By now I think that most Kossacks have heard about this incident or this story, either from having read about it on my diary or at Chrislove's piece on the event. If not, let me recommend you check either of those for the details of what this situation is, as well as for contact numbers and petitions if you wish to join in making your discontent over this incident heard.
Apologies, threats, investigations & protests below...
The Mayor of the city of Hazard did apologize on behalf of the city itself regarding this incident prior to yesterdays protest, which caused Kentucky Equality Federation president Jordan Palmer to be on the receiving end of Death threats...
http://www.wkyt.com/...
...Palmer said. The group's actions have led to angry e-mails,
with at least one threatening that if the protest is held, Palmer
"will leave with a bullet in his head," Palmer said...
....snip....
....Hazard Mayor Nan Gorman, 83, said the city is sorry about the
incident, an investigation is under way and no decisions have been
made about the employee. Gorman says the city has been inundated
with protest calls from around the country.
"I've had people call from everywhere," Gorman said. "You'd
think we've had a murder scene up here, a massacre."...
Palmer has said on his facebook that threats are being forwarded to the police. Yesterday (June 18th, 2011) from 2pm to 4pm the Rally did meet, and the turnout was low unfortunately (Video w/ link, note the title, minimize much?)...
http://www.wkyt.com/...
On Saturday, dozens of people protested the actions of a city employee, who allegedly removed two gay men with disabilities from a facility run by the city of Hazard.
In a report released by the city, a lifeguard at the Pavilion alleges the men were repeatedly hugging and kissing. Facility officials say this is inappropriate for both heterosexual and homosexual couples.
However, the Kentucky Equality Federation says the men were only sitting on each other's laps, and they were discriminated against....
...snip....
..."There was not kissing, and there was nothing of that sort. One of them sat on the other's knee and that was it," said Jordan Palmer, president of the Kentucky Equality Federation.
The city's investigation report released by the law offices of Hollon & Collins, can be read here. It's alot of "We didn't have much time to do this, didn't get to interview many people, except mostly those who work there, so here's a "its really about PDA's and oh by the way yeah it was inappropriate for the employee to use the bible as justification" piece the city requested". Mixed accounts of the events seems to be cornerstone. To try and get past that, the Kentucky Equality Federation requested video from that day to settle once and for all the events of that day, to my knowledge none has been offered or provided.
Here is what the Kentucky Equality Federation posted about the event Saturday...
...Kentucky Equality Federation extends its thanks to Hazard Mayor Nan Gorman. "Hazard Mayor Nan Gorman is a women of integrity and class," stated Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer. "She has stated that all people are welcome at The Pavilion and has been receptive, positive, and helpful from the very beginning."
The City of Hazard has suspended the employee who threw the two gay men out of The Pavilion for five (5) days without pay and ordered him to undergo ‘sensitivity training’. The city has also ordered a sign be posted stating all official rules and prohibiting excessive public displays of affection, be it same-sex or opposite-sex couples. The city also promises that all rules with be enforced in a uniform fashion and apologized for the conduct of the facility manager to the entire staff of CNN.
Kentucky Equality Federation requests that the city make good on its promises, and continues to demand that Mr. Kim Haynes be reassigned to another part of city government.
Only one woman and her family showed-up in opposition and their arguments were based on religion. In total, over 64 people drove by or showed-up to support the two gay men thrown out of the pool and more than 1000 people have signed an online petition demanding action by the city....
Notice the difference in claims of attendance? Dozens to 64, I don't know which one is right, but considering what happened, I really thought this should have gotten more support than either of those figures. But that is just me.
Because the addresses were brought back up in the comments for those wishing to take more action than the petition, below are the contact information (thanks for the reminder jpmassar!)
Action Contact Info:
The Pavilion:
Pavilion
Deaton Street
Hazard, KY 41701
(606) 436-4200
E-mail: pavilion@cityofhazard.com (Note: Non-functioning...sorry)
Director: Charlotte Sizemore
City of Hazard: Mayor's office..
City Hall
700 Main Street
Hazard, KY 41701
P.O. Box 420
Hazard, KY 41702
(606) 436-3171
Fax: (606) 436-3252
So who believes that a heterosexual couple where one sat on the other's knee and put their arm around the other would have been equally ejected from the facility with a biblical lecture on Adultery?
Palmer, as the rally link from WYMT points out, insists that if an apology is not given that they will sue the city.
What are your thoughts on this?
Update: "Recommended"....awww, thanks y'all!
Update II: WLEX is reporting over 100 total came and went to the protest. Better, much better...
http://www.lex18.com/...
The city of Hazard has now taken action against an employee who kicked two mentally challenged gay men out of a pool for acting inappropriately. About 100 people showed up Saturday from across Kentucky outside the Hazard Pavilion Pool to protest.
"I was more embarrassed that these issues are still prevalent in our region," says Pastor Edith Baker.
It's now been one week since a worker kicked out the two men, after one sat on the other's knee. The group "Mending Hearts" who was supervising the men, complained the cited the Bible and said that "gay people weren't allowed to swim there."...