HRC: Efforts to get control of commission Facebook page still unsuccessful

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Thursday, June 4, 2015, 11 a.m. — The dispute between the Bardstown-Nelson County Commission on Human Rights and a former member who resigned in protest remains unresolved.

Members of the Bardstown-Nelson County Commission on Human Rights discuss the Safe Place program at the group’s meeting Tuesday, June 2. From left, Vice Chair Mike Yadon, Chair Kathy Reed, Carrie Stivers and Paula Pace.

At the commission’s meeting Tuesday, the group received an update from member Michael Greenwell on the continued lack of control of the commission’s social media page.

The commission’s Facebook page was administered by former member Luke Barlowe, who resigned in protest after Judge Executive Dean Watts made an appointment to the board Barlowe disagreed with.

Watts appointed Amelia Clements of Cox’s Creek to the human rights commission in February. At a special commission meeting that month, Barlowe is alleged to have had an outburst directed at Clements, berating her with derogatory comments regarding her social views before leaving the meeting. The commission’s executive committee asked Barlowe to apologize to Clements or face removal from the commission. Barlowe did not respond to the request and resigned in early March.

Though he resigned in March, Barlowe remains in control of the group’s Facebook page despite repeated requests by the commission for the administrative rights to the page. Since March, the commission’s Facebook page has had a number of posts critical of Watts and Clements’ appointment to the commission — all of which have since been removed.

In Greenwell’s update to the commission Tuesday, he said his attempts to contact Facebook for their assistance have not been successful in gaining administrative control of the page.

The most recent post on the commission’s Facebook page — dated April 23, 2015 — states “If you reach this page, this is a commission that discriminates against LGBT persons. Go to “Bardstown Fairness” if you are interested in defeating bullying and discrimination of LGBT persons!”

The Facebook page’s “About” section also is critical of the commission: “This Commission will not act to encourage or affect the guarantee of equal rights to all citizens assured by the Constitution & laws of the United States.”

After some discussion, commission member Mike Yadon said he would reach out personally to Barlowe in hopes of resolving the issue.

FAIRNESS ORDINANCE. The commission discussed the city of Midway’s recent adoption of a Fairness ordinance extending discrimination protection to the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender community. The ordinance prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Anyone found in violation of the ordinance faces a civil penalty from $100 to $500.

The commission discussed creating a stand-alone Fairness ordinance locally, and supporting a campaign to push for its adoption by local governments. The ordinance would not be part of the current human rights ordinance, and would likely be modeled on proposed ordinance language from the Louisville-based Fairness Campaign

SAFE PLACE DISCUSSION. Julie Arney, owner of Bardstown Copy & Print, talked to the commission about the need to establish the Safe Place program locally.

Safe Place provides access to immediate help and supportive resources for youth in need. Arney, who has worked with the organization in the past, explained that the program is a partnership with schools, libraries, and other youth-friendly organizations.

The commission has long expressed an interest in establishing the program in Nelson County, and welcomed Arney’s presentation. In Kentucky, Safe Place operates in Lexington, Louisville and Northern Kentucky.

But establishing a local Safe Place program in a rural area will be a challenge due to the program’s strict requirements.

“It’s going to take the community to make it work,” Arney told the commission. She already has received verbal commitments from the New Haven library and other organizations.

The commission agreed to assist with the effort and Arney said she would work to get a Safe Place representative to attend a future commission meeting.

OFFICER ELECTION. The commission re-elected Kathy Reed as committee chair and Mike Yadon as vice-chair. Commission secretary Michael Greenwell, who had taken on treasurer duties following Luke Barlowe’s resignation, was elected treasurer. Michael Johnson was elected secretary.

NEXT UP. The commission’s next meeting is noon Tuesday, July 1 at the Nelson County Public Library. The meetings are open to the public.

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