Wednesday was the Kentucky Fairness Campaign's Statewide Fairness Rally down at the Capitol in Frankfort, Kentucky. Or rather the Capitol Annex and visitor's center since the Capitol is closed for reconstruction. The rally itself didn't start until 1330 but some folks got there bright and early in the morning to lobby legislators beforehand.
Kentucky is a solidly red state, with the Guardians of Pedophiles GOP holding a supermajority in the General Assembly. Able and more than willing to override the governor's veto, they have a long track record of passing hateful and repressive legislation, particularly in regards to the LGBTQ community.
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This year is no exception, with two particularly dangerous bills being the primary focus on the Fairness Campaign. One, Senate Bill 72, would allow discrimination in healthcare, while the second, House Bill 468, would nerf local human rights commissions and make it much more difficult to challenge discrimination. My partner had made appointments with our senator and representative, but thankfully they didn't need any convincing and were already in opposition.
Politicking is a whole lot of hurry up and wait. Get there early so you can wait for your appointment, your fifteen minutes of face time, then hurry up and wait for the next appointment. If you get too bored, you can drop in on a committee meeting and see how the sausage is made. We got done with enough time to grab a bite from the cafeteria before heading over to the visitor's center turned substitute rotunda for music and the rally.
It's a smaller space than the rotunda, was already feeling full by the time the music wound down and the rally began, but folks kept filing in. Was up front trying to shoot the crowd when there came a rustling from right behind me, turned around and none other than the governor was standing there.
Andy Beshear has done just about everything but declare he's running for president in 2028, he's also the first/only governor to regularly attend and speak at the annual Fairness rallies at the Capitol.
Was too busy shooting to take proper (or any) notes on the powerful speeches being given.
The rally drew a whole slew of elected officials, in addition to the governor, the lieutenant governor as well as senators and representatives addressed the gathered crowd.
Charles Booker and Pam Stevenson, candidates for Mitch McConnell's Senate seat in DC , also showed up in support.
Was a lot more than just politicians there though.
Young and old, people from all walks of life filled the room for fairness.
“We are Kentuckians. We are not bootlickers,” said Kentucky author and LGBTQ advocate Silas House.
Until love and fairness prevails, this is one fight that will continue.
