Fairness PAC Endorses Attica Scott in Metro Council District 1 Appointment

The political action committee of the Fairness Campaign, C-FAIR, announces today its endorsement of Attica Scott for appointment to the vacant Louisville Metro Council District 1 seat. Last year Ms. Scott received the C-FAIR endorsement in her bid for the District 1 seat on the Jefferson County Public School Board.

"Ms. Scott possesses an unwavering and long-standing record of devotion to issues pertaining to organized labor and Fairness," shared C-FAIR Board Co-Chair Nick Wilkerson. "That record, paired with her clear social justice stances built upon an understanding of the inherent intersections of all forms of oppression, makes her uniquely suited to represent all Louisville's 1st District residents."

CFAIR Primary Endorsements

Fairness Campaign PAC Endorses Tandy for Mayor and Seven Other Primaries

(Louisville, KY) The political action committee of the Fairness Campaign, CFAIR, proudly announces its endorsements for the May 18, 2010 Primary Elections:

Councilman David Tandy – Mayor of Louisville, Democratic Primary

Councilwoman Tina Ward-Pugh – Metro Council District 9, Democratic Primary

William Cohen – Metro Council District 17, Democratic Primary

Mike Slaton – Kentucky House of Representatives District 41, Democratic Primary

Mike O’Connell – Jefferson County Attorney

Stephanie Pearce Burke – District Court Judge Division 14

Mark Abrams – County Judge Executive, Republican Primary

Curt Morrison – County Judge Executive, Democratic Primary

CFAIR once again conducted an endorsement process that engaged candidates in wide-ranging discussions of issues important to both the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community and the larger Louisville Metro community. CFAIR endorsement interview teams were each populated with a diverse representation of Fairness supporters. Each candidate who completed a CFAIR primary questionnaire was interviewed, including Republican Mayoral Primary candidate Chris Thieneman, who was not endorsed.

In the Democratic Primary for Mayor, CFAIR endorses Councilman David Tandy, a longtime friend of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. This is his third endorsement by CFAIR. In his interview, Councilman Tandy set out a broad, vigorous, and enthusiastic vision for Louisville that included a strong focus on education and a balanced growth of local, independent small businesses alongside larger corporations. He spoke of the commonalities across neighborhoods, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and socioeconomic classes in the Metropolitan area and the practical considerations for moving Louisville forward.

Several other Democratic candidates sought the CFAIR endorsement. Strong interviews were given by Tyler Allen, Greg Fischer, Councilman Jim King and Shannon White. Candidate Connie Marshall also interviewed with the team.

In the Metro Council District 9 Democratic Primary, CFAIR again endorses incumbent Councilwoman Tina Ward-Pugh, a long time and fierce advocate of the LGBT community who was instrumental in the passage of Louisville’s Fairness Ordinance. The CFAIR team was additionally impressed with Ms. Ward-Pugh’s leading voice in the establishment of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, in passing Louisville’s smoke-free legislation and in the Green Triangle Initiative on sustainability.

In the Metro Council District 17 Democratic Primary, CFAIR endorses small business owner and board member/treasurer of the Worthington Fire Department, William Cohen, who exhibited a deep understanding of the intersections of oppression during his interview with the CFAIR team. A resident of the district for more than 30 years, Mr. Cohen cited traffic, zoning, library and public health issues among his chief concerns in the race, and offered practical ideas for improvement.

In Kentucky State House of Representatives District 41 Democratic Primary, CFAIR endorses Mike Slaton, a former Fairness Campaign intern and paid lobbyist in Frankfort running against incumbent Rep. Tom Riner, who has not been openly supportive of the LGBT community.

In the Jefferson County Attorney Primary, CFAIR endorses incumbent Mike O’Connell, a former board member of the Louisville Metro human Relations Commission who testified in favor of the Fairness Ordinance before the Louisville Metro Council.

In the District Court Judge Division 14 Primary, CFAIR endorses Stephanie Pearce Burke, who has worked tirelessly in her career to defend those individuals who otherwise would not have had their voices heard. The CFAIR team believes Mrs. Burke will continue to be a passionate and fair voice from the bench.

In the County Judge Executive Republican Primary, CFAIR endorses Mark Abrams, who has been previously endorsed by CFAIR and expressed he would represent all citizens of Louisville Metro.

In the County Judge Executive Democratic Primary, CFAIR endorses Curt Morrison, who stood out for his vision to use the office as a bully pulpit to advance LGBT issues and build support with allies across the state.

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Committee for Fairness And Individual Rights
P.O. Box 3431 . Louisville, KY . 40201

CFAIR 2010 Endorsement News

The 2010 election cycle has started and the deadlines for candidate filings for the May primary was 5 PM EST yesterday.

If you're wondering which candidates in the mayoral, legislative, school board and judicial races are going to get the CFAIR endorsement, check with us here at the blog, our Twitter feeds and Facebook page for the latest news.

If you actually want a voice in determining what candidates we endorse, candidate interview teams are forming now. You can get in contact with us CFAIR@fairness.org or talk to our co-chairs Dawn Wilson and Nick Wilkerson if you're interested in participating in candidate interviews.

Of course, if you wish to have even more of a voice, you can join the CFAIR board as well.

Laramie Project In Louisville-Ten Years Later

Tonight at the Pamela Brown Theatre will be a performance of The Laramie Project-Ten Years Later at 8 PM EDT.

Laramie is the hometown of the late Matthew Shepard, whose gruesome 1998 murder galvanized support for hate crimes legislation that has yet to pass Congress.

The Tectonic Theater Project conducted a series of interviews with Laramie residents in the wake of Matthew Shepard's murder in order to better understand the community. Those interviews became the seeds in 2000 for the Laramie Project, 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.

Actors Theatre of Louisville is joining over 100 theatres in all 50 states and across the world premiering a 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 2009/2010 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.

Birthday girl and C-FAIR Co-chair Dawn Wilson will be taking part in the post performance panel discussion along with Director Michael Legg, Chris Hartman, Director of the Fairness Campaign, Michael Aldridge, Director of the ACLU-KY and a student leader from the University of Louisville.

Should be an enjoyable and informative evening at Actor's Theatre.

Stonewall 40th Anniversary

Today is the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots that jumped off the modern GLBT rights movement.

While its been amazing to see the progress that the GLBT community not only here in Kentucky but nationally has made over the last 40 years, we still have a long rod yet to travel.

Today is a day to take stock in where the movement is now and visualize the type of Kentucky and the type of America we would wish to live in, then do whatever is necessary to make it happen.