Richmond rally for anti-discrimination law scheduled for Wednesday

A rally for passage of a local anti-discrimination fairness law is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in front of Richmond City Hall, 239 West Main Street.

Cheri Chenault and Destiny Keith, a lesbian couple who were ejected from E.C. Million Park earlier this month after sharing a kiss there, will attend the rally, according to a news release from the Fairness Coalition.

Richmond City Commission has yet to consider a fairness ordinance, which would prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. In Kentucky, only the cities of Covington, Lexington and Louisville extend such protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender citizens.

Chenault and Keith were taking maternity photos on a privately financed and operated side of the park.

William Sharp, staff attorney for the ACLU of Kentucky, said the park, based on available facts, would be considered a public accommodation subject to anti-discrimination protections, according to the news release.

"In the same way a restaurant is privately owned and operated but open to anyone in the public to visit, the privately funded side of E.C. Million Park would likely be considered a public accommodation since it is open to the public to enjoy," Sharp said in the news release. "Were there a local or statewide anti-discrimination fairness law in place, the young couple would be protected by that law."

This story was originally published July 16, 2012 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Richmond rally for anti-discrimination law scheduled for Wednesday."