Kentucky.gov

LOUISVILLE – The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights Board of Commissioners at its meeting today ruled to accept one conciliation agreement from Bowling Green, Ky., based on race and color in housing. The board dismissed 18 complaints with rulings of no probable cause and accepted five withdrawals without settlement but with a right to file a private suit and one withdrawal with a private settlement.

Also at its meeting, the commission released a statistical report on Kentucky women and a new brochure that explains Kentucky's civil rights protections and the work of the human rights commission.

Lynn Matthews v. Walnut Valley Apartments in Bowling Green: Lynn Matthews alleged that representatives of the apartment complex where she lives discriminated against her and her minor children because her family is African American. These allegations, if proved, would constitute a violation of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act and the US Fair Housing Act. Matthews claimed the maintenance man at Walnut Valley Apartments regularly yelled at and criticized her children, disallowing them from playing outside on the property and treating them differently from white children who exhibited similar behavior and who played on the property without comment. The apartment owner asserted this was not the case. Prior to a determination in the matter, the parties agreed to conciliate. Walnut Valley agreed to compensate Matthews with $1,250 and undergo training and compliance monitoring.

In recognition of the Women’s History Month of March, the commission released a new report, today, “Overview of Women in Kentucky in 2009.” The report was compiled from a number of studies and census statistics. Women in the United States make 77 cents for every dollar that men make, but in Kentucky, the average is 4 cents less with women making 74 cents to the male dollar. In Kentucky, men with bachelor’s degrees on average make nearly 51 percent more than females with the same degree. Women account for 60 percent of Kentuckians, aged 25 and up, who live in poverty. Kentucky is ranked 47^th in the nation regarding women’s economic progress. Only 15.2 percent of all elected officials in Kentucky are women, the largest segment of the population at over 51 percent. The report is free and available to the public by calling the commission at (502) 595-4024 or 1 (800) 292-5566.

The commission released a new brochure, today, that explains the Kentucky Civil Rights Act with all its protections against illegal discrimination. The “About the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights Brochure” is free and available to the public by contacting the commission office. The brochure is available online at www.kchr.ky.gov.

The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights is the state government agency that enforces the Kentucky Civil Rights Act and federal civil rights laws, all of which make discrimination illegal.

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