Could we see a statewide fairness law in KY?

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) — Woodford County is the latest Kentucky municipality to pass a LGBTQ Fairness Ordinance protecting people from discrimination based on their gender identity and sexuality.

We’ve seen an uptick recently in the number of cities passing these ordinances but that isn’t reflected at the state level.

The Fairness Campaign says after working to pass a statewide fairness law over the last two decades, it’s doubtful something will be done this session.

“What is it that will push the legislature to take the issue up and extend these protections statewide? I don’t know what it is but I know that we’re moving towards it,” says Chris Hartman, executive director for the Fairness Campaign.

A statewide fairness bill was first introduced in 2000. There’s been a bill every year since including this year.

It’s never made it out of committee even though 18 cities and counties have passed their own version.

“Over 70-percent of Kentuckians live somewhere where they can still be fired from a job, denied a place to live, kicked out of a restaurant, or be denied any public service just for someone thinking they’re gay or transgender,” says Hartman.

Last year, the bill had a record number of co-sponsors and even bipartisan. This year’s sponsors hope for the same.

“This is necessary. It’s past time that the whole Commonwealth of Kentucky became a state of fairness. Cause y’all means all folks,” says State Representative Patti Minter (D) of Bowling Green.

But the Fairness Campaign isn’t optimistic a bill will pass this year. It thinks more local governments passing ordinances will help make it happen in the future.

So what’s the opposition?

“We have argued that they are basically anti-religious freedom bills,” says Martin Cothran with the Family Foundation for Kentucky.

The foundation believes there’s actually very little discrimination against gays.

Instead, say fairness bills just end up hurting religious freedom.

“They end up targeting religious run organizations that have some belief that’s part of what they do as Christian businesses,” says Cothran.

The foundation says this is a state where people value their beliefs so it doesn’t see a fairness bill passing.

Others say it’s not needed because gay people are already protected by other laws just like everyone else.

We’re still early on in the session so we’ll just have to see how these bills progress in the weeks to come.