Spring 2006 e total total e e survey e rst Color of e fi e departments. Th departments. forcers accounted in the • other ect for Report Report number of offi survey is 5,331. Some Highlights officers black • 46 agencies have Hispanic officers • 15 agencies have black are officers of all KY • 7.3 percent are officers of all KY • .75 percent Hispanic minority of all KY than 1 percent • Less other than black or Hispanic are officers women are officers of all KY • 9 percent a known have in KY • 22 officers disability hiring of 185 black • Proportionate curb and 52 Hispanic would officers largest two KY’s of under-representation minorities. information more • 80 agencies asked for and cultural competency about diversity training. of the survey will tie the results KCHR law into a new to promote program to interested careers enforcement Th minority students. interactions with the public. Th public. interactions with the (See it at began in September 2005. www.kchr.ky.gov.) Out of 344 agencies invited to responded. 148 (43 percent) participate, county and state local, were Participants police and sheriff Justice Law will Enforcement be held for high school students on the campus home of of Eastern Kentucky University, schools one of the top law enforcement in the nation. nd elsewhere. nd Human Rights Rights Human – asked agencies – asked agencies Ms. Troyer to cease and desist from the Troyer Ms. discrimination unlawful practice of religious in the sum Garrett and to compensate Ms. of $100 for the injury of humiliation and Troyer’s Ms. embarrassment caused by unlawful practices. Network News 2005 Fox In a November John Kasich interviewed Heartland show, attorney Emily and KCHR Garrett Ms. Riggs Hartlage about the unusual case. Riggs Hartlage said the human rights Ms. commission was not seeking to impose upon the right but to protect religion, Troyer’s Ms. of any person in Kentucky to buy groceries without fear of discrimination based on any class.protected said although she left Garret the Amish Ms. she still cooks Amish-style food faith, to buy and likes to shop at Amish stores fi she can’t ingredients In an April 25 interview with the Associated Attorney Riggs Hartlage said the Press, a ripple have could eff order people excommunicated from the Amish denied servicefaith who are at Amish shops. cer workforce composition, composition, cer workforce Departments CHR a survey released in K Diversity makeup in police agencies KY about their offi and their language training, their foreign January that examined diversity in agencies in Kentucky. law enforcement Promoting Law Enforcement Diversity Survey – A Demographic and of Police Sheriff cer issued issued cer cer’s recommendation. It ordered It ordered recommendation. cer’s Aprilnal order 21 in the case of cant Religion/Public Religion/Public cant

he Kentucky Commission on Human

to accept the voted board e KCHR e commission ruled of Ruth in favor Irene Working to eradicate discrimination to eradicate Working customer T shunned must serve must serve Amish Amish Signifi Case Accommodations On Human Rights Human On Kentucky Commission Kentucky Commission Glasgow, Ky., and the hearing offi Ky., Glasgow, A hearing was held in October 2006 in hearing offi exercising religious freedom. religious exercising Th refuse Ms. Garrett’s money as this was money as this was Garrett’s Ms. refuse Garrett. Ms. Troyer claimed she was entitled to Troyer Ms. of Ms. a Recommended Order in favor religion. religion. of public accommodation because of her that she was discriminated against in a place the Kentucky Civil Rights Act on grounds the Kentucky on grounds Civil Rights Act brought a discrimination brought under complaint in front of other customers, Ms. Garrett Garrett Ms. in front of other customers, Claiming Ms. Troyer embarrassed her embarrassed her Troyer Claiming Ms. shunned by the Amish community. shunned by Ms. Garrett had left Garrett and was the religion Ms. refused the