HE SAID NO MORE "I DO'S"AND LOST HIS JOB
NOW A LOCAL MINISTER VOWS TO GET JUSTICE

On Sunday, November 2, 2004, 11 states across the country, including Kentucky, approved Constitutional Amendments banning same sex marriages. That following Sunday, a Unitarian minister in Louisville delivered a sermon that he says cost him his livelihood.

"In my sermon that Sunday I informed my congregation that I could no longer in good conscience perform wedding ceremonies for anyone until I could be free to perform them for everyone," says Todd Eklof, minister at the Clifton Unitarian Church. The story received local news coverage, starting the firestorm for Eklof who also worked six years as Director of Video Productions for Kentucky Farm Bureau.

Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) is a voluntary organization of farm families and their allies that serves as the "Voice of Kentucky Agriculture" by representing the interests of agricultural producers and rural communities. KFB, comprised of more than 440,000 families, runs Kentucky Farm Bureau insurance, lobbies on the state and national level, and runs advocacy, wellness and educational programs in Kentucky communities.

According to Eklof, KFB’s policy manuals include statements against same sex marriage and teaching about alternative lifestyles in public schools. The following is an excerpt from a section called Our Democratic System: "The institution of marriage should only be recognized as the legal union of one man and a woman."

Here is the scenario of events that followed, according to Eklof. On November 15, 2004, after the news reports aired, Eklof was called into a meeting with his supervisor and the CEO at KFB. He was told he could not take public stands on high profile issues and he could no longer do on-camera work, but he would still be allowed to do video production.

The next day, Eklof was called in again and asked to sign a document stating he knew about the company’s policy regarding KFB spokespersons and high profile issues, that it had been communicated to him before, and that he acknowledges he had "crossed the line." The document recommended that Eklof take a few weeks off and, basically, decide on a resignation date. Eklof refused to sign it. He denies having any knowledge of the company policy, and did not admit to violating it. Calls from G3 Illustrated to Kentucky Farm Bureau requesting an interview were not returned.

Eklof continued to work at KFB for about a month, but he says it was extremely stressful and took its toll on his physical health. Eklof suffers from sleep paralysis and was having more trouble sleeping than he usually does. At one point during this period, he called in sick for three days in a row.

On December 17, 2004, Eklof’s doctor gave him a note placing him on off-work status indefinitely due to his stress and sleep disturbance problems. On January 18, 2004, Kentucky Farm Bureau issued a letter to Eklof terminating his employment. One of the issues cited in the termination letter was Eklof’s failure to get approval in advance from his supervisor for taking the three sick days.

Eklof has filed a lawsuit against Kentucky Farm Bureau, claiming the company violated his First Amendment rights – his freedom of speech and freedom to practice his religion. The lawsuit also claims KFB’s actions violated Louisville’s Fairness Ordinance and the Family Medical Leave Act. Eklof says he expects the lawsuit to go to trial sometime this year, possibly this summer.

Eklof says representatives of the Kentucky Fairness Alliance have been very helpful, but he was told Louisville’s Fairness Ordinance doesn’t protect him because he’s not gay.

"I want justice. I’m appalled on every level of our government that there are people who think they can fire someone because they don’t like their politics."

Eklof now owes more than $4,000 in legal fees, even after the help of several local fundraisers, including one organized by The Alternative, which brought in about $1500. A fund has been set up by Eklof’s church to help defray his legal expenses. Contributions can be made by mailing a check payable to Clifton Unitarian Church, 2231 Payne St., Louisville, KY 40206. (Make sure to write ‘marriage equality fund’ on the memo line.)

He says, "If a straight man can lose his job for standing up for marriage equality for gays and lesbians, what hope do gays and lesbians have? Ever since this started I have known that I’m not alone. The gay community has been behind me all the way. It is not my fight. It is their fight, and it has been a privilege for me to use this miserable circumstance to make the general public aware of the fact that we need laws that protect EVERYBODY."

 By Chip Alfred

chip@g3illustrated.com