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Octobe
20096

Reconciliation and Race PLAN TO ATTEND

Woody's Owner Makes Long-Awaited Apology
H Volunteer Meetups - every Tuesday,
When Woody’s Tavern owner David Norton spoke through his home intercom to a news
6-8 pm, work on a variety of Fairness
reporter over a year ago denying he had hurled racist and sexist slurs against a University
Campaign volunteer projects while
of Louisville professor and her students both in and out of his bar, it appeared unlikely the
meeting staff and other volunteers.
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 H Dismantling Racism Dialogues
of Louisville, Brian Buford, wrote an open letter to Mr. Norton once more calling for the - Oct. 7, 6:30 pm and 1st Wednesday of
apology, and inspired the Fairness Campaign to post Buford’s letter on its Facebook site* every month, at the Fairness office.
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 H Saturday Academy on black
a public apology to be made by bar owner David Norton to Dr. Kaila Story and the group of history, issues and culture - Saturdays
UofL students and alumni involved in the incident. On August 15, nearly a year and a half Oct. 3 - May 22, 11 am - 2 pm, DuValle
after denying the incident ever occurred, Mr. Norton openly owned his words and actions, and Education Center, 3610 Bohne Ave.
offered a full public apology to the victims and the more than 50 supporters joining them in
H National Equality March - Sunday,
the Woody’s parking lot that day. “I would like to apologize for any action and/or verbiage
Oct. 11, Washington, D.C.
that I used on April 22, 2008,” Norton announced to the group. “What came out of my mouth
was pure filth.” H The Laramie Poject: Ten Years
Dr. Kaila Story told reporters gathered at the apology, “When it happened that day, I Later - Monday, Oct. 12, 8 pm, Actors
said, ‘I will not let this rest. I will not, because this is injustice, and I’m not having it.” She Theatre of Louisville, 316 W. Main St.
said the apology was a step in the right direction, but that the problem of racism extended Free, but ticket required. Call 502-584-
beyond Woody’s and this specific act to the greater Louisville community and beyond. 1205.
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 H Legislative Committee -
community, that any form of discrimination hurts everyone, and that no act of discrimination Wednesday, Oct. 21, 6:30 pm, at the
may go unchallenged. Fairness Office.
The Fairness Campaign believes we may never become complacent or quiet in the H Fairness X-travaganza Dinner
face of a racist act, nor may anyone resign themselves to the notion many across the country Parties - Saturday, Oct. 24, across the
tout, pointing to the election of President Barack Obama, that racial tensions and acts of city.
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 H Fairness X-plosion Community
collective, proactive work of all communities to unravel that imperfect tapestry, and begin to Celebration and Dance Party
repair the damage that has been done. - Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 pm - 2 am,
While the Fairness Campaign has strived for LGBTQ equality, since its inception, Monkey Wrench, 1025 Barret Ave.
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, H Kentucky Fairness Alliance "Out
sexism, classism, and homophobia—is integral to our understanding and defeating prejudice & About," – Saturday, Nov. 14, 7 pm,
in America. As long as one form of oppression persists, all forms of oppression will fail to State Historic Theatre, Elizabethtown,
desist. KY.
Therefore, during the apology, Fairness Campaign Director Chris Hartman announced H Women In Transition (WIT) - every
an ongoing series of "Dismantling Racism" dialogues, to be held the first Wednesday of each Wednesday, 6-8 pm, 219 W Ormsby
month, with the hope that in a safe, open and affirming environment, we may all begin to Ave.
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 H Louisville Youth Group – support
of a series of workshops, listening circles, and other programs aimed at dismantling racism and social group for LGBTQ youth 14 to
continued on page 2 21, weekly meetings. 499-4427.

2263 Frankfort Avenue Louisville KY 40206 / phone: 502 893-0788 / email: fairness@fairness.org

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 $180,000 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.
2009 Fairness AIDS Walk Team.
Photo credit: Hardy Photography
Woody's Apology
continued from page 1
to occur here in Louisville and eventually
throughout the state. All those interested
in contributing to the beginning discussion
should e-mail Chris@Fairness.org and join
Fairness leaders at the Campaign office (2263
Frankfort Ave.) the first Wednesday of each
month, 6:30pm.
You can view WHAS-11 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.

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 10 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
continued on next page
Fairness Joins National Equality March
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. 11 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!
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 $1,400 in small donations for
Fairness and Fleur de Lez!

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.” Fairness and Fleur de Lez supporters at Sweet
“We found the people of Laramie still fighting their own history…their own story,” Heat Summer Fling. Photo credit: Metromix
continued playwright Leigh Fondakowski. Louisville (louisville.metromix.com)
On October 12, Actors Theatre of Louisville will join over 100 theatres in all 50 states
and across the world exploring the effects of Shepard’s murder a decade later with a premiere Carla's Lawn Party
stage reading of the Tectonic Theatre Project’s The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, an For the twelfth year in a row, Carla
epilogue to the original theatre piece. The evening will commence with a live Lincoln Wallace’s Lawn Party drew a huge, diverse
Center webcast address from Kaufman, followed by the Actors Theatre’s 2009/2010 Acting crowd of supporters over Labor Day weekend
Apprentice Company reading of the piece. The night concludes with a panel discussion led for food, fun, and great dancing as the sun
by the Fairness Campaign addressing the importance of Hate Crimes legislation protecting went down. Among the partygoers enjoying
LGBTQ individuals, and what citizens can do to make the passage of the Matthew Shepard Wiltshire Pantry’s vegetarian spread were
Hate Crimes Act a reality. Congressman
The performance begins at 8pm Monday, October 12, in Actors Theatre’s Pamela Brown John Yarmuth
Auditorium, 316 W. Main St. Admission is free, but tickets are required. and his wife
Cathy, and
The Future Fairness m a y o r a l
candidates
continued from previous page Metro Council
no legal protections from discrimination. The Fairness Campaign is part of a broad-based President
Statewide Fairness Coalition of allied organizations working to achieve this equal rights David Tandy
legislation in Kentucky. We ask you to join us. Together we must lobby our legislators and and businessman Greg Fischer. This year,
make our voices heard for the passage of a statewide Fairness law that will move our state the Carl Braden Memorial Center joined the
into a fair future, where every resident of our great Commonwealth is treated equally with Fairness Campaign and the Kentucky Alliance
respect and dignity under the law. Against Racist and Political Repression as a
To stay informed of the Fairness Campaign’s upcoming lobbying opportunities beneficiary of the event, which raised a total
and statewide education programs, follow Twitter.com/FairnessCamp, Facebook.com/ of over $14,000 to be divided equally among
FairnessCampaign, and Fairness.org. the groups.

 PRESORT STANDARD
US POSTAGE
PAID
LOUISVILLE KY
PERMIT #879

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

FAIRNESS
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 X-
travaganza 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,

X
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 10 years 1999 2009
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 $100 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 10pm-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 Chris@Fairness.org of call 502-893­‑0788.