Louisville rejects gay special protections
Latest attempt to legitimize homosexuality fails in state's largest city
From Kentucky Citizen Digest, Nov, 1997

For the third time in six years, city leaders in Louisville rejected an effort to enact special protections for homosexuals. The September 9 vote by the Louisville Board of Alderman  (7-to-3 with two abstentions), may have been the last hope pro-homosexual forces had to pass the gay rights ordinance.

The ordinance would have forced businesses to treat homosexuals the same as minorities and women when it comes to employment, housing and accommodations. Under the measure, homosexuality would be the only behavior-related condition to enjoy such protections.

Although supporters of the measure outspent opponents by a 2-to-1 margin ($20,000 was spent by supporters, $10,000 by opponents), the margin of defeat seemed to surprise supporters. Despite high profile support in its editorials and news stories from the Louisville Courier-Journal, the state’s largest newspaper, calls to the Aldermanic opinion line ran heavily against the ordinance. Calls against the measure numbered over 12,000, while only slightly over 500 called in their support.

The reaction to the vote was heated. During the meeting at which the vote was taking place, 52 pro-homosexual demonstrators blocked the street, chanting, “We’re fighting for fairness, we shall not be moved.” After the brief demonstration, however, they were moved to police headquarters, where they were given misdemeanor citations and released.

Recriminations were swift in coming in the wake of the ordinance’s defeat. Within hours of the decision, supporters were pointing fingers at one another and placing blame. Steve Magre, President of the Board of Aldermen, blamed the ordinance’s supporters on the board for trying to pass too broad a measure. For that reason, he told the Courier-Journal, it was “probably doomed from the outset.”

Supporters had pressed for a sweeping version of the bill in hopes that, if that version lacked support, they could try to pass a weaker version that dealt only with employment.

Some supporters believed there was a lack of leadership for the law. Mayor Jerry Abramson was singled out for special criticism for his failure to take a position on the bill, even though many believe he is privately in favor of it.

Opponents of the measure were pleased with the outcome. Dr. Frank Simon, the leader of the American Family association of Kentucky had headed the opposition.

Proponents of the ordinance will likely face a more uphill battle if they attempt the ordinance in the future, since the three aldermen who voted for this year’s measure and two others who voted for it in 1995 are leaving.

The next battle on gay issues is set for the state legislature, which will be dealing with the issue of same sex marriage starting in January.
 

Key Family Foundation Contacts: Kent Ostrander, Executive Director Martin Cothran, Senior Associate Policy Analyst