Last week America turned a page in its history. It was a moment we celebrate.

The repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT), the passage of an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act, will be milestones in advancing our road to fairness, AND THEY ARE WITHIN OUR GRASP.

Still, LGBT Kentuckians woke up the day after the election in a Commonwealth that offers us no meaningful protection from either discrimination or violence. 

Since the 2004 anti-marriage amendment vote, we have lived with the painful reality that our families are treated differently and are excluded from the dignity and respect that come with marriage. This injustice continues to sting. This year, the GLBT community suffered significant losses in Florida, California, Arizona and Arkansas on ballot measures limiting marriage and adoption rights. 

A grassroots driven, national day of peaceful protest has been spawned in the past few days with rallies planned for November 15th at City Halls and other locations across the nation.

The Board and staff at KFA recognize and appreciate the need for the fairness community to come together and express disappointment, outrage and anger over California voters approving a measure that takes away the right, recognized by the California Supreme Court, of same-sex couples to marry.  We honor the grassroots drive to create an opportunity through which people can come together and publicly share their emotions about last week’s vote and its impact across the nation. 

But as this day of action approaches, let us not forget that anger alone is not enough.  If there is going to be true change in Kentucky, then our passion for justice  requires that we get engaged in the work ahead with our legislative session just around the corner.

Kentucky remains a state without a non-discrimination law that includes LGBT people. The Kentucky Court of Appeals recently ruled that the 2004 anti-marriage amendment denies children of gay adults the protection and stability of two legal parents. And while we saw the passage of a statewide safe schools bill last year, it does not address the epidemic of anti-LGBT bullying.

With all that needs to be done in our Commonwealth, demonstrating our anger at having rights stripped away is a good place to start, but it’s not nearly enough. The passion must translate into a commitment to get engaged and the resolve to stay involved in the work ahead.

If you believe, as we do, that dignity and equality are worth fighting for, then we ask you to make a commitment to take one action every week until every Kentuckian's full civil rights are acknowledged. You can make a difference in your community:

• Be sure you know who your state legislators are and let them know how important fairness is to you. Write a letter to your local paper calling for full civil rights for all Kentuckians.
• Pledge a monthly contribution to an organization that supports and builds our community.
• Volunteer in your community –join the social justice committee at your place of worship, organize a team for the 2009 Lobby Day, talk about LGBT issues, come out to your friends, family, neighbors and colleagues.

Together, we can build a movement for fairness for all Kentuckians.

In Solidarity,

Your KFA Team

P.S. Stay tuned for details on the Third Annual Kentuckians Value Fairness Lobby Day!