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Reconciliation and Race PLAN TO ATTEND
H Volunteer Meetups - every Tuesday, 6-8 pm, work on a variety of Fairness Campaign volunteer projects while meeting staff and other volunteers. H Dismantling Racism Dialogues - Oct. 7, 6:30 pm and st Wednesday of every month, at the Fairness office. H Saturday Academy on black history, issues and culture - Saturdays Oct. 3 - May 22, am - 2 pm, DuValle Education Center, 360 Bohne Ave. H National Equality March - Sunday, Oct. , Washington, D.C. H The Laramie Poject: Ten Years Later - Monday, Oct. 2, 8 pm, Actors Theatre of Louisville, 36 W. Main St. Free, but ticket required. Call 502-584205. H Legislative Committee Wednesday, Oct. 2, 6:30 pm, at the Fairness Office. H Fairness X-travaganza Dinner Parties - Saturday, Oct. 24, across the city. H Fairness X-plosion Community Celebration and Dance Party - Saturday, Oct. 24, 0 pm - 2 am, Monkey Wrench, 025 Barret Ave. H Kentucky Fairness Alliance "Out & About," – Saturday, Nov. 4, 7 pm, State Historic Theatre, Elizabethtown, KY. H Women In Transition (WIT) - every Wednesday, 6-8 pm, 29 W Ormsby Ave. H Louisville Youth Group – support and social group for LGBTQ youth 4 to 2, weekly meetings. 499-4427.
Woody's Owner Makes Long-Awaited Apology
When Woody’s Tavern owner David Norton spoke through his home intercom to a news reporter over a year ago denying he had hurled racist and sexist slurs against a University of Louisville professor and her students both in and out of his bar, it appeared unlikely the group of victims would ever receive the public apology they demanded. This past May, to mark the one-year anniversary of the incident, Director of LGBT Services at the University of Louisville, Brian Buford, wrote an open letter to Mr. Norton once more calling for the apology, and inspired the Fairness Campaign to post Buford’s letter on its Facebook site* and announce a public letter-writing campaign to Mr. Norton with the same message. Three months later, an invitation from Woody's Tavern appeared on Facebook announcing a public apology to be made by bar owner David Norton to Dr. Kaila Story and the group of UofL students and alumni involved in the incident. On August 5, nearly a year and a half after denying the incident ever occurred, Mr. Norton openly owned his words and actions, and offered a full public apology to the victims and the more than 50 supporters joining them in the Woody’s parking lot that day. “I would like to apologize for any action and/or verbiage that I used on April 22, 2008,” Norton announced to the group. “What came out of my mouth was pure filth.” Dr. Kaila Story told reporters gathered at the apology, “When it happened that day, I said, ‘I will not let this rest. I will not, because this is injustice, and I’m not having it.” She said the apology was a step in the right direction, but that the problem of racism extended beyond Woody’s and this specific act to the greater Louisville community and beyond. Mr. Norton’s apology was an important moment of reconciliation, but also shed light on the fact that racism continues to pervade every community in America, including the LGBTQ community, that any form of discrimination hurts everyone, and that no act of discrimination may go unchallenged. The Fairness Campaign believes we may never become complacent or quiet in the face of a racist act, nor may anyone resign themselves to the notion many across the country tout, pointing to the election of President Barack Obama, that racial tensions and acts of racial discrimination have largely subsided. Rampant systemic racism and acts of racial discrimination are sadly still deeply woven into the fabric of our nation, and it will take the collective, proactive work of all communities to unravel that imperfect tapestry, and begin to repair the damage that has been done. While the Fairness Campaign has strived for LGBTQ equality, since its inception, Fairness founders and leaders have understood that dismantling systemic racism is central to the work of Fairness. The inherent intersectionality of all forms of oppression—racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia—is integral to our understanding and defeating prejudice in America. As long as one form of oppression persists, all forms of oppression will fail to desist. Therefore, during the apology, Fairness Campaign Director Chris Hartman announced an ongoing series of "Dismantling Racism" dialogues, to be held the first Wednesday of each month, with the hope that in a safe, open and affirming environment, we may all begin to understand, identify, own, and ultimately dismantle the inherent systemic racism that exists within all American communities. The initial result of these dialogues will be the development of a series of workshops, listening circles, and other programs aimed at dismantling racism
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2263 Frankfort Avenue Louisville KY 40206 / phone: 502 893-0788 / email:
[email protected]
Successful AIDS Walk
The Fairness Campaign's team of over 20 supporters raised nearly $2,000 for the Louisville AIDS Walk! In total, the Walk raised approximately $80,000 for AIDS related services in the Louisville Metro area. Congratulations to Fairness supporter Craig Scherman, who turned in an astounding contribution of over $28,000 raised from his annual Chocolate Fest for the Pandora Theatre walk team. The AIDS Walk’s grand fundraising total, however, is down from years past, which speaks to the difficult economic condition of the whole country. In these tough times, when giving is down across the board, your philanthropy towards the nonprofits you love is needed more than ever. You can still contribute to the Louisville AIDS Walk by visiting www.tinyurl.com/FCAIDSWalk.
