Lexington, don’t obey in advance by dumping DEI office. That’s how tyranny grows. | Opinion

I was alarmed to see that the city of Lexington is planning to remove its office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Ordinance 0143-25 would abolish the position of Officer of Diversity and Inclusion in the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer.

Sally Hamilton, the city’s chief administrative officer, has said that Arthur Lucas, who has served as the Officer of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for years, will be transferred to human resources and continue to do his work. But eliminating this office is a cowardly move that betrays our city’s commitment to making sure Lexington is a place of opportunity and belonging for everyone.

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council took its first vote on the title change on Feb. 18. A final vote will likely come at its March 6 meeting. I urge Lexington citizens to contact their councilmembers and call on them to defy this move. You can send them all an email at: CouncilMembers-Email@lexingtonky.gov.

Councilwoman Denise Gray said : “the city is being proactive,” with this ordinance. That’s a euphemism for capitulation. By kowtowing to federal and state efforts to eliminate DEI initiatives, Lexington is breaking the cardinal rule of resisting tyranny – it is obeying in advance.

In his book “On Tyranny,” Timothy Snyder writes “most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do.”

In this case of officials in Lexington eliminating the office of DEI, they are obeying in advance by adapting to a repressive government and teaching power what it can do.

Lexington is following in the steps of the University of Kentucky which also voluntarily eliminated its office of Institutional Diversity in August 2024. Just because state legislators have proposed bills in the Kentucky House and Senate that target DEI efforts in state universities and in local government does not mean that our city should obey tyranny in advance.

Senate Bill 165, filed Feb. 20 by Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, would prohibit state and local government agencies and public schools from allocating resources to “establish or maintain diversity, equity, and inclusion offices.” The bill has not passed, so Lexington should stand strong in defending its commitment to the values that protect its citizens. Even if the bill does pass, our leaders must defy these authoritarian laws and take them to court.

Arguing that eliminating the position does not hinder work on diversity efforts is an indication that city officials have caved and capitulated to federal and state overreach efforts.

As a faith leader, a parent, and a citizen of Lexington who has been proud of our official stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion, I urge our community to stand against these repressive efforts and stand for and with each other. Defend our values and our community identity based on compassion and belonging for all our citizens.

The Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade is an ordained minister and professor in Lexington.