Hard work, determination, fairness, earning a living, providing for your family, and taking pride in a job well done–these are the Kentucky values that drive our workforce and help our commonwealth thrive.
As a coalition of some of Kentucky’s leading employers, home-grown corporations, and small, locally owned businesses, we believe that our policies should reflect these values. It’s why our companies have adopted LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination policies to ensure our workplaces are welcoming to all our employees and their families.
It’s time Kentucky’s Civil Rights Act reflected these values. A Statewide Fairness Law would simply update the Kentucky Civil Rights Act to add sexual orientation and gender identity to discrimination protections in employment, housing, and public accommodations. It’s the right thing to do, and it’s good for Kentucky business.
Our coalition consists of some of Kentucky’s leading employers, home-grown corporations, and small local businesses, expressing strong support for the Statewide Fairness Law, which would prohibit employment discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. This law—which would simply update Kentucky’s Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity—is good for Kentucky businesses and it’s the right thing to do.
Our companies have already adopted LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination policies to ensure our workplaces are welcoming to all of our employees and their families. This type of policy sends a clear message to prospective and current employees that they will be judged based solely on the quality of their work. Since the implementation of our policies, we’ve had overwhelmingly positive responses, and we’re not alone.
A staggering 94 percent of Fortune 100 businesses have inclusive non-discrimination policies. Like these other companies, our non-discrimination policies keep us competitive statewide, nationwide, and worldwide. We are able to recruit and retain the best, hardest working, and most talented individuals without impediment. Similarly, a Statewide Fairness Law would keep Kentucky competitive in workforce recruitment and retention. Currently, we could be missing out on talented employees.
Eight Kentucky cities have already adopted their own Fairness Ordinances—Covington, Danville, Frankfort, Lexington, Louisville, Midway, Morehead, and the small Appalachian town of Vicco. These are places that have sent a clear message that hardworking LGBT people don’t need to fear discrimination. But in the rest of our commonwealth, fears of prejudicial judgment may be keeping many prospective employees away, which holds Kentucky industry back and impoverishes our workforce.
Fairness is the right choice for us, and it will be the right choice for Kentucky—it has no associated costs and immeasurable benefits. We hope everyone across the commonwealth will join us in showing that Kentucky truly is a state of Fairness.
You can also download the attached signup form and return it to info@kycompetes.com to join the coalition.
Thank you for your support!
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