customer’s money, saying money, the customer’s refused Erma Troyer, owner of Rocky Top Salvage, Salvage, Top owner of Rocky Troyer, Erma and was refused. and was refused. Amish-owned business in Hart County, Ky., Ky., Amish-owned business in Hart County, attempted to purchase groceries at an groceries at an attempted to purchase On October 15, 2003, Ms. Garrett Garrett Ms. 2003, On October 15, faith. faith. Garrett, a former member of the Amish of the Amish a former member Garrett, issued a fi Rights (KCHR) Board of Commissioners of Commissioners Board Rights (KCHR) Th Garrett v Troyer d/b/a Rocky Top Salvage. Salvage. Top d/b/a Rocky Troyer v Garrett Blue Ribbon Update Audit report employees. Kentucky Offi ce, U.S. Equal Fully staff ed, the agency has 38 Employment Opportunity highlights positions. Budget and hiring Commission (EEOC) freezes that began in 2001, as Kentucky Field Offi ce, well as other factors, caused the Governor’s Offi ce of Minority n audit report on KCHR agency to be operating with a Empowerment, and the byA the Kentucky Finance and staff of 24 by January 2005. As of Kentucky Commerce Cabinet’s Administration Cabinet was April, the staff was numbered at Deputy Secretary Derrick released in January. 33 people. Ramsey. KCHR Exec. Dir. Linda Strite Th e executive director has said Th e celebration of human rights Murnane requested the audit she hopes the audit gives the is part of KCHR and OIA soon after her arrival to the Blue Ribbon Panel the support ongoing eff orts to promote agency in February 2005, and it needs to recommend increased inclusion and equality. Gov. Ernie Fletcher issued an funding for KCHR in order to executive order to conduct the provide training, full staff , and a “It’s vital to ensure that audit as a tool to help his Blue new mediation unit. Kentucky immigrants have Ribbon Panel assist KCHR a voice in their state human in enhancing and improving A mediation unit was another rights commission’s work and services. recommendation made by are made aware of the services Finance Secretary Robbie provided by their commission,” Th e report covered 2000-2005, Rudolph’s audit team. A new said KCHR Executive Director and noted that a lack of training mediation unit has been included Murnane. and ongoing staff shortages in the commission’s budget caused a backlog in cases, requests the last two bienniums. Kentucky has the 10th fastest particularly in the jurisdictions growing immigrant population of employment and public Th e Blue Ribbon Panel plans to in the nation. accommodations. make its recommendations to Gov. Fletcher on May 31. Th ese two account for • During the past four years, the highest volume of KCHR has conducted more discrimination complaints than 85 outreach activities brought by people in Kentucky. st targeted to Hispanics, 1 International Vietnamese, Somalis, Bosnians Policy and procedure changes Open House and Russians. KCHR has held under Ms. Murnane have 10 immigrant workshops and resulted in improvements, booths since January. according to the report. CHR and the Louisville KMetro Offi ce for International Th e commission staff includes By the second week of April Aff airs (OIA) held its fi rst a supervisor whose full-time this year, KCHR had closed International Open House to job is to work with Kentucky 31 more Equal Employment celebrate Kentucky Human immigrants, a bilingual Opportunity Commission Rights International Day in investigator to work with (EEOC) contract cases than at February. complainants who only speak the same time last year. Overall, Spanish, and a public aff airs case ages consistently decreased Fifty participants met offi cials representative who is fl uent in by April. from both organizations French, a language spoken by Among its recommendations, and other partners like some Vietnamese residents in the audit recommended a the Kentucky Housing the state.• continued increase in staffi ng Corporation, U.S. Housing and and suffi cient training for Urban Development HUD)

