Activists,
business leaders worry about impact of Kentucky
governor's antigay legislation

Gay activists and some business leaders say they're concerned that recent actions by Kentucky governor Ernie Fletcher's administration and the state general assembly in Frankfort could be construed as antigay and drive away businesses interested in coming to the state. "Bigotry is bad for business," said Alan Hawse, vice president of information technology for the California-based company Cypress Semiconductor, which has offices in Lexington. Hawse said two decisions this month, one by Fletcher to remove wording from an executive order that would protect gay employees from discrimination and another by the general assembly to give $10 million to a private university that expelled a student for being gay, send the wrong message to potential investors. "We go from a backwater state trying to attract business to a backwater, bigoted state trying to attract business," said Hawse. The general assembly set aside $10 million in its budget for a pharmacy school at the University of the Cumberlands. The small Baptist school in Williamsburg recently expelled sophomore Jason Johnson after he revealed on a Web site that he is gay. College officials have said a university policy allows them to expel a student who "promotes sexual behavior not consistent with Christian principles," including homosexuality. Fletcher, who on Monday is expected to announce which state projects in the budget will be targeted for line-item vetoes, could still decide against giving the money to the University of the Cumberlands. Brett Hall, a spokesman for Fletcher, dismissed Hawse's concerns and said Fletcher's administration wouldn't discriminate against gay or lesbian job candidates and employees. "We don't ask people if they're gay, and how would we know?" Hall said. "I can't imagine it would be an issue at all." Nevertheless, Fletcher drew the ire of gay activists when on April 11 he removed sexual orientation and gender identity from the list of protected characteristics covered by the state's antidiscrimination laws. Kentucky is one of almost two dozen states that have no statewide policies or laws to protect gay workers. "It has an overarching impact on the state in terms of attracting tourism, attracting conventions, and attracting businesses that want to make their home here," said Christina Gilgor, executive director of the Kentucky Fairness Alliance. Still, some Kentucky businesses are making an effort for a more diverse workplace. Lexington-based Lexmark International allows employees to join networking groups like the Gay/Straight Alliance of Lexmark Employees. Lexmark is also among the growing list of companies that offer benefits to partners of gay and lesbian employees. "Diversity in all of its definitions continues to be a key focus in our recruitment efforts," Lexmark spokesman Tim Fitzpatrick said in a statement. "[It is] also a consideration in succession planning because we recognize diversity as a strength that will help us compete more effectively in a global marketplace." Several cities in the state, including Lexington and Louisville, have adopted fairness ordinances that protect gays from discrimination. An attempt to add a constitutional amendment that would repeal the ordinances was shot down in the state senate. Gary Gates, a researcher for the sexual orientation policy group Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, said U.S. corporations are showing more interest in diversity and tolerance. "If you believe that the market is what rules in this world, all the trends in corporate America say that increasing amounts of policies that promote diversity are good for the bottom line," Gates said. (AP)