“It is ironic that gay rights groups are trying to eliminate what they call ‘discrimination’ by using a section of the Constitution
that was originally placed there in order to discriminate against people.”
—Martin Cothran

Family group defends Governor’s position on grant

LEXINGTON, KY—The Family Foundation responded to today’s decision by a gay rights leader to sue Gov. Fletcher for his decision not to veto a state appropriation for the University of the Cumberlands.  The grant to the small Baptist college drew attention after the school expelled a gay student for violating its behavior code.

“It is ironic,” said Martin Cothran, senior policy analyst for the group, “that gay rights groups are trying to eliminate what they call ‘discrimination’ by using a section of the Constitution that was originally placed there in order to discriminate against people.”  The section of the Constitution which the Kentucky Fairness Alliance cited for its lawsuit was placed into the Constitution during a time of anti-Catholic prejudice and was intended by Protestant interest groups to ensure Catholic schools not be helped by the state. 

“It is also ironic that, while many of our public institutions are engaged in activities abhorrent to many taxpayers, such as research that destroys human embryos, we are worried about a pharmacy program at a Christian school which would help in training pharmacists for our state which everybody agrees we sorely need.  The money is not going for religious instruction: it’s being used for a secular purpose: the health of Kentuckians.”

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Martin Cothran is the senior policy analyst for The Family Foundation, a Kentucky nonprofit educational organization that works in the public policy arena on behalf of the family and the values that make families strong.