Vicco, Kentucky, photographed by the New York Times.
The New York Times today has a great profile of Vicco, Kentucky, and its first openly gay mayor, a hairdresser named Johnny Cummings. Vicco is the teeninesy Appalachian town that just passed an anti-discrimination ordinance that covers sexual minorities. From the NYT:
Because the mayor votes only to break a tie, Mr. Cummings mostly just listened to the discussion. Yes, it was a little shocking to hear an old friend change his vote on grounds of religion. But it was also gratifying, even crystallizing, to hear another commissioner say simply: Everyone should be treated fairly.
Claude Branson Jr., 56, a retired coal miner who sits on the Commission — and the only commissioner, he proudly notes, with a mullet haircut — said recently that Mr. Cummings’s presence had not played as much of a factor in the vote as had "the whole broad perspective of the world."
"We want everyone to be treated fair and just," he explained.
That's the word for progressives in Kentucky these days -- "fair." The director of Kentucky's Fairness Coalition, Christ Hartmann, writes to say that they're "trying to keep Kentucky the civil rights leader of the South. Fingers crossed!" After the jump, a full list of the Kentucky towns where coalition members are working on a "fairness ordinance" like the one Vicco passed.
(Blue dot in a red sea? Send news, pics, etc.)
Fairness Coalition members are working in these Kentucky towns:
- Berea
- Richmond
- Bowling Green
- Bardstown
- Elizabethtown
- Shelbyville
- Danville
- Owensboro
- Morehead
- Hazard
- Frankfort
Let us know if you see news from there.
Leave a Comment:
This from a state with a museum that showcases the idea that man and dinosaurs once roamed the Earth together ten thousand years ago when god created everything. I am astounded and very pleased to have my own prejudice torn asunder!
Anything going on in Lexington and Winchester?
Lexington already has a non-discrimination statement for sexual orientation (as do Louisville, Covington, and VICCO!!). Winchester would be a nice addition to the list, as well as the cities listed in the article.
"Yes, it was a little shocking to hear an old friend change his vote on grounds of religion."
It is always shocking when any legislator uses her/his personal religion to decide on secular lawmaking - or at least, it should be - doesn't that legislator believe in the first amendment?
Well, well, well, how about a round of applause for the fair-minded, decent people of Vicco, KY! What a noble goal, to be "the civil rights leader of the south"! Now if only other southern towns, cities, and states so fervently opposed to universal equality and fairness under the law would take heed and follow suit. Way to go, Vicco!!! Very refreshing and good news!
Rachel, great show about the "Changing GOP" with not just immigration but with everything.
Let's remind everyone that the definition of conservatism means "NO CHANGE" (look it up)
That means, when Republicans start "changing" their ways just to cater to NEW demographics...
They become DEMOCRATS! ...Use that on your next show!
The GOP cannot give up conservatism, you know, those Grand Old values.
They would have to start a new political party to cater to a new constituency.
I really want this message to get to you so I'm posting it in a few other articles so please do not get mad at me.
Thanks for your great show.
Rachchel - to be fair you should tell why people are deported. When you put a successful person on then say that 2 million are deported it gives the impression that all of them are successful and victims of a cruel system. This is not true my son was killed by a drunk driver from India in 2008. He served 2 years 4 months in California Prisons. ICE picked him up for deportation but because his wife's family has a lot of money they bailed him out and hired a lawyer to fight deportation. So we go to court every year for a hearing. Meanwhile, he doesn't work (he owes me restitution which he does not want to pay). He was not working when he killed my son. He is free in America enjoying all the privileges of a citizen. I am left with all the sorrow and expenses of a dead son. I am not a tea party member neither do I vote republican ever. I just would like you to present some of the victimization we as Americans suffer at the hands of people who come to our country and do not obey the law but will use the law against us.
I agree with you completely, Granny. So sorry for your loss. That is so damn unfair and that bastard should've been sentence for at least 20 years and then sent back to India. Too many stories like yours are not portrayed at all in the news coverage these days and that's an injustice to victims and the whole debate over immigration. Do we need a newer, more sound and fair immigration policy? Absolutely. I'm deeply troubled by the screw job you've experienced, in addition to the murder of your son. That should NEVER happen to anyone. In the event that it does, truth in sentencing and deportation must be the largest part of the equation. I support the Dream Act, but not the current, casual and arbitrary policy process like the one you have been forced to endure. May good health and happiness follow you always.
Lexington already has an anti-discrimination ordinance regarding LGBTQ folk, I believe. I don't know about Winchester.
A lot of the cities on the list don't surprise me much being college towns (Richmond, Berea, Bowling Green, Morehead). Shelbyville and E-town are close enough to Louisville for that to possibly have a positive effect.
The city on the list that shocks me most is Hazard. I've always had a sense that the citizens there aren't fond of change. However, I haven't visited the town in 20 years and really hope I'm wrong and that things have progressed there.
The gay population of Morehead was pretty substantial when I attended college there in the early '90s. It will be a great day for my alma mater if that city's residents are given these basic protections.
Here's a great blog post about why it's not all that surprising that something like this can happen in a place like Vicco:
http://irjci.blogspot.com/p/foothills-in-focus.html