Kentucky Commission on Human Rights Linda Strite Murnane, Executive Director 332 W Broadway, Suite 700, Louisville, Kentucky 40202 . Phone: 502.595.4024 . Toll-free: 800.292.5566 . TDD: 502.595.4084 . Fax: 502.595.4801 E-mail: [email protected] VISIT US ONLINE AT www.kchr.ky.gov community, the Hispanic community Goodwine of Lexington, and the Fair Housing of Hopkinsville, for the Heartland Honorable Lawrence Smith of Radcliff . Board of Realtors in Elizabethtown, Month and at the Hopkinsville Human Kentucky’s fi rst Color of Justice Relations Commission Fair Housing program was presented by KCHR and Covington Human Rights in October 2005 at the University of ov. Ernie Fletcher signed the April Commission Fair Housing events. Louisville Brandeis School of Law. Gis Fair Housing Month Proclamation Th e third program is planned for the on April 4 in the Capitol Rotunda. Northern Kentucky University Chase April marks the 38th anniversaries College of Law in Fall 2006. of the U.S. and Kentucky Fair Housing acts, which make it illegal to discriminate against people renting or NKU buying housing. Exhibits Hall of Fame In March, we re-dedicated a section Color of Justice of the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame in the third fl oor lobby of Th e Color of Justice program was held the Lucas Administrative Center at in April at the University of Kentucky Northern Kentucky University (NKU) in Lexington. Th is is the second time in Highland Heights, Ky. Th e sculpture KCHR has conducted the national has been on display at the Kentucky initiative to introduce interested State University campus in Frankfort KCHR and Fair Housing partner offi cials minority high school students to for the past three years. witnessed Gov. Ernie Fletcher sign the Fair careers in the legal profession. It is a Housing Proclamation on April 4 in the Capitol. Th e section housed at NKU includes program of the National Association such heroic civil rights leaders as the of Women Judges (NAWJ) for which late Anne Braden of Louisville, who KCHR was joined by Fair Housing KCHR Executive Director Linda also served on the faculty at NKU. Ms. initiative partners such as Kentucky Strite Murnane serves as membership Braden, 81, died on March 6. Housing Corporation, U.S. outreach chair. Department for Housing and Urban Approximately 50 students from Dr. Prince Brown Jr., director of the Development, Lexington Housing high schools such as Henry Clay, P.L. NKU Institute for Freedom Studies, Authority, Homeless and Housing Dunbar, Lafayette, Tates Creek, and gave the keynote address to about 100 Coalition of Kentucky, and Lexington Hardin County participated. faculty and students at the unveiling Fair Housing Council. ceremony. Valorie Smith, a UK law student, KCHR provided funding for Fair was the winner of the $1,000 NAWJ Dr. James C. Votruba, president of Housing awareness and training events Equal Justice Scholarship. UK law NKU, brought energy to the movement conducted by 10 of our local human students were eligible to apply for the to bring a portion of the sculpture rights commission partners throughout scholarship in conjunction with the to the campus, symbolizing the April. university’s commitment to diversity program. and inclusion and NKU’s connection In addition to the Fair Housing Instructors and panelists at the day- with the human rights commission, he training KCHR conducts to real estate long event included Black Law Student said. agents, newspapers, and community Association (BLSA) members, UK groups throughout the year, we Law School faculty, attorneys from Th e exhibit serves as a memorial to conducted Fair Housing training as Lexington, Louisville, Frankfort and the 66 people who have been inducted part of the April promotion in the Hardin County, the Honorable Pamela into the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Somerset community, the Franklin Fame since 2000.

