[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 15 (Thursday, January 24, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E85]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMEMORATING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF LOUISVILLE'S FAIRNESS ORDINANCE

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                          HON. JOHN A. YARMUTH

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 24, 2019

  Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate 20 years of 
Fairness in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.
  It's upsetting to think, but in much of the country, it's legal to 
kick someone out of their home or fire them for no reason but how they 
love. For being LGBTQ, for being gay.
  But not in Louisville.
  Because on January 26, 1999, our community took a bold and historic 
step for LGBTQ rights, passing the Fairness Ordinance and ensuring that 
no individual could be robbed of their home or job simply for being who 
they are.
  Louisville was the first in our Commonwealth and among the first in 
the South to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination, and it was due 
to a decade of committed work by the Fairness Campaign's passionate 
staff and volunteers, who refused to accept anything but real, true 
equality.
  In two decades since, Fairness has helped 10 Kentucky cities outlaw 
LGBTQ discrimination--from our capital Frankfort to the tiny 
Appalachian coal town of Vicco and beyond.
  The rest of Kentucky and our country should follow Louisville's lead 
and ban LGBTQ discrimination everywhere. I look forward to continuing 
Louisville's legacy by casting my vote for the Federal Equality Act in 
this Congress and I urge every Member to join me.

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