Commission on Human Rights
KY Human Rights Commission to meet Wednesday in Lexington to rule on discrimination complaints and hold the 2012 KY Civil Rights Hall of Fame Inductions

Lexington, KY - The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights Board of Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m., (EDT), Wednesday, Oct. 17, at the historic Lyric Theatre in Lexington, Ky. The theatre is located at 300 E. Third St. The public is invited to the free meeting.

Later in the afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m., and also at the Lyric Theatre, the commission will hold the 2012 Inductions Ceremony for the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame  with a reception to follow. The event is free, but due to limited seating, please register to attend by calling the commission headquarters at 1.800.292.5566, Ext. 18. Kentuckians nominated 33 people to the Civil Rights Hall of Fame this year. Inductees will be announced at the celebration.

At the Board of Commissioners meeting at 9 a.m., the commissioners will rule on discrimination complaints made by people alleging that illegal discrimination violations have occurred in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights is the state government authority that enforces the Kentucky Civil Rights Act and the U.S. Civil Rights Act. These laws make discrimination illegal.

The Kentucky Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age (40 and over in employment), disability, and familial status (people with children in the household who are age 18 and under, and women who are pregnant). Tobacco-smoking status is protected in the area of employment. It is against the law to retaliate against a person who makes a discrimination complaint to the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights.

Discrimination is prohibited in the areas of housing, employment, public accommodations and financial transactions.

Call the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights for help with discrimination or for more information at 1.800.292.5566. Visit the commission website at www.kchr.ky.gov to learn more.

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