Lexington becomes third Kentucky city to ban conversion therapy for LGBTQ youths
Fairness Campaign
and last updated 2021-05-07 08:30:34-04
LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) â The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council voted unanimously Thursday to ban conversion therapy for LGBTQ minors.
The vote made Lexington the third city in Kentucky, along with Louisville and Covington, to ban the controversial practice that aims to change someone s sexual orientation or gender identity. This is a step that will further protect LGBTQ+ youth and makes our city a more safe, equitable, and just place to live, councilwoman Hannah LeGris said in a Facebook post Thursday.
Kentucky lawmakers cosponsored statewide conversion therapy bans earlier this year. While that legislation received a historic discussion in Frankfort last summer during an interim joint committee meeting of the Kentucky General Assembly, it received no consideration during the 2021 legislative session.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 6, 2021) The University of Kentucky Board of Trustees has approved honorary degrees for four citizens who have distinguished themselves in their careers and community service. The recipients are W. Harry Clarke, F. Joseph Halcomb III, Deirdre Lyons and Carl F. Pollard.
Clarke, Halcomb and Lyons will receive their honorary doctorates at the UK May 2021 Commencement Ceremonies next week. Pollard, who is unable to attend next week s ceremonies, will be honored at a later date.
Honorary degrees will be presented at the following ceremonies:
W. Harry Clarke: noon Friday, May 14
F. Joseph Halcomb: 6 p.m. Friday, May 14
Deirdre Lyons: noon Sunday, May 16
Lexington council discusses banning no-knock warrants during Tuesday session
and last updated 2021-05-04 19:35:27-04
LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) â The city of Lexington could ban no knock-warrants. They re proposing an ordinance that would prohibit police from using them.
A few months ago, state legislation was passed, limiting no-knock warrants but not banning them completely. The topic took over headlines after the killing of Breonna Taylor. Now the city of Lexington is reviewing an ordinance that deals directly with no-knock warrants. I believe Senate Bill 4 gave us guidance in regards to warrants statewide. But we have the opportunity to locally draft an ordination that actually addresses some of the issues that have been raised by some of the folks in our community, Chair of the Planning and Public Safety Committee, James Brown, said.
Final Call News
Sept. 6, 2020 protest calling for justice after Breonna Taylor was shot and killed by police in Kentucky. Photo: MGN Online
Black police Officer Jervis Middleton was terminated from the Lexington, Ky., police force after a three-hour hearing, accused by officials of giving “sensitive” department information to a Lexington activist during last summer’s protests.
The Lexington City Council also announced it will review questions coming out of the Feb. 18 hearing about how the police department investigates racial discrimination in its ranks.
None of the information Mr. Middletown was accused of disclosing led to any harm to any officer, nor did it jeopardize any police operations.
Jervis Middleton has been fired for allegedly leaking information to a Black Lives Matter protester.
According to Kentucky.com. Middleton was accused of overall misconduct, sharing internal police information and being dishonest about his communication with Black Lives Matter protest leader
Sarah Williams. With an unanimous vote, he was found guilty of the first two administrative charges but not guilty of the third charge.
ACLU of Kentucky Executive Director
Michael Aldridge said in a statement, “The ACLU of Kentucky is concerned (the) Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council fired Officer Jervis Middleton amidst long standing calls for a radical transformation of policing and transparent relationships with the public.”