By Alex Gaughan
In early March, Kentucky Senator Gary Tapp escorted Senate Bill 68 to the committee, and had it passed legislation, it would have prevented unmarried, cohabitating couples from fostering children in Kentucky.
Many people felt the bill targeted the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community because of rules preventing gays and lesbians to marry.
Brian Buford, Director of the University of Louisville’s LGBT services said, “It is my hope that it became clear at a certain point that people across the board were absolutely opposed to this type of attack on children.”
While the bill made it to the senate committee, it did not come to a vote, and did not pass the senate floor.
“We rallied our base of supporters and worked with ally organizations across the state to mobilize their bases against the bill,” Buford said. “This drove the message to senators that hate legislature will not be tolerated in the commonwealth.”
Chris Hartman, Director of Fairness Campaign is concerned that the bill made it as far as it did even without the vote.
“The sponsors of the legislator all said they were thinking in the best interest of the children, but we know there aren’t enough homes for foster care children,” Hartman said.
According to Buford, children in foster care systems and unmarried couples wanting to adopt would not be the only people affected by the legislation, however.
“If the bill were to be passed, it would affect everyone,” said Buford. “People who live in the state may be prompted to leave. People from outside the state who are considering studying at the University of Louisville, who are looking to share their resources may look elsewhere.”
According to senior philosophy major Mandy Zoeller there is a correlation between the number of homosexuals in the community and artistic opportunities, and legislation such as Senate Bill 68 will negatively affect the city.
Zoeller said, “It will deter the image of Louisville and Kentucky. Young, educated professionals who think of issues like this will not see it as a positive that Kentucky passes inclusive legislation.”
Corey Anderson, freshman psychology and WGST double major, insisted that Senate Bill 68 would only polarize the stereotypes and discrimination towards the LGBT community.
Anderson said, “I want students to know that equality is something we all have access to, and even questioning this equality effects everyone from single parents, to members of LBGT and unmarried couples. This bill is dehumanizing and wrong.”
Despite the bill not passing this year, Buford is preparing for 2010.
“We will be working throughout the year to build a collation of allied organization to become stronger, and mobilize them with greater fervor next year,” Buford said. “Seven thousand children in the Kentucky foster care system eradicated that this bill was in the best interest of the children.”
Anderson said, “The fact that students will protest and give voice, and can do that without violence is empowering. Next year we need to say what needs to be said, and do what needs to be done so these issues are confronted and dealt with.”
