Kentucky City Votes to Retain DEI Officer: The Voice of Justice Is Not Quiet
By Norman Franklin
Norman Franklin
It is inevitable, inherent in our nature— there exists a seed of justice in humanity that, by providence, germinates and sprouts at the right time to confront the ill will of society.
We are in such a time. A toxic mix of religion and politics, of so-called spiritual correctness and political-religious mandates, seeks to redefine justice through misguided interpretations.
America has a history it wishes to deny—erase, or rewrite in polished prose. This revised narrative is shaping the curricula that will train our children, setting the tone and direction for our country’s future.
The reimagining of history is only one piece of the broader wave of social and political ill will sweeping the nation. But it is a foundational piece. Misrepresenting history fuels the political and social polarization gripping America today.
This is playing out most clearly in the opposition to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, programs, and policies.
Since the civil rights era of the 1960s, DEI initiatives have sought to address systemic inequities— imbalances ingrained over centuries of privilege and oppression, contradictions to the very Christian ethics many claim to uphold. These systemic injustices should have ended with the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment, yet for another hundred years, unconstitutional practices openly governed the South and covertly influenced the rest of the nation.
From its inception, DEI policies have faced opposition. Over the decades, legal battles and legislative attacks have chipped away at its foundation, weakening its impact and leaving it vulnerable to the political agenda of a new generation of lawmakers.
The most effective weapon against DEI has been reframing the narrative. Opponents argue that DEI policies are divisive, disrupt workplace camaraderie, and create conflict on college campuses and within communities. This denigrated narrative has been used to justify dismantling DEI efforts nationwide.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman has declared DEI unconstitutional, citing the 2023 Supreme Court decision banning affirmative action in college admissions. The Kentucky House Majority Caucus followed suit, passing a measure prohibiting DEI practices in public universities.
“DEI is an unconstitutional and discriminatory practice that indoctrinates and divides college campuses,” said Rep. Jennifer Decker, sponsor of House Bill 4, which mandates the closure of all DEI offices and elimination of DEI positions in public universities by June 30, 2025.
The Kentucky Legislature has joined national and state efforts to dismantle DEI programs. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth bluntly declared, “DEI is dead.” It has been a slow death. DEI died young.
Yet, not every corporation, university, or local government has yielded to the frenzied rush to comply with executive orders banning DEI. Some organizations and municipalities view their DEI policies not as performative gestures, but as commitments to equity.
In a bold stand against the growing anti-DEI movement, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) voted to retain its DEI officer.
Lexington resident Nicole Gwishiri spoke passionately about the decision:
“This is not just about a single department. It is about whether we will stand strong as a city committed to progress or roll over in the face of the rising tide of tyranny sweeping across this country from Washington, D.C., to Frankfort, Kentucky.”
Meanwhile, Senate Bill 165, filed by Sen. Lindsey Tichenor (R-Smithfield), seeks to bar state and local government agencies from allocating resources to DEI initiatives. The bill would prohibit the establishment or maintenance of DEI offices, furthering the erosion of diversity-focused efforts.
The LFUCG city council’s vote is an act of courage—a commitment to equity, justice, and resistance against the tide of political and social regression. It is a stand against the forces seeking to silence the voice of justice.