Director’s Note – The Future Fairness
by Chris Hartman
Since assuming this position in January, I have spoken ad nauseum in community meetings, corporate workshops and schools—to thousands—of the urgent need to pass a statewide Fairness law, protecting all LGBTQ Kentuckians from discrimination—it is the logical first step towards ultimately stripping our state’s constitution of the 2004 marriage amendment. This month, as Fairness X-travaganza formally celebrates a historic 0 years of civil rights in Louisville, I feel compelled to further beat the drum of statewide Fairness. As you join friends and family across the city in the Fairness X-travaganza festivities on October 24, and many recount their experiences of living in a Louisville where they still feared for their job security and fair access to housing and public accommodations based on their identity, please remember our brothers and sisters across the Commonwealth for whom that fear is still vibrantly real. The following is reprinted from the Courier Journal’s weekly “Community Challenge,” in which I call all Kentuckians to pass a statewide Fairness law. Pursuing Fairness Across the State Just over a decade ago, basic civil rights were denied individuals living in the city of Louisville. Until 1999, someone could be legally (l-r) Carla Wallace, Chris Hartman and fired from their job, denied housing or denied public Lisa Osanka at Carla's Lawn Party. accommodations if they were suspected of being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. If that seems shocking, know that for Kentuckians living immediately outside Louisville Metro, it is still a reality today. Right now, anti-gay discrimination is perfectly legal in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Fairness laws currently exist in only three areas in our state: Covington, Lexington/ Fayette County and Louisville Metro — leaving over 75 percent of our commonwealth's residents vulnerable to discrimination without any legal protections. As early as 1999, however, a Decision Research Poll documented 73 percent of Kentuckians supported a statewide fairness law, though the measure has never even come to a committee vote in the state's legislature. With the majority of the Commonwealth's population in support of anti-discrimination legislation, and similar laws currently on the books in 20 states across the nation and in the District of Columbia, it would seem logical that Kentucky's legislators would pass this simple civil rights law. In a year when LGBT Americans have witnessed so many victories across the nation, it is time to ask why we have continued to allow legal discrimination in our state. The tide towards acceptance of LGBT Americans turned long ago, beginning 40 years ago when a group of African-American, Latino and white transgender, gay and lesbian New Yorkers made a stand against raiding police officers at The Stonewall Inn. This pivotal moment in the gay rights movement united the LGBT community and its allies in the fight against anti-gay discrimination. The following year, thousands marched in commemoration of the Stonewall riots, and the gay civil rights movement has been unstoppable ever since, sweeping even the Midwest in the most unlikely way with the April passage of marriage equality in Iowa. It is only a matter of time until all Kentuckians understand that any form of discrimination hurts everyone, that discrimination of any kind is wrong, and that it should be illegal. Legislators who support legal discrimination and the denial of basic civil rights in our commonwealth risk intensified public opposition and outrage today — look to the recent resounding public outcry against Sen. Gary Tapp of Shelbyville and his anti-adoption Senate Bill 68 (a bill seeking to ban all unmarried couples from adopting or fostering children), which garnered unprecedented opposition across the state from over 30 child welfare, adoption, faith-based and equality organizations. Last June, at Richmond City Hall, the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights assembled the first state agency-sponsored hearing to officially promote the passage of a statewide fairness law. One year prior to this hearing, on June 19, 2008, the commission unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the passage of such a law. This year, as we celebrate 40 years of the historic Stonewall riots, and 10 years of Louisville's Fairness Ordinance, we must stand up for our LGBT brothers and sisters across the Commonwealth who still suffer prejudicial abuse, still fear losing their jobs and still enjoy
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2009 Fairness AIDS Walk Team. Photo credit: Hardy Photography
Woody's Apology
