Public Accommodations Complaint Filed Against T-Shirt Company That Rejected Gay Pride Order

Southsider Magazine yesterday reported on a complaint filed with the Human Rights Commission of the Lexington-Fayette (Kentucky) Urban County Government.  The Gay and Lesbian Services Organization ordered T-shirts for its Pride festival in June from Hands On Originals.  However when it found out the nature of the order, Hands On Originals refused to honor the order, even though it had bid on it. Instead it provided an alternative supplier who would provide the T-shirts at the same price. Hands On Originals says it is a Christian organization and "it is the prerogative of the company to refuse any order that would endorse positions that conflict with the convictions of the ownership." GLSO has filed its complaint under the Lexington Fairness Ordinance which, among other things, gives the Commission jurisdiction over complaints about discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in public accommodations.