking to reconcile the intolerance queer people have faced due to their religious backgrounds. After reading, you too will be saying “Amen.”

40 years ago the silent voice of a community was heard in a riotous action proclaiming that they would no longer be silent.  40 years ago a few hundred gathered to give voice to the marginalization and systemic oppression forced upon them.  40 years ago a movement was born that we celebrate here today.

The most important thing to remember about movements is that they are comprised of people.  People with hopes, dreams, and vision.  People with love in their hearts looking for a place to store that love.  People with the right to be.  PEOPLE! Movements being and end with the people.  Movements cannot sustain the movement when it is boiled down to an idea.

I stand here today a leader in the Christian church.  I stand here today as a white, straight male. I am a part of this movement.

The Christian faith has been utilized in the disenfranchising action of the GLBTQ community.  We have demanded that you must give up your faith if you insist on keeping your love.  We have demanded that you remain silent in order to nourish your soul.  We have demanded that you have a place in the Kindom of God only if you conform to the narrow standards of dubious origins.  For this I am terribly sorry.

It is my hope that we as a church may offer reconciliation and love to our sisters and brothers for the atrocities perpetrated upon them in the name of God.  It is my hope that the beautiful voice of faith embraced by the GLBTQ Community may enrich the faith on communities across Kentucky.  The faith of a few transforms the faith of us all.  This is a lesson we may draw from the actions of those brave people that would not be silent 40 years ago.

I recently read a lecture from Kentucky’s proud son, Bishop V. Gene Robinson, titled Why Religion Matters in the Quest for Gay Civil Rights. He speaks, “I believe that it will take religious people and religious voices to undo the harm that has been done by religious institutions…It’s time that progressive religious people stop being ashamed of their faith and fearful that they will be identified with the Religious Right, and start preaching the Good News of the liberating Christ, which includes ALL God’s Children.”

It seems that the harm, the damage that is being done is by us, the religious community, by us being in the shadows.  It is time for us to step out of the shadows.  I offer that as this movement progresses and the fires of the Spirit burn in the hearts of the many that we the religious community owe the Gay community love for the silence we offer and the isolation that we perpetrate upon you.  We the religious community owe you that scared space to be fearfully & wonderfully made.  We the religious community owe it to you to emerge from the silence and join our voice with yours and demand that WE shall not be denied the justice imbued within our hearts and souls because we celebrate the diversity of Gods creation.

40 years ago a rebellion began that we are honored to celebrate tonight and participate in today.  40 years ago people came together and would not be silent.  Tonight let us commit ourselves to not remaining silent.  Let us join our voice as we demand that Liberty & justice truly be for ALL.

To read more from Ryan, visit his Web site.