Versailles became the 14th Kentucky town to adopt a fairness ordinance with a vote of 3-2. Versailles has a population of 8,568. LGBTQ residents will now be protected from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. 

Versailles is the fourth city to adopt a fairness ordinance this year. Fairness Campaign director Chris Hartman says that "makes 2019 a record-breaking year for fairness ordinances in Kentucky." Georgetown, Henderson and Maysville adopted similar ordinances this year.

Local activists led the effort. A local group, Woodford County Fairness, worked for more than six years encouraging councilmembers to support fairness and informing the community of its importance. The Fairness Campaign and the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky supported their community-led effort.

According to Hartman, Rebecca Kelly, a Woodford County Fairness member, was "happy to see success" and said, ""I did this for my sister, who lives in Kansas and faces the same issues. I want everyone to feel safe and welcome in this wonderful place we call home."

Hartman says, "2020 will mark the 20th anniversary of the introduction of a Statewide Fairness Law, which has only ever received two informational hearings in the Kentucky General Assembly. This year, nearly a quarter of state legislators co-sponsored the measure."

Thirteen other cities have adopted similar ordinances. The addition of Versailles means nearly 30% of Kentucky's population is now protected from LGBTQ discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodation. Other communities with a fairness ordinance include:

  • Louisville (1999)
  • Lexington (1999)
  • Covington (2003)
  • Vicco (2013)
  • Frankfort (2013)
  • Morehead (2013)
  • Danville (2014)
  • Midway (2015)
  • Paducah (2018)
  • Maysville (2018)
  • Henderson (2019)
  • Dayton (2019)
  • Georgetown (2019)