From: WillNich@aol.com Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 19:59:03 EST Subject: ALERT ALERT ALERT This is a dangerous bill which, if passed, could start the ball on rolling back civil rights gains achieved over the last fifty years in any number of other states. Essentially it allows non-profit, church-run establishments such as day care centers, bookstores, etc., to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, and gender. In essence, it's a major setback for black, Hispanic, gay & lesbian, and women's civil rights. The bill was prompted by passage of four gay civil rights measures last year here in Kentucky, some of which prohibit discrimination by such establishments on the basis of sexual orientation. It needs to be defeated decisively by the Kentucky House of Representatives. --David Williams, Louisville From: JEVessels@aol.com Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 18:21:33 EST Subject: Re: My Letter to Kentucky's House Judiciary Committee To: WillNich@aol.com ACLU Action Network ALERT! FROM: acluky@iglou.org DATE: January 13, 2000 TOPIC: Passage of anti-civil rights bill (HB70) from House Judiciary Committee URGENCY: IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED! WHAT HAS HAPPENED, AND WHAT IS NEXT: This afternoon the House Judiciary Committee passed HB70 (Tom Kerr, D-Taylor Mill) by a one-vote margin, after a brief hearing in which Jeff Vessels of the ACLU of Kentucky provided the only testimony against the bill. The bill now goes to the full House, perhaps as soon as next Wednesday. A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE BILL: HB70 excludes the worship and recreational activities and facilities of religious organizations from the definition of a `public accommodation' under Kentucky civil rights laws THE EFFECTS OF THE BILL: * The bill rolls-back fundamental civil rights that Kentuckians have enjoyed for decades. * The bill is a major set-back for civil rights in Kentucky. * The bill allows religious organizations to refuse to serve people based on their race, national origin, color, religion, gender, and disability in programs offered to the public. * Examples: the bill allows child care, after-school, and other such programs at a religiously-affiliated institution to refuse to admit or serve African Americans, women, Latinos/Latinas, Native Americans, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, the disabled, immigrants, and other minorities. * Many religious organizations now receive state government money to run recreational programs. This bill allows religious organizations to discriminate in the provision of these taxpayer-supported programs. * Imagine trying to enroll in a government-funded after-school program that is sponsored by a religious organization and being told your child won't be accepted because she is African American, disabled, or doesn't adhere to the religious organization's beliefs. * While religious organizations have the right to be biased in their religious activities, they do not have the right to discriminate in public commerce. In their public, non-religious dealings, they should adhere to the same civil rights laws as any other business. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Contact House leadership and your House Representative immediately to say you are opposed to passage of HB70. See the next page for more. LEADERS OF THE KENTUCKY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SpeakerJody Richards, D-Bowling Green Speaker Pro TemLarry Clark, D-Louisville Democratic Floor LeadersGregory D. Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg Democratic Caucus ChairmanJim Callahan, D-Wilder Democratic WhipJoe Barrows, D-Versailles Republican Floor LeaderDanny R. Ford, R-Mt. Vernon Republican Caucus ChairmanJeffrey Hoover, R-Jamestown Republican WhipWoody Allen, R-Morgantown IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED! Leave a message for House Leaders and your own state representative by calling 1-800-372-7181. To find out the status of a bill, call 1-888-701-1488.