Board of Commissioners Chair Priscilla Johnson, Lexington . Robert Asseo, Florence . Richard Brown, Owensboro . Thurmond Coleman Sr., Louisville Henry Curtis, Frankfort . Ann Darragh, Bardstown . Todd Hollenbach IV, Louisville . Deborah Kent, Louisville . Anita Simmons, Hopkinsville Regena Triplett, Pikeville . Y. Denise Payne Wade, Louisville a doctorate degree, but says she will role of executive director. KCHR has Local remain active in human rights issues. made a number of visits to the city to She led the RHRC through a problem discourage this. Commission involving police/community relations that resulted in a landmark agreement “My concerns are several,” says KCHR Partners two years ago. RHRC also provides Executive Director Linda Strite sensitivity training for city workers. Murnane: Sandra Anez Powell, who has long been Th e Ashland Human Rights active in Hispanic issues in Kentucky, “In addition to litigation issues arising Commission held its April Fair is among the new members of the from likely confl icts of interest, the Housing Month program on April RHRC. charter that established the Owensboro 27 in Ashland. More than 15 commission had very specifi c reasons people attended the fi rst session Th e Midway-Versailles-Woodford for its creation. First, Owensboro is not for residents and property owners. County Human Rights Commission far from sites of Ku Klux Klan marches, Real estate agents, landlords and has a new chair, Davina Washington, so we know the forces of hatred are city offi cials attended the second who works as a paralegal in Versailles. nearby, and the community needs a session. Both sessions were led by A member of the MVWC commission strong opposing presence. A local Vicki Ray, Fair Housing and Equal for more than a year, she follows Rev. commission with a full time director Opportunity Center director for the Ken Golphin, who had been chair for focused on educating the public U.S. Department of Housing and the past three years. Rev. Golphin will about the importance of diversity and Urban Development (HUD) offi ce be leaving Versailles to become pastor inclusion is also a workforce multiplier in Louisville. Carol Jackson, chair of of a church in Tennessee. During his and provides incentives for new the AHRC, helped secure a federal tenure as chair, he increased ties with business growth and new industry. grant through KCHR to sponsor the KCHR, pushed his cities and county to Exclusion and lack of diversity deter program, which informed residents and hire an executive director for the local business, economic, educational and property owners about their rights and human rights commission, and called social growth. Additionally, local responsibilities in housing. on the local school board to hire more commissions off er local solutions to women and minorities. MVWC hosted local problems. Th ey are essential Ashland is working with KCHR to help the April KCHR commission meeting. partners to KCHR, which has a staff create a human rights commission in of just under 38, and 120 counties to Th e Louisville Jeff erson County Metro serve. Local commissions serve as Boyd County. Ms. Jackson and KCHR Human Relations Commission held its offi cials met with Boyd County-Judge th valued support in the fi eld.” • Executive Bill Scott in Catlettsburg in 10 Annual Race Relations Conference April to discuss forming a Boyd County in January at the new Muhammad Ali Human Rights Commission. Th e fi rst Center in Louisville. Come to the reading of an ordinance to create the Th e Bowling Green Human Rights Roundtable board could come as early as May. Commission moved to a new location. Th e agency purchased a “Habitat for KCHR will host its semi-annual Th e Covington Human Rights Humanity” home from the Bowling Local Human Rights Commission Commission has changed its format Green Housing Authority to serve Roundtable in Henderson on for its April Fair Housing program. as its offi ce. Th e new address is 491 June 8, 2006. Members of all local For the past three years, it worked Double Springs Rd., Bowling Green, commissions and other interested with public and private schools to Ky. 42101. BGHRC held its Women of organizations are invited to attend. teach children about their fair housing Distinction Banquet in March. Topics will include grant writing and rights through an education and poster increasing visibility. Call us for details. contest that was presented by KCHR Th e Owensboro Human Rights But this year, Covington decided to Commission’s longtime executive present to a group of housing providers, director, Bill Dixon, resigned in homeless shelters, non-profi t agencies February to become the director of and others in May. diversity for Henderson Community Commission College. Th e OHRC’s interim Th e Richmond Human Rights executive director is David Kelly, Rulings Commission has a new chair, Elder an experienced citizen in human KCHR is the state government John Settles, who served as co-chair for and civil rights in Owensboro. agency that enforces Th e Kentucky the past four years. He replaces Karen Meanwhile, regarding the placement Civil Rights Act and the policies