Kentucky Equality Federation's success stories have been hard to miss in the news.  After President Jordan Palmer successfully lobbied the federal government into convicting the first hate crime in U.S. history, a federal judge dismissed a challenge to the 2009 Federal Hate Crime Law. 

The Kentucky also has a hate crime law which includes sexual orientation.  The Commonwealth's law is very different from the federal law; the federal law makes a hate crime based on sexual orientation an arrestable offense, Kentucky's law makes a hate crime based on sexual orientation a post-conviction elevator (meaning you must be convicted of assault, battery, criminal mischief, etc. and if you are found guilty the Commonwealth's Attorney can request the presiding Judge classify the crime as a hate crime and impose significantly longer prison sentences).

This past Tuesday, October 16, 2012, two major national stories include Kentucky Equality Federation cases:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A federal judge will allow a hate crime case to proceed in turning away a challenge to a federal hate crimes law. The ruling allowed jury selection to start for two Cumberland men charged under the statute. They have pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors say Kevin Pennington was attacked in April 2011 because he's gay.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - An incarcerated gay man is suing the Warren County jail and his alleged attacker. Brandon Milam (MY'-lehm) claims a fellow inmate bit off part of his nose in July. An attorney says Milam is now on home incarceration.  Kentucky Equality Federation posted a photo showing a hole on the left side of Milam's nose.

After bring warned by President Jordan Palmer and Vice President of Legal, Attorney Jillian Hall, of "significant civil liability," the Warren County Jail refused to treat Brandon Milam for the brutal assault he suffered while in the custody of the Warren County Jailer.  Jail is not a prison, it is a jail, a temporary hold place for people who cannot make bail or awaiting arraignment. 

- Read Kentucky Equality Federation's Press Release

- Read the updated Bowling Green Daily News story (the most detailed)
- Read the Associated Press story
- Read the The Washington Post story
- Read the New York Times story

Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer refused all on-camera interviews though major television stations still covered the story.  Because of his disfigurement, Mr. Milam does not want to be seen until his reconstructive story is complete.  President Palmer saw no reason to appear without Mr. Milam so all requests received by the Public Relations Department were denied.  President Palmer stated: "As I told the Bowling Green Gray Communications Station, I see no reason for me to appear on television without Mr. Milam.  I urge you to run the story, but I'm not the story, the brutal assault against Mr. Milam is your story so show your viewers what happened to him in jail when his nose was bitten off.  I'm not a person who jumps in front of a camera just to see myself on television."