This is one in a series of profiles marking the 60th anniversary of the ACLU of Kentucky’s founding.  Each week through December 2015 we will highlight the story of one member, client, case, board or staff member that has been an integral part of our organization’s rich history.

Bee Johnston

Bee Johnston was an early leader for the KCLU Women’s Rights Committee, serving on the steering committee in the 1970s. When Bee noticed institutionalized discrimination, she was an ardent advocate for change. When her son turned sixteen years old, Bee learned that Kentucky state law only allowed for her husband to sign their son up for his driver's permit.  In 1973, Kentucky law stated only the male parent could sign for a minor's driving permit unless the parents were divorced and the mother had custody. Disgusted by the blatant discrimination, Johnston, with the help of attorney Donna (Maier) Morton, filed a successful lawsuit in federal court, and thus mothers can now sign for their children’s permits.  At the time of the lawsuit Bee was quoted in the Louisville Times on the case saying, "When you marry, you lose all your rights in the eyes of the law.  It's as if we were children, no more responsible than our own children.  You're supposed to be part of a 50-50 partnership, so why can't the woman sign?"

A member of the Louisville Free Thought Society, Bee was a staunch advocate of the separation of church and state. Johnston ran a ‘freethinkers hotline’ from her home, which gave callers a “’freethought’ of the day.” To Johnston, ‘Freethought’ meant "to think critically, to question authority, doctrine and dogma, and use reason, logic and evidence before forming opinions." “I think this would be her advice to all of us now,” Johnston’s friend and caregiver, Kate Cunningham, said of ‘Freethought’, “we have the same lack of critical thinking today on important issues!” Johnston herself was an atheist, and she really appreciated the fact that the ACLU would throw its weight behind unpopular ideas to protect citizen’s rights. Throughout her time fighting for the separation of church and state, Johnston teamed with the ACLU to take down obstructions to citizens’ religious freedoms.