of McClain Wright, who was chair since of a permanent executive director, the federal civil rights laws. Th e board the RHRC was revived four years ago. city is considering a proposal to have meets monthly to hear and rule on She relinquished her seat to pursue a city employee take on the additional discrimination complaints. From January through April, it ruled to 18, alleged the respondent placed a d/b/a Creational Consignment World, approve nine conciliation agreements, newspaper ad that said, “Mature adults in Cadiz: Th e complaint alleged dismiss 85 complaints, which, after preferred.” Th e respondent denied discrimination based on disability in investigation, or reconsideration, this, asserting the ad was intended to housing. Th e complainant claimed resulted in fi ndings of no probable state a preference, not a requirement. the respondent denied services to cause, accept nine complaint Th e respondent agreed to compensate him because of a medical condition. withdrawals with private settlement the complainant $500, and post and Probable cause was recommended. Th e terms and 21 complaint withdrawals distribute fair housing information for respondent denied allegations, and without settlement and with a right potential renters. agreed to compensate the complainant to sue. Th e following conciliation $4,250, and undergo compliance agreements were reached through Edmund Robinson v Leander’s on training. KCHR negotiations between Oak, in Louisville: Th e complaint complainants and respondents in alleged discrimination based on Christina Worthington v Cross consideration for the full and complete race and age in employment. Th e Pontiac-Jeep-GMC, in Louisville: Th e resolution of claims of alleged complainant alleged he was terminated complaint alleged discrimination based discrimination: based on his race, black, and his age, on sex in employment. Th e complainant over 40. Th e respondent denied this and alleged the respondent refused to allow Bobby Morrow v Joyce Spain and asserted the termination was legitimate. her to apply for employment based Brenda Powell d/b/a/ Housing Th e respondent agreed to compensate on her sex, female. Th e respondent Authority of Hopkinsville: Th e the complainant $1,200 and undergo denied this and asserted there was complaint alleged discrimination compliance training. miscommunication in the matter and based on disability in housing. Th e that it had, afterward, off ered to move complainant alleged he was denied his Fair Housing Council v Th ompson the application process forward, but the request to live with his parents so they Investments Ltd. d/b/a Woodland complainant declined to pursue this. could assist him with his disability Hills Apartments, in Louisville: Th e Th e respondent agreed to compensate and that the respondent stated it complaint alleged discrimination based the complainant $280, one week’s wages was against policy to pay public aid on familial status in housing. Th e for the job position under discussion, to a family member. Th e respondent complainant alleged that occupancy to undergo compliance training, and to denied this, asserting that a reasonable standards of the respondent prevented be monitored for compliance by KCHR accommodation would be granted two-parent households with more than for one year. allowing funding payments to the one child from renting. Th e respondent complainant’s parents. Th e respondent denied this, but acknowledged a policy Commissioner. Anita Simmons v agreed to grant the accommodation of only three persons per two-bedroom Cape Publications Inc. d/b/a Th e upon proof of the complainant’s unit. Th e respondent agreed to Courier-Journal and Career Builder eligibility for public money, comply compensate the complainant $1,000, LLC, in Louisville: Th e KCHR with civil rights laws, and undergo eliminate its policy and replace it with commissioner-initiated complaint compliance training. Louisville Metro housing code, and alleged discrimination based on place ads in three newspapers about smoking status in employment. Th e Michael Wright v Summit Polymers Fair Housing. complainant alleged the respondents Inc., in Elizabethtown: Th e complaint discriminated in publication, Velocity, alleged discrimination based on race in Carol Th eiss v Th e Messenger against job applicants who are smokers. employment. Th e complainant claimed newspaper, in Flemingsburg: Th e A classifi ed ad listed “nonsmoking” his employer failed to promote him complaint alleged discrimination based among the qualities that were desired because of his race, black, and that all on familial status in housing. Th e in potential applicants. Th e same persons hired outside the company to complainant, who has a child under 18, ad appeared on the Career Builder supervisory positions he temporarily alleged the respondent published an ad website. Under the Kentucky Civil held were white. Probable cause was that said, “Mature adults preferred.” Rights Act, it is unlawful for an recommended. Th e respondent denied Th e respondent denied discrimination, employer to fail or refuse to hire a allegations and agreed to compensate but admitted