LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – People packed the capitol rotunda to rally alongside the Fairness Campaign.
They are celebrating 25 years of the Commonwealth’s original fairness ordinances approved in three cities, including Lexington, back in 1999.
Now, they say their work continues as they fight what they’re calling the “slate of hate.”
“Thirteen anti-LGBTQ+ bills already. I’ll get the veto pen ready again this year,” Governor Andy Beshear said.
The Fairness Campaign says the proposed bills on the “Slate of Hate” includes anti-fairness, anti-DEI and anti-drag bills.
Serenity Johnson says the continued filing of these types of bills only further shows the importance of representing LGBTQ people in the Commonwealth.
“We live in cities and rural counties and the hollers of Kentucky. We’re Kentuckians, too, and I think it’s important that people remember that,” Johnson said.
Senator Karen Berg, D-Louisville, filed Senate Bill 238 just one day before the Fairness Rally here at the Capitol. She says it’s essentially a rewrite of last year’s controversial Senate Bill 150.
“This bill is essentially my effort to be as understanding as possible to everybody’s concerns,” said Senator Berg.
If passed, it would require schools to provide all students with areas of individual privacy, upon request, when using restrooms, locker rooms or changing rooms. It would also require schools to use a child’s preferred pronouns, with a note from the child’s parent and a doctor diagnosing the child with gender dysphoria.
“The school will do their best to accommodate. I even took the word require out and changed it to request because I know this is difficult for some people to wrap their heads around,” Sen. Berg said.
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