(1) It is the policy of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to safeguard all persons within Fayette County from discrimination in employment, public accommodation, and housing on the basis of race, national origin, and religion.
(2) For purposes of this section, "race" shall include traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, natural texture and color of hair; hair styles; whether or not hair is adorned by hair ornaments such as ribbon, headwraps, beads or barrettes; and protective hair styles.
(a) Natural hair includes, but is not limited to, hair that is treated or untreated, protective styles, and hair types and styles that are commonly associated with African-Americans and their racial, ethnic, cultural identities and expressions, and the unwanted touching thereof;
(b) Protective hair styles include, but are not limited to braids, locs, twists, cornrows, Bantu Knots, afros, whether or not hair extensions or treatments are used to create or maintain any such style, whether or not hair is adorned by hair ornaments, beads, headwraps or hair covering, necessary protective hair styles needed due to medical conditions, and the unwanted touching thereof;
(3) For purposes of this section, "national origin" includes natural texture and color of hair, hair styles, and protective hair styles, including, but not limited to, braids, locs, twists, cornrows, Bantu Knots, afros, whether or not hair extensions or treatments are used to create or maintain any such style, and whether or not hair is adorned by hair ornaments, beads, headwraps, or hair coverings, related to a person's place of birth or ancestry.
(4) For purposes of this section, "religion" includes hair styles that are an expression of religious observance and practice, as well as belief, unless an employer demonstrates that they are unable to reasonably accommodate to an employee's or prospective employee's religious observance or practice without undue hardship on the conduct of the employer's business;
(5) The Lexington Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission shall have jurisdiction to receive, investigate, conciliate, hold hearings, and issue orders relating to complaints filed alleging discrimination in employment, public accommodation, or housing based on the race or national origin, specifically as it pertains to the natural hair or protective hairstyle of the complaining party.
(Ord. No. 049-2023 , § 1, 5-11-23)