Small Steps to Big Results
"There will not be a magic day when we wake up and it's now OK to express ourselves publicly. We make that day by doing things publicly until it's simply the way things are."
-Out U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.
I use the quotation above in my email signature, because to me it captures exactly why the Kentucky Fairness Alliance must survive and thrive in this often-hostile environment. The fair Kentucky we all envision won't come out of the blue. We must insist, demand, and persevere to win justice for every LGBT person in the state.
In short, we all must take the small steps to nurture our shared dream. Every conversation we have about our lives, about our organization, about what we're working toward, takes us that much closer to the goal. Even those of us who can't live openly – for fear of losing our jobs or our homes – can be a part of the nurturing by supporting KFA and our educational and legislative work.
Our members and supporters have been instrumental in a number of small (and big) steps so far: the passage of local fairness ordinances in Louisville, Lexington, and Covington; the adoption last year of inclusive non-discrimination at Murray State University; the implementation of fair healthcare benefits at three of our largest universities; the introduction of statewide fairness and hospital visitation bills in the Kentucky House and Senate.
Your participation in our online advocacy campaigns, your membership in Friends & Family, your attendance at any of our events around the state – all these activities constitute the small steps that will lead us to big results. What will you do today, to bring a fair Kentucky one step closer to reality?
By Misty York
Communication Director, Kentucky Fairness Alliance