Bowling Green City Commission votes 3-2 in opposition to Fairness Ordinance

WNKY Staff, ,

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – After hours of public comment and debate, city leaders in Bowling Green decided against a Fairness Ordinance at Tuesday evening’s commission meeting.

The first reading of the ordinance failed on a 3-2 vote.

Commissioners Slim Nash and Dana Beasley Brown voted in favor, while Mayor Bruce Wilkerson and Commissioners Sue Parragin and Joe Denning voted NO.

If enforced, the ordinance would prohibit discrimination toward members of the city’s LGBTQ community when it comes to housing and employment. Opponents believe it could infringe on religious freedom.

“This is a tough issue to talk about and a controversial one,” said Richard Nelson, an opponent of the Fairness Ordinance. “We don’t see it as being a necessary thing or a healthy thing. We think this will divide the community and hurt people.”

During the public comment portion of the agenda item, 35 people spoke out. 24 speakers were in favor of the ordinance, while 11 were not. One supporter, Howard Bailey, spoke directly to Commissioner Joe Denning, the city’s first African-American Mayor.

“Tonight feels like Jim Crow two,” said Bailey, a civil right leader and former administrator at Western Kentucky University.

In the end though, supporters were upset by the outcome.

“I’m very disappointed it didn’t go the way we wanted, but that’s the way things fall,” said Celeste Jackson, a supporter. “We’ve got a few dinosaurs on the board and we need to shake them up.”

After the vote, State Rep. Patti Minter, held a rally for supporters of the ordinance, calling for them to pack city hall again on May 7 for the second and final reading.

 

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