ORDINANCE NO. __________, SERIES 2026
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AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 39 OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO CODE OF ORDINANCES TO CREATE NEW SECTIONS 39.400, 39.401, 39.402, 39.403, AND 39.404 TO BE KNOWN AS THE SAFE HAVEN LAW.
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SPONSORED BY: COUNCIL MEMBERS LYNINGER AND PARRISH-WRIGHT
WHEREAS, Louisville is a welcoming city for LGBTQ+ people and according to a 2015 Gallup study has the 11th largest LGBTQ+ population in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Louisville is a regional destination for LGBTQ+ people to live and visit, which creates a responsibility for Metro Government to protect transgender and gender non-conforming people in the face of attacks by Federal and State government; and
WHEREAS, the Trump administration’s repeated attacks on the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming people have led to the Federal government’s attempted erasure of individuals whose gender does not match their sex assigned at birth; and
WHEREAS, the recent legislative and political attacks on transgender and gender non-conforming people by the Trump administration and numerous state governments are contrary to the values of a free society; and
WHEREAS, State and Federal laws targeting and restricting the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming people are contrary to the values of Louisville; and
WHEREAS, the Louisville Metro Council wishes to enshrine into law the principle that Louisville Metro Government will do all that it is legally permitted to do to protect and defend the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming Louisvillians to live their lives freely; and
WHEREAS, Louisville Metro Government reiterates its commitment to equal protections for transgender and gender non-conforming community members and considers it the policy of Louisville Metro Government that their right to live their lives freely without abuse or restriction by any public or private entity shall not be abridged.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I: The title of LMCO Chapter 39 is amended to include the subtitles specified herein:
Sections 39.400 to 39.404 should appear under “Safe Haven Law.”
SECTION II: A new section of Chapter 39 of the Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances is created as follows:
Section 39.400. Purpose. Louisville is committed to equal protection of transgender and gender non-conforming people and shall be known as a Safe Haven City for Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming People.
SECTION III: A new section of Chapter 39 of the Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances is created as follows:
Section 39.401. Definitions
For the purposes of §§39.400 to 39.404, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
TRANSGENDER PERSON. A person whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.
GENDER NON-CONFORMING PERSON. A person whose gender expression does not align with traditional societal expectations of masculinity or femininity.
GENDER NON-CONFORMING DRESS OR COSTUME. Clothing, hairstyles, makeup, or accessories that deviate from traditional societal expectations of how a person should appear based upon their assigned sex at birth.
METRO GOVERNMENT RESOURCES. Includes, but is not limited to: time spent by Metro employees, officers, or contractors while on duty, or the use of Metro Government property.
SECTION IV: A new section of Chapter 39 of the Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances is created as follows:
Section 39.401. Use of Louisville Metro Government Resources. To the extent permitted by law, no Louisville Metro Government resources, shall be used for any of the following purposes:
(A) Detaining persons for seeking or providing gender-affirming healthcare.
(B) Providing information about a person’s gender identity as a transgender or gender non-conforming person to the federal government or any state or local government.
(C) Restricting the ability of transgender or gender non-conforming people to access any public accommodations, programs, or services provided by Louisville Metro Government, based on their gender identity.
(D) Enforcing prohibitions on entertainment by male or female impersonators or prohibitions on performers wearing non-stereotypical dress or costume based upon the entertainer’s actual or perceived gender.
SECTION V: A new section of Chapter 39 of the Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances is created as follows:
Section 39.402. Complaints and Discipline.
Any employee of Metro Government who violates LMCO §§39.400 to 39.404 may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination, subject to his or her receiving all procedural due process rights to which he or she is entitled either by law or contract.
SECTION VI: A new section of Chapter 39 of the Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances is created as follows:
Section 39.403 Employee Training. Metro Government shall provide training on the provisions of §§39.400 to 39.404 to all Metro Government employees upon hiring.
SECTION VII: A new section of Chapter 39 of the Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances is created as follows:
Section 39.404 Severability. If a section or subsection of this subchapter is found to be invalid for any reason, the remaining subsections of the subchapter shall continue in full force and effect.
SECTION VIII: This Ordinance shall take effect upon its passage and approval or otherwise becoming law.
_______________________________ _____________________________
Sonya Harward Brent Ackerson
Metro Council Clerk President of the Council
________________________________ _____________________________
Craig Greenberg Approval Date
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
Michael J. O’Connell
Jefferson County Attorney
By: ________________________________
O-075-26 Safe Haven City Ordinance ab 3.19.26