Rep. Jim Wayne, D-Louisville, says it’s time for a renewed push for a statewide Fairness Law in light of Pope Francis’ statement that Christians owe apologies to gay people and others they have offended.
“If the head of the Catholic Church can join the growing number of people who realize that gay people should be treated with respect, then surely it’s time for laws of Kentucky to reflect that same sense of decency,” said Wayne.
Wayne said legislation he has cosponsored in the past to create a statewide Fairness Law in Kentucky will once again be introduced when the General Assembly meets in January. The legislation would prohibit discrimination because of sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, employment and public accommodations.
The measure, House Bill 155, received a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee during the 2016 session, but did not come to a vote. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, and cosponsored by: Rep. Denver Butler, R-Louisville; Kelly Flood, D-Louisville; Dennis Horlander, D-Louisville; Joni Jenkins, D-Shively; Rep. Reginal Meeks, D-Louisville; Rep. Ruth Ann Palumbo, D-Lexington; Rep. Arnold Simpson, D-Covington; Rep. Susan Westrom, D-Lexington; and Rep. Wayne.
A similar measure, Senate Bill 176, was also introduced during the 2016 legislative session in the Senate but didn’t become law. SB 176 was sponsored by Sen. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, and cosponsored by: Sen. Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington; Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville; Sen. Perry Clark, D-Louisville; Sen. Denise Harper Angel, D-Louisville; and Sen. Gerald Neal, D-Louisville.
Rep. Wayne is a cofounder of Catholics for Fairness, a group urging support for LGBT fairness measures. Wayne said the group continues to call upon Louisville Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz and all faith denominational leaders – as well as Gov. Matt Bevin and all state lawmakers — to support the statewide fairness legislation. Wayne said Catholics for Fairness has not received a response from Archbishop Kurtz over the past five years.
“I was pleased to see that Pope Francis once again affirmed that everyone should be treated with respect rather than a judgmental attitude,” Wayne said. “Our Archbishop and other leaders should join the effort to make sure our laws protect people from discrimination. We all benefit when everyone is treated with fairness in public housing, accommodations, and jobs.”