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to occur here in Louisville and eventually throughout the state. All those interested in contributing to the beginning discussion should e-mail
[email protected] and join Fairness leaders at the Campaign office (2263 Frankfort Ave.) the first Wednesday of each month, 6:30pm. You can view WHAS- coverage of the apology by visiting the Fairness Campaign website, www.Fairness.org. As the newsletter went to press, Fairness received a report alleging another incident at Woody's. The campaign is following up. * This story—among many others, including the recent defeat of KY anti-adoption Senate Bill 68—highlights the growing importance of social networking media such as Facebook and Twitter in grassroots organizing and information dissemination. To stay instantly informed on breaking news, including LGBTQ-related legislation in Frankfort and D.C. requiring immediate citizen action, follow the Campaign regularly on Twitter.com/FairnessCamp and Facebook. com/FairnessCampaign. 2
Fairness Joins National Equality March
Sizzling Summer Fundraisers
Sweet Heat Summer Fling Two hot events rounded off Fairness’ summer fundraising season that began in July with the first annual “Fairness Over Louisville.” The ladies of Fleur de Lez, and online gathering spot for queer women and allies, led by founder Scheri Smith (who just joined Fairness’ Coordinating Committee!) threw a “Sweet Heat Summer Fling” at Fierce Fitness Studio. Over a hundred lads and ladies came out for the all-night dance party that raised over $,400 in small donations for Fairness and Fleur de Lez!
On October 9th, 50 Fairness Campaign supporters will load into the “Equality Express” bus headed straight for our nation’s Capitol. They will join thousands from across the country marching on the National Mall Sunday, Oct. for long overdue full and equal LGBTQ rights on the federal level. Announced in May of this year by former Harvey Milk intern Cleve Jones, the March, organized by Equality Across America, will officially address a number of equal rights concerns, including a call for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and the military’s discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, an end to workplace discrimination through passage of the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a call for equal adoption rights, Hate Crimes legislation including LGBTQ as a protected group, immigration reform recognizing same-sex couples, and a comprehensive anti-bullying policy for schools in the Safe Schools Improvement Act. Follow the Fairness marchers along their exciting path to equality all weekend long on www.Twitter. com/FairnessCamp!
Laramie, Matthew Shepard Revisited
For more than a decade, the gruesome murder of young Laramie, Wyoming resident Matthew Shepard has reverberated across the country. It brought national attention to the urgent need of a federal Hate Crimes law that includes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals as a protected class, which, unfortunately, has yet to pass the United States Congress. To explore and better understand the community in which this crime occurred, the Tectonic Theater Project conducted a series of interviews with Laramie residents that, in 2000, became the highly acclaimed play The Laramie Project, which has become one of the most performed plays in America. Ten years after Matthew Shepard’s death, the Tectonic Theatre Project returned to Laramie to see how the community had changed since the murder. “One of the things we found when we got there,” shared playwright Moisés Kaufman, “which greatly surprised us, was people in Laramie saying this was not a hate crime.” “We found the people of Laramie still fighting their own history…their own story,” continued playwright Leigh Fondakowski. On October 2, Actors Theatre of Louisville will join over 00 theatres in all 50 states and across the world exploring the effects of Shepard’s murder a decade later with a premiere stage reading of the Tectonic Theatre Project’s The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, an epilogue to the original theatre piece. The evening will commence with a live Lincoln Center webcast address from Kaufman, followed by the Actors Theatre’s 2009/200 Acting Apprentice Company reading of the piece. The night concludes with a panel discussion led by the Fairness Campaign addressing the importance of Hate Crimes legislation protecting LGBTQ individuals, and what citizens can do to make the passage of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act a reality. The performance begins at 8pm Monday, October 2, in Actors Theatre’s Pamela Brown Auditorium, 36 W. Main St. Admission is free, but tickets are required.
