April 2, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org

LOUISVILLE, KY – The ACLU of Kentucky is proud to announce Defense of Marriage Act Attorney James Esseks as keynote speaker for the 20^th Annual Carl L. Wedekind Bill of Rights Dinner. Esseks will speak on the evening of April 25 at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts.

Last month, Esseks was Counsel before the U.S. Supreme Court in the United States v. Windsor challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Esseks will offer attendees a unique view on what it was like to argue the case on behalf of Edie Windsor, what the ACLU's plans are for the Supreme Court decision in June, and the ACLU's next steps to win the freedom to marry for all Americans.

Esseks has been Director of the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender AIDS Project since 2010, and was its Litigation Director starting in 2001. James oversees legal advocacy around the country that aims to ensure equal treatment of LGBT people by the government; equal protections for LGBT couples and families; protection from discrimination in jobs, schools, housing, and public accommodations; and fair treatment of people living with HIV. James graduated from Yale College and Harvard Law School, where he was editor-in-chief of the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review.

Event Information:

2013 ACLU of Kentucky 20^th Annual Carl L. Wedekind Bill of Rights Dinner

Thursday, April 25 Cocktail reception: 5:00 p.m. Program: 6:00 p.m.

Dinner with Mr. Esseks: 7:30 p.m. Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts 501 W Main St. Louisville, KY 40202

Tickets: $35 ticket includes cocktail reception and program; $125 ticket includes cocktail reception, program and dinner. Tickets are available through the Kentucky Center Box Office here.

More information about the Bill of Rights Dinner, Mr. Esseks and the United States v. Windsor case is available at www.aclu-ky.org.