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In 2019, Bowling Green was on the brink of overhauling the city municipal code by expanding discrimination protection to include “gender identity and sexual orientation.” 

As written, Ordinance No. BG2019-12 would have empowered the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission with unprecedented extra judicial authority outside the legal system to investigate complaints, hold hearings, employ attorneys, and sanction committees to carry out its work. This is patently unconstitutional, as extra judicial agencies are prohibited by the Kentucky constitution unless explicitly defined by law. 

The proposed ordinance also authorized the Commission to impose fines, including compensation for “humiliation and embarrassment” and the ability to petition the Warren County Circuit Court to issue subpoenas to compel witnesses to testify.  Those who violated Commission orders could be charged with a misdemeanor, and if convicted, fined and/or imprisoned for 30 days.

This proposed law and others like it are often called a “Fairness Ordinance.”

Efforts to bring this unfair ordinance to Bowling Green began in 2017 when City Commissioner Brian “Slim” Nash introduced a motion for its adoption.  No other commissioner seconded the motion and the effort failed to move forward. 

In 2019, Nash introduced it again.  This time, the motion was seconded by current City Commissioner Dana Beasley Brown, but ultimately failed with a 3-2 vote against its adoption.

Nash no longer holds a seat on the City Commission, but this issue is not dead.

Beasely-Brown is up for re-election in November, has voted for ‘unfairness’ in the past and is on record for continuing to support it.

City Commissioner Carlos Bailey, who is also running for another term, writes in a June 2021 post on his social media page, ‘it’s time to make sure fairness laws pass on the state and local level and I will support laws that increase equity, fairness, and justice for ALL people!”

Mayoral Candidate Patti Minter has long championed ‘unfairness’ in her failed re-election bid for State Representative in 2022 and now in her current campaign for Mayor. In a February social media post she writes, “Proud to speak at the Fairness Rally this week at the Capitol about my advocacy for a Fairness ordinance in Bowling Green. It’s past time that Bowling Green join 24 other cities in Kentucky that have this protection.”

With Minter, Beasley-Brown and Bailey supporting ‘unfairness,’ the November City Commission election presents a crossroads for our community – one more vote in favor of the ordinance will make it a reality in Bowling Green.

Despite all of the energy invested in this effort, there are no documented cases of sexual orientation/gender identity discrimination in Bowling Green, as verified by city officials last month.

In choosing our city’s Commissioners this fall, voters will decide whether our community stands for equal rights for all, or special rights for some. Federal discrimination laws and state statutes already exist to protect citizens from discrimination. Our community should find elected officials and candidates that encourage these ideas repugnant, and vote accordingly.

Tonja Tuttle is the co-founder of Warren County Conservatives. She can be reached at tonjatuttle@warrencountyconservatives.org.

By Mark Doggett

Have you noticed the increased traffic in and around Bowling Green? What used to take 15 minutes of travel time now takes 25 or 30 minutes. Bowling Green has changed from a town into a city. If current trends (3.38% annual growth) continue, BG will have a population larger than 100,000 in another 9 years. Are you ready for this?

I have lived in both big cities and small towns. Big cities have lots of things to do. They have opportunities for making money, enjoying entertainment, dancing, foods of all type, and high-speed internet. People come to cities to congregate and socialize.

But big cities also have big problems. Homelessness, drug abuse, crime, and of course traffic congestion to name a few. Cities are impersonal and unfriendly. Always lock your car and don’t leave packages unattended. Don’t make eye contact with strangers.

Towns, on the other hand, don’t have much going on. There are a few local eateries and watering holes. They have a few small businesses and maybe a Walmart, but not a super one. No one would ever think of stealing your mail.

In towns, neighbors meet at the local VFW or community center fundraiser. People know your name and ask about your kids. If a small town resident falls on hard times, the folks pitch in to help them get back on track. Traffic is only a problem on Sunday after church.

What is causing all this growth in BG? One reason is that we are business friendly. Another reason is the university. But is BG family friendly? Is the need for prosperity outpacing the need for community? According to the planning commission, BG is only supposed to grow by 2% per year, but it is well over that. I don’t know about you, but I did not move to BG because I wanted to live in a city.

What is so great about growth? Why are we in such a rush to become big? I think it has something to do with money. Who wants growth? The real estate developers and building contractors for sure. Who benefits? Perhaps big business and the politicians. Don’t get me wrong, I like prosperity as much as anyone. But at what price?

Those promoting growth say BG will be “different” than Lexington or Louisville. But they don’t say how. I don’t believe BG will be any different. Cities always have more problems than towns.

Want to live in a big city? Stick around. I liked BG better when it was still a town.

About Mark

Mark Doggett is a professor in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Western Kentucky University.

September 24 at 6:30 p.m., CST

Hilton Garden Inn, 1020 Wilkinson Trace, Bowling Green

Guest Speakers:

Kelley Paul, Author and wife of Kentucky Senator Rand Paul

Jenean Hampton, Kentucky Lt. Governor 2015-2019

Walter Blanks, Jr., Spokesperson, American Federation for Children

Ashley Cornwell, Concerned Warren County Parent

Check back for more information as we continue to plan this excellent event about Parent’s Rights and School Choice.

Event sponsored by Americans for Prosperity

By Mark Doggett

Nobody seems happy with public education these days. Teachers, parents, students, and employers are all upset, but for different reasons.

Teachers say there are too many problems in the classrooms, and they don’t make enough money. Combining state, local, and federal dollars, Kentucky spends about $34,000 per student on education, about average compared to other states. I support teacher pay increases. But there’s little evidence just spending more money leads to better student outcomes.

Only 45% of students are proficient in reading. Less than a third are proficient in math. Yet these students are graduating. Teachers are no longer allowed to fail students. If I’m going to pay more, I want better results.

Parents found out what their kids are learning during COVID, and it doesn’t match their expectations. Dr. Gary Houchens raised the warning flag when he stated, “since 2017, the number of students participating in nonpublic education has increased by 20,000, a growth of more than 26%. Students in nonpublic schools now represent more than 15% of the state’s student body.” (Courier Journal August 15, 2022).

At the national level, the exodus from public schools is estimated between 1.4 to 2 million. Some of this is attributed to demographic factors, but parent dissatisfaction is a significant portion.

Students spend too much time on their devices and too little time learning. WKU President Caboni in January 2023 acknowledged that less than 50% of graduating high school students are interested in pursuing higher education.

The perception of education’s value is important.  We read stories of students graduating who are functionally illiterate. The National Center for Educational Statistics found that 40% of students entering post-secondary schools have not earned a credential eight years later.

Employers need workers. But the boss expects them to show up. The Society for Human Resource management estimates that one-third of companies have eliminated requirements for college degrees. Firms now state they value experience over education. Dr. Aaron Hughey said, “If a student can acquire – and be successful – in a job they could have secured without going to college, then we have a system that is inherently flawed” (Courier Journal January 5, 2023).

The current state of education is like the U.S. auto industry of the early 80s. Automakers thought mass production would ensure success, even with poor quality. Inflated graduation rates are like the automotive production line. Get as many students through with as few dropouts as possible. Take their money. Give them a piece of paper.

Instead, let’s prompt both high graduate rates  and high academic standards. High standards mean both teachers and students must be accountable. This will result in more failures, which is of course unacceptable in a mass production environment.

Public institutions know their quality is not improving. Parents and students are choosing other options. Let’s hope educators see the light as the U.S. automakers did and again produce high quality.

Mark Doggett, PHD

About Mark

Mark Doggett is a professor in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Western Kentucky University.