Fairness and Fleur de Lez supporters at Sweet Heat Summer Fling. Photo credit: Metromix Louisville (louisville.metromix.com)
The Future Fairness
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no legal protections from discrimination. The Fairness Campaign is part of a broad-based Statewide Fairness Coalition of allied organizations working to achieve this equal rights legislation in Kentucky. We ask you to join us. Together we must lobby our legislators and make our voices heard for the passage of a statewide Fairness law that will move our state into a fair future, where every resident of our great Commonwealth is treated equally with respect and dignity under the law. To stay informed of the Fairness Campaign’s upcoming lobbying opportunities and statewide education programs, follow Twitter.com/FairnessCamp, Facebook.com/ FairnessCampaign, and Fairness.org.
Carla's Lawn Party For the twelfth year in a row, Carla Wallace’s Lawn Party drew a huge, diverse crowd of supporters over Labor Day weekend for food, fun, and great dancing as the sun went down. Among the partygoers enjoying Wiltshire Pantry’s vegetarian spread were Congressman John Yarmuth and his wife Cathy, and m a y o r a l candidates Metro Council President David Tandy and businessman Greg Fischer. This year, the Carl Braden Memorial Center joined the Fairness Campaign and the Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression as a beneficiary of the event, which raised a total of over $4,000 to be divided equally among the groups. 3
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2263 Frankfort Avenue Louisville, Kentucky 40206
Don't Miss Fairness X-tranvaganza –
Saturday, October 24!
Fairness X-travaganza
Join the Community-Wide Celebration, Saturday, October 24
All across the city, people are celebrating Fairness, and you can too! Ten years ago this October, the Jefferson County Fiscal Court passed the first comprehensive Fairness Ordinance, finally protecting all Louisvillians from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This year, to mark that historic occasion in Louisville’s advancement, Fairness Campaign supporters are hosting Fairness Xtravaganza parties all over Louisville in October, and you’re invited to join the celebration! The festivities actually kicked off a month early in September with a beautiful concert hosted by Metropolitan Community Church and Reverend Dee Dale. Saxophonist Shaun Popp, pianist Ron Hampton, and the MCC Choir delighted a full house with their masterful music, and collected a “love offering” to benefit Fairness in honor of the anniversary. While Rev. Dee and her congregation decided the best way to commemorate 0 years of civil rights in Louisville was with an evening of fine music, most supporters are hosting Fairness X-travaganza fundraising dinner parties the night of Saturday, October 24, and you can attend one or decide to host your own! Some supporters are hosting $30 cocktail hours or backyard BBQs, and others are planning elegant $00 per plate affairs--you get to choose how you want to get involved and invested in the celebration! Everyone who attends a dinner party will join in a city-wide celebratory “Korbel Champagne Toast to 10—A Decade of Fairness in Louisville,” courtesy of our official Wine and Spirits Sponsor Brown-Forman, and all Fairness X-travaganza dinner guests will gain free admission to the Fairness X-plosion community celebration and dance party that night from 0pm-2am at The Monkey Wrench (1025 Barret Ave.—general admission is $20). To host or attend a Fairness X-travaganza party on October 24, or for more information about the X-plosion dance party, e-mail
[email protected] of call 502-893-0788. 4
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