The Kentucky General Assembly created the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights in 1960. Initially, the state government agency was instructed to encourage fair treatment and foster mutual understanding and respect, and to discourage discrimination against any racial or ethnic group or its members.
However, in 1966, the commission role expanded with the passage of The Kentucky Civil Rights Act (Kentucky Revised Statute [KRS]344). This law made discrimination illegal on a state level, and it made the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights the statutory authority to enforce the law for the Commonwealth. Kentucky became the first state south of the Mason Dixon Line to make discrimination illegal.
The agency receives, initiates, investigates, conciliates and rules upon jurisdictional complaints alleging violations of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act. Certified with substantial equivalency to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights also enforces the policies set forth in The U.S. Civil Rights Act, The U.S. Fair Housing Act, The U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal civil rights laws.
KCHR is mandated by KRS 344 to educate members of the public about their rights under the law to live free from discrimination in Kentucky. The agency conducts a comprehensive program of education, training, outreach, partnerships, and public awareness initiatives to vigorously carry out this task.
The commission has been working on behalf of the people of the Commonwealth for more than a half-century. We are proud of our achievements in civil and human rights. With headquarters in Louisville and the Northern Kentucky office in Covington, the commission has opened doors of opportunity for thousands of people.
We are the Guardian of Your Civil Rights
- The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights (KCHR) is created to ensure equality in Kentucky.
- Our purpose is to protect you from discrimination by enforcing the Kentucky Civil Rights Act.
- KCHR's duty is to receive, initiate, investigate, seek to conciliate, conduct hearings, and rule upon complaints alleging violations of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act.
- We are proud of our achievements in human rights, which stretch over the last four decades.
- With headquarters in Louisville and Northern Kentucky office, KCHR has opened doors of opportunity to thousands of people.
- Our agency is made up of the commissioners, the executive director, and the commission agency staff members.
- The commission body consists of the chair and 10 commissioners, who hear and rule on complaints.
- KCHR also vigorously carries out the task of helping people in Kentucky understand the importance of civil rights and their right to equality.