The Human Rights Campaign has declared a national state of emergency for the LGBTQ-plus community. Yesterday’s announcement was the first in the group’s four-decade history by America’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer organization. Chris Hartman, the executive director for Kentucky’s Fairness Campaign, said an incident in Corbin Saturday is an example of why the warning is justified.
“LGBTQ young activists had a demonstration and had people come out and harass them, one of them harassing them using anti LGBTQ slurs and brandishing a gun at them.”
The public information officer for the Corbin Police Department said he’s not aware of any arrests in the incident. Hartman said the LGBTQ-plus community is threatened not only by legislation passed in Kentucky and other states, but hatred and physical violence.
“I've been at the fairness campaign for going on 15 years now. I've never seen the rhetoric at this type of a fever pitch. I've never seen the animus against our community this boldly on display nationwide.”
Hartman said more than 550 anti-LGBTQ bills, many targeting transgender children, were passed by state legislatures this year, including Kentucky’s Senate Bill 150, which he called the worst of all.
** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, fact-based journalism. Monthly sustaining donors are the top source of funding for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation.
