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 Urban/County Government Votes 12-3 for Fairness State's Two Largest Cities Now Offering Protections |
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By David Williams Editor of The Letter
Lexington, Kentucky—July 8--After a campaign and city-wide debate that lasted
only eighteen days, the Urban/County Government Council in Lexington,
Kentucky voted 12-3 this evening to approve an amendment to its human rights
ordinance that prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, public
accommodations, real estate transfers, and credit on the basis of sexual
orientation and sexual identity.
Last month, the amendment received early support from the mayor and several councilpersons. Vice Mayor Isabel Yates sponsored the proposal when it was brought before the local Human Rights Commission, and after it was introduced it was supported by editorials in the Lexington Herald-Leader. During the evening's debate, several councilpersons voting in favor of the ordinance pointed out their own experiences with discrimination in part as reasons for their support of the measure. Opponents' main concern was the swiftness with which the ordinance was introduced and the process involved in getting it passed. They were particularly concerned that the language was too broad and offered four amendments to narrow the focus.
Meanwhile, Jefferson County--the jurisdiction outside of Louisville city limits--is expected to take up some sort of proposal in August. Henderson, a small city in western Kentucky, will be considering its own version probably in early fall. David Williams is editor of Kentucky's GLBT newspaper, The Letter Subscriptions: $25 for the first year, $20 for renewals. Address: Phoenix Hill Enterprises P.O. Box 3882, Louisville, 40201 |