to the ad. Th e respondent person based on whether he or she is a the complainant $5,000, comply with agreed to compensate the complainant smoker or non-smoker as long as the the law, and undergo compliance $600, undergo compliance training, person complies with workplace policy monitoring by KCHR for three years. publish no-cost ads for the Lexington regarding smoking. Probable cause was Fair Housing Council on a monthly recommended. Th e respondents denied Carol Th eiss v Billy and Virginia basis for the next year, and provide discrimination, but admitted the ad and Ratcliff , in Flemingsburg: Th e subscriptions for compliance agreed to undergo compliance training complaint alleged discrimination based monitoring to the Lexington council and provide a two year subscription to on familial status in housing. Th e and KCHR for two years. KCHR for compliance monitoring. complainant, who has a child under James Artwell v Jeannette Oakley PRESORTED STD. Human Rights U.S. POSTAGE PAID Louisville, KY Report Permit No. 1013

Kentucky Commission on Human Rights 332 W Broadway, Suite 700 Louisville, Kentucky 40202

Two new Great Black Kentuckian Posters

Garret Augustus Morgan: The son of former slaves, he was born in Paris, Ky. on March 4, 1877. While still a teenager, he left Kentucky, moving north to Cincinnati, Ohio, in search of employment. When he was 37, he invented the gas mask, which was patented in 1914, and used by the U.S. Army during World War I. In 1920, he started the Cleveland Call newspaper and was a successful and widely respected businessman. He invented the nation’s fi rst patented three-position traffi c signal for which he got a patent on Nov. 20, 1923. Later, he had it patented in Great Britain and Canada. His invention was the basis for the modern- day traffi c signal and was a signifi cant contribution to the development of what we now know as Intelligent Transportation Systems. His technology was used throughout North America until it was replaced by the red, yellow and green light traffi c signals currently used around the world. He eventually sold the rights for his traffi c signal to the General Electric Corporation for $40,000. He is considered one of America’s most prominent inventors. In 2005, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Shortly before his death, in 1963, he was awarded a citation for the traffi c signal by the national government. His Gallery of Great Black Kentuckians poster was unveiled at the Paris Hopewell Museum in a special public ceremony presented by the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights (KCHR).

Robert Todd Duncan: Born on Feb. 12, 1903, in Danville, Ky., he created the renowned role of “Porgy” in George and Ira Gershwin’s classic , , which opened on Broadway on Oct. 10, 1935. He performed in the role more than 1,800 times. He created the role of “Stephen Kumalo” in ’s, (1949–50), which won him the Donaldson and New York Drama Critics awards in 1950. He made two fi lms, Syncopation (1942) and Unchained (1955). In Unchained, he introduced “Unchained Melody,” the song which earned him an Academy Award nomination, and later became a rock and roll standard. In 1933, he debuted in Mascagni’s at the Mecca Temple in New York with the Aeolian Opera, a black company. In 1945, he became the fi rst African American to sing with a major opera company, performing the role of “Tonio” in Leoncavallo’s I with the Company. During the Washington, D.C. run of Porgy and Bess, he led the cast in a strike to protest the National Theatre’s segregation policy, which resulted in the theatre’s fi rst integrated audience. He continued his demandsfor desegregated audiences wherever he performed including his return trips home to Kentucky. With a master of arts degree from Columbia University, he taught at for over 50 years during which time he continued to tour as a soloist. He performed 2,000 performances in 56 countries. In 1978, the Washington Performing Arts Society presented his 75th birthday gala. In 1984, he was awarded the George Peabody Medal of Music from the Peabody Conservatory of Music of . Other awards include the New York Drama Critics’ Award. After retiring from Howard University, he opened his own voice studio, teaching privately and giving periodic recitals. He inspired other black vocal artists to walk through the doors that he had helped open to them. Today, many of the black stars of American opera list themselves as fi rst, second or third generation vocaliststaught by Robert Todd Duncan. He died at age 95 at his Washington D.C. home on Feb. 28, 1998. His Great Black Kentuckians poster was unveiled at Somerset College in a special public ceremony presented by KCHR. KCHR introduced the poster and bookmark series in 1970, to recognize the achievements of neglected in traditional histories of the state and to introduce Kentucky African American history into classrooms. The series helps the commission in its task to raise awareness of human and civil rights in the commonwealth. Educators and libraries use the colorful, biographical-style pieces as teaching tools. Call us today for your free poster or bookmark.