Tiny town in Eastern Kentucky bans discrimination based on sexual orientation

A tiny Eastern Kentucky town has become only the fourth city in the state to adopt a fairness ordinance banning discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Vicco, with a population 334 and situated in the heart of the Central Appalachian coalfield, is now the smallest municipality in the U.S. with a fairness ordinance, Peter Smith of The Courier-Journal in Louisville reports. Louisville, Lexington and Covington (next to Cincinnati) are the other three cities with similar ordinances. (Sperling's Best Places map)

The Vicco ordinance bans discrimination in housing, employment and accommodations based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and adds discrimination based on other factors, including age, race and religion, which are already protected under state and federal law. "It's a great victory and we're definitely excited," the Kentucky Fairness Coalition's Chris Hartman told Smith. The group seeks to expand fairness ordinances throughout Kentucky's more conservative rural areas. Other cities, including Berea and Richmond in the east-central part of the state, have tried to pass similar measures, but were met with significant opposition that prevented adoption of such ordinances. (Read more)

Vicco city attorney Eric Ashley told Bill Estep of the Lexington Herald-Leader that there was little public opposition to the ordinance and no citizens spoke against it during the city council meeting Monday. "Most people realized it's not putting a stamp of approval on a lifestyle, it's about protecting human beings," Ashley said. Amelia Holliday of the Hazard Herald, the local newspaper, reports Police Chief Tony Vaughn said during the council meeting that he wanted the law on the books so he could protect people: "From my stand point, it just makes it easier to enforce the law."