Kentucky’s capital city has become the fifth in the state to pass a fairness ordinance, protecting individuals from discrimination in housing, public accommodations and employment based on sexual orientation.
Thursday morning's vote by Frankfort’s Board of Commissioners was split 3-2, but some say there was never a question of whether it would pass.“It was never questioned whether or not there was majority support or that the law would pass. It’s been a waiting game to find out when it would happen and if this process would continue to go on as it has," says Fairness Campaign Director Chris Hartman.Over the past several months, amendments were discussed and public comments expressed. For example, this week commissioners amended the definition of family to include legal guardianship, which Hartman says broadens protections for individuals. Hartman says Frankfort officials modeled the ordinance after the Louisville law, though Lexington, Covington and Vicco, in eastern Kentucky have also passed similar protection ordinances. Frankfort will now create a seven-member human rights commission that will hear discrimination complaints.
Hartman says Berea and Morehead have also been discussing the issue, but no votes have been scheduled.
