BEREA —
Members of the Berea Human Rights Commission have been invited by Bereans for Fairness to meet the public at a Thursday reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at Berea Coffee & Tea on the College Square, 124 S. Main Street.
Members of the commission have been asked to briefly introduce themselves during the free reception, said David Shroyer of Bereans for Fairness. The organization promotes equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents of Berea and Kentucky, he said.
Mayor Steve Connelly appointed members of the Human Rights Commission in November. They are Jeannie Gregory, Paula Dunson-Wood, Chad Hembree, Tim Hampton, Jonathan Schinhofen, Lisa Vaughn and Mae Suramek, the chair.
“One of the main purposes of the HRC is to promote understanding among Berea citizens, and to address divisiveness and bias in our community,” Suramek said. “While the individual views of commissioners may vary with regards to the fairness ordinance, the commission is always grateful for opportunities to dialogue with, and to work alongside all citizens or groups whose main purpose is to advocate for inclusion.”
The commission’s formation came after a series of community forums last year about whether an ordinance protecting members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from discrimination was needed in Berea.
When the Berea City Council adopted a local human rights ordinance that authorized the mayor to appoint a rights commission, it declined to include LGBT protection that is not provided by state law.
The commission’s main purpose is education, not enforcement, Connelly said when he announced the apppointments. He expressed hope the panel’s education efforts would help raise the “civil rights IQ” of Berea’s citizens.
Thursday’s reception will be an informal opportunity for citizens to meet with commissioners and speak about their expectations for human rights in Berea, Shroyer said.
Bereans also will have the option of submitting written questions and suggestions to be given to the commissioners.
“It will be good for the community to meet with us and get a feel of what we’re about,” Dunson-Wood said. “Hopefully, we can let the citizens know we are receptive to their needs.”
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