Warm and welcoming Morehead adopts fairness ordinance

On December 9, Morehead became the sixth city in the Commonwealth to pass legislation to protect the rights of LGBTQ people in their community.

Over the summer, members of the Rowan County KFTC Chapter, in concert with representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, the Kentucky Fairness Coalition and Morehead State University students, began working on strategies to promote fairness legislation. Racehelle Bombe, a Morehead resident, diligently gathered more than 300 signatures in favor of fairness in the past year, while members of the Rowan chapter met individually with city council members to share information regarding statewide movements toward fairness.

Members also got the support of a local religious leader and Morehead State University President Wayne Andrews, who spoke eloquently in support of the Fairness Ordinance at its first reading.

All of this groundwork led to very positive results: in September the Morehead City Council unanimously voted to pursue fairness legislation. In November the council unanimously approved a first reading of an ordinance amending the city’s existing Title 9, General Practices, Chapter 96, Discriminatory Practices, to also prohibit discrimination based on gender and sexual identity. And in December the council unanimously passed the proposed ordinance into law.

After the city council meeting, members of the Rowan chapter members, ACLU and the Fairness Campaign gathered at The Bakery On Main to celebrate the passage of the fairness protections.  

The quick and successful passage of the ordinance demonstrates not only the effectiveness of true grassroots organization but also the efficiency of the Morehead City Council. Aware of their constituents’ needs, council members worked swiftly to pass this important legislation. Now people outside of the region have demonstrable proof of something those within it have long known – Morehead is a warm and welcoming community committed to treating all peoples equally.