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Passes Fairness Ordinance |
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By David Williams
Editor, The Letter
Louisville, Kentucky--By a vote of 3-1, commissioners on Jefferson County
Fiscal Court approved a comprehensive civil rights measure yesterday called the
Fairness ordinance that extends civil rights protections based on sexual
orientation and gender identity in the areas of employment, housing, and
public accommodations.
Jefferson County is the most populous county in Kentucky, containing nearly 700,000 residents, or about one in five in the state. Its largest city is Louisville. The vote came after months of public debate and a final hearing this morning at which 21 individuals spoke both for and against the measure. But the outcome had been assured since late July when Democratic commissioner Joe Corradino, who had previously not taken a stand on the proposal, decided to support it. He joined commissioners Russ Maple and Darryl Owens, also Democrats, who came out in favor of it as soon as the idea was brought up last winter.
Christian conservatives promise to file a lawsuit against the new law in federal district court. Their arguments focus mainly on the contention that it violates the free expression of their religious beliefs and their freedom of association. A similar suit has already been filed against Louisville's ordinance, which was passed in January. A new civil rights law in Henderson, Kentucky is also expected to be challenged. A fourth jurisdiction--Lexington/Fayette County in the state's central Bluegrass region--passed an ordinance similar to Jefferson County's in July. No suit has yet been filed against it. Ten months ago, no Kentucky residents were covered by Fairness laws. Now, about 25% are, but that may change in 2000. A measure to extend similar protections statewide has been pre-filed before the Kentucky General Assembly and is expected to be debated during the next biennial session, due to get underway in January. |
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