Panelists discuss additions to city's fairness ordinance

Local News

June 22, 2009

By Ronica Shannon The Richmond Register Mon Jun 22, 2009, 08:28 AM EDT

Richmond government already has adopted a fairness ordinance, but it does not include the category of sexual orientation and gender identity.

That is why a large crowd gathered last week at city hall to hear a group of panelists encourage the passage of a local ordinance that would do so.

The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights hosted a community forum Wednesday in conjunction with the Richmond Human Rights Commission that featured former Lexington Mayor Teresa Isaac as mediator.

Forum panelists included Jody Cofer, Murray; Jennifer Crossen, Lexington; Rev. Don Smith, Covington; and Carla Wallace, Louisville.

On June 19, 2008, the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the passage of a statewide fairness law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in any person’s pursuit of employment, housing, and the goods and services of public accommodations.

“Since the 1960s when the general assembly first adopted policies of non-discrimination and formed the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, the commonwealth of Kentucky has repeatedly demonstrated that we are at the forefront of southern states when it comes to protecting our citizens against discrimination,” Isaac said.

Crossen, a leader in the passage of Lexington’s local fairness ordinance, said that America’s attitude toward racism is beginning to change.

“Is racism over? We know it’s not,” Crossen said. “But, the climate is changing. Look who is president. We have a long way to go. Hate goes back many years, but we are moving in that direction.”

She said the climate still needs to change in the schools.

In 1999, her son was going through middle school when she divorced and her partner moved in the home.

“It was one of the hardest experiences that I’ve ever gone through as a parent,” she said. “My son is straight, but has two moms.”

Wallace played a large part in Louisville’s passage of an ordinance that included the protection of gay and transgender citizens against discrimination.

“Civil rights protections for one group create more equality for all groups,” Wallace said. “We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.”

Cofer represented the transgender community and spoke about the evolution of the gender identity issue.

“There’s an astonishing lack of research when it comes to gender identification,” he said. “Society’s understanding of who is transgender has varied a great deal, and the terminology has even changed a lot over the decades.”

He said that it is very important that a person’s gender match their identity.

Today, there are 13 states and 100 municipalities with inclusive non-discrimination laws that include gender identity.

Smith said that watching the Covington City Commissioners one by one vote in approval of a re-written ordinance was “…such an infusion of joy in my heart that I have not experienced since.”

Smith’s theory as a pastor is that the churches against homosexuality should repent.

He referred to himself during the forum as a recovered homophobe.

Sandra Anez Powell, vice chairperson for the Richmond Human Rights Commission, said she hoped that the panel was an eye-opening experience for the community.

“There are many people who have to hide who they are, even though they are professional, in fear of losing their jobs,” Powell said.

The forum was a perfect opportunity to show the value of a human rights commission to its community, she said.

The commission is a great tool to use in order to demystify certain issues and emphasize the importance of advocating human rights, she said.

“We need to inform people that they also are children of God, and we all have to have an opportunity to live our lives with fairness, respect and equality,” she said.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 624-6608.

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