Louisville became the first city in Kentucky to pass a Fairness Ordinance protecting members of the LGBTQ community 25 years ago.

To mark that important milestone and to discuss 2024 victories at the Kentucky Statehouse, the Access Louisville podcast sat down with Chris Hartman, executive director of the Fairness Campaign, for an interview as the organization also celebrates Pride Month. 

Hartman told us 1999 was a landmark year for LGBTQ rights in Kentucky and, of course here in Louisville, where the Fairness Campaign had worked, built grassroots support, political support and then ultimately Board of Aldermen support to finally — after almost a decade —pass the original Fairness Ordinance. 

It was the first in Kentucky and among the first in the nation to protect LGBTQ folks from discrimination. 

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First and available on popular podcast services such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.