Supporters of what's known as a fairness ordinance will lobby the Bowling Green City Commission Tuesday evening.
Members of the LGBT community and others will speak during a work session following the regular city commission meeting. No action can be taken, but proponents will be allowed to address city leaders.
The fairness measure would update the city’s civil rights ordinance to include protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. A fairness ordinance would prevent discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations.
Commissioner Slim Nash introduced the ordinance during the commission’s February 21 meeting. The motion wasn’t seconded and died without any discussion. Nash says he hopes the work session will allow for an open discussion and exchange of ideas between fairness advocates and city leaders.
"While many citizens have attended and spoke during the public comment portion of commission meetings, that does not allow for an exchange, rather it is designed only for one-way communication by the citizen to the commission without interruption or response," Nash told WKU Public Radio.
Meanwhile, Georgetown is preparing to take up a similar proposal. Mayor Tom Prather told the Herald-Leader that the city council will consider a fairness ordinance in “fairly short order.”
Bowling Green is Kentucky’s largest city without a fairness ordinance in place.
