Bluegrass Fairness of Central Kentucky

Bluegrass Fairness of Central Kentucky (BFCK) is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens living in central Kentucky by fostering a grass-roots campaign focused on local community action, citizen lobbying, network building, and educational outreach.

BFCK has been an ever-evolving organization that began in the early 90’s. Strong leaders in the Lexington community looked to the already existent Louisville Fairness Campaign as inspiration to begin their own LGBT advocacy group. These leaders began the hard work of developing a phone bank and researching candidates all in the name of a fair and equal Kentucky. In 1997, that group became recognized as a chapter of the Kentucky Fairness Alliance (KFA) and quickly established itself as the biggest, most active, most prominent chapter.

A decade later the group saw another metamorphosis: It enjoyed a rebirth and emerged once again as its own independent organization in 2007. Moving strong with a ten-person steering committee, the group decided to focus its efforts on local initiatives and grassroots organizing, and since its rebirth has hosted various activities including the recent lobby/rally day in Frankfort EQUALity. Fairness. Nothing More; Nothing Less.

Recently, the group allied itself with the Kentucky Equality Federation (KEF), another statewide group that lobbies for equality under the law for GLBTQQIA issues. While the two groups remain independent entities, they have come together to pursue fairness and equality via different events. BFCK looks to this joint venture as a solid collaboration that will significantly advance gay causes in the Kentucky legislature and in people’s attitudes.

Besides working with KEF closely, BFCK has begun reaching out to other progressive groups. The group understands the importance of coalition-building and has started reaching out to groups such as Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, the Imperial Court of Kentucky, the Gay-Straight Alliance of UK, the Kentucky Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, and the ACLU. BFCK also seeks to build stronger relations with the faith-based community as evidenced by inviting the Reverend Cynthia Cain of the UU Church to motivate the crowd with an inspirational speech at EQUALity. Fairness. Nothing More; Nothing Less.

This year BFCK has focused its legislative efforts on ensuring that Kentucky’s public universities maintain the ability to provide equal healthcare to all of their employees via the domestic partner benefits already instituted. Kentucky’s Democrats led the charge against domestic partner benefits this year, and all the LGBT advocacy groups have done well to respond loud and proud. Additionally, BFCK hopes to see Mary Lou Marzian’s hospital designee bill and the anti-bullying bill pass. While neither bill should be in question, several of Kentucky’s legislators have kept them from success, and BFCK wishes to see that fact change.

Of course, BFCK has more interests than pure lobbying. The group has always maintained a commitment to community education. Each year the group builds a Fairness float for the 4th of July parade that dries cries of appreciation throughout the course of the parade. It sets up booths at most of the public festivals that take place in the summer, and it continues to develop other activities. For the first time in 2007, the group recognized the National Transgender Day of Remembrance by hosting a screening of Transamerica. Soon, education committee coordinator Caitlin Powell will be working with high school gay-straight alliances to collect personal stories of bullying in order to create a performance piece that can be distributed to high schools throughout the state. Steering committee secretary Beth Hartmann expressed support for the project: "Caitlin’s efforts will powerfully demonstrate the sad toll that bullying combined with prejudice takes on its victims."

Other members of the steering committee represent a wide variety of interests. Treasurer Aaron Hutson built the current website and concurrently serves as the coordinator of the Kentucky Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Vice chair Shannon Stuart-Smith is a non-profit consultant who provides insight into legal matters. As the owner of QX.net, Jonathan Barker gives the group technological and commercial insight. Burley Thomas also sits on UK’s GSA and helps to bolster that relationship. Newcomers Andrew Tan and Meredith Christine Maxwell tie the group into the Asian American community and the transgender community respectively. However varied the interests of each member are, each member works cohesively within the group toward a common goal of fairness.

Regardless of the different evolutions, different changes, new allies, new events, and varied interests, one thing has always remained at the forefront: FAIRNESS. Everyone agrees that BFCK strives for fairness and will not rest until fairness prevails. Until everyone can feel safe in his or her job, until everyone can relax in his or her home, until everyone can access equal healthcare, BFCK will keep marching and keep lobbying and keep educating.

Visit  www.bgfair.org for mor information on how to get involved!

 By Paul Brown

Chair of BFCK