Commission on Human Rights
Kentucky Commission on Human Rights issues February Rulings

LOUISVILLE – The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights Board of Commissioners today ruled to accept two discrimination case conciliations. It dismissed 21 complaints with findings of no probable cause and accepted four withdrawals with private settlements of undisclosed amounts and six withdrawals without settlement but with a right to sue.

In the case of the Lexington Fair Housing Council v. Middlesboro Daily News in a discrimination complaint based on the protected class of family status in the jurisdiction of housing, a violation of the Kentucky and U.S. Fair Housing acts, the parties agreed to conciliate the matter. The Lexington Fair Housing Council alleged the Middlesboro Daily News printed an advertisement that stated a preference for families without children to live at a rental property. The respondent asserted the ad did not run in the paid newspaper but in a free newspaper belonging to the company. The respondent agreed to compensate the complainant in the amount of $1,000, to run advertising at no cost that publicizes the right to fair housing in Kentucky and to undergo civil rights compliance training.

In the case of the Lexington Fair Housing Council v. Ms. Axie Hurst of Middlesboro, Ky., in a discrimination complaint based on the protected class of family status in the jurisdiction of housing, the parties agreed to conciliate the matter. The council alleged Hurst caused the advertisement to be printed that stated a preference for families without children to live at a rental property. She asserted she had no knowledge she was violating any law. The respondent agreed to make a donation to St. Jude Children’s Hospital and to undergo civil rights compliance training and commission monitoring.

The KCHR is the state government agency that enforces The Kentucky Civil Rights Act and the policies of federal civil rights laws.  It receives initiates, investigates, conciliates and rules upon jurisdictional complaints.  The KCHR has jurisdiction in housing, employment, public accommodations, and financial transactions.

The Kentucky Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination in public accommodations, employment, housing, and financial transactions on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, and sex.

Discrimination is further prohibited on the basis of familial status in housing, the basis of age (40 or over) in employment, and the basis of a person’s tobacco-smoking status in employment.