By WKMS Staff Report
Murray, KY – Fairness leaders from Kentucky returned home this weekend from the annual Summer Meeting of the Equality Federation Institute in Madison, WI. The gathering was exciting and exhausting at the same time with workshops aplenty and networking with other LGBT organization leaders. While at the meeting, the group heard from various experts and officials, including Commissioner Chai Feldblum of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Deputy Director Brian Bond of the White House Office of Public Engagement, and Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin.
On Saturday, the Federation Board of Directors re-elected Kentuckian Jody Cofer as co-chair, along with co-chair A.J. Bockelman of Missouri.
"Jody's re-election to the leadership of a national civil rights organization speaks strongly of how his peers across the country view his work. His passion to ensure that our nation continues to live out the true meaning of our creed-that all are created equal, continues a long legacy of Kentuckians who have fought for equality and make him uniquely qualified to continue in this leadership post," said Governor Steve Beshear.
Jody Cofer, Academic Program Specialist at Murray State University (MSU), serves as co-chair of the MSU President's Commission on Diversity and Inclusion and faculty/staff advisor to MSU Alliance, a gay-straight alliance.
"It's an honor to have the support of peers in the LGBT movement across this country as we are working together to make significant progress in educating the general public on the harms of LGBT discrimination in public policy and practice," said Cofer.
The Equality Federation and Equality Federation Institute is a national alliance of statewide LGBT organizations working to build a more skilled and effective state-based equality movement. Kentucky Fairness Alliance is a member.
Attending the gathering from Kentucky were: Jody Cofer, Travis Myles, Peggy Pittman-Munke, Morgan Randall, Don Wenzel, and Nick Wilkerson.