Because Central Baptist Hospital has refused to sign the contract, the Lexington, Ky.-based Community Action Council will no longer place volunteers at the hospital.
"This still kind of puzzles me that the hospital cares so much about the sexual orientation of someone who hands out gifts, works in the book shop or answers the phone,'' said Jack Burch, executive director of the Community Action Council.Since August, the Community Action Council has asked organizations that use volunteers from its Retired and Senior Volunteer Program to abide by the city's fairness ordinance, which was passed in 1999. The law bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations, such as restaurants, stores and parks.
Hospital officials say Central Baptist doesn't discriminate against anyone, but that the hospital's lawyers don't think the fairness ordinance applies to volunteers.
The hospital follows all federal, state and local laws prohibiting discrimination, said Ruth Ann Childers, spokeswoman for Central Baptist. "Our legal counsel determined in this contract that the fairness ordinance does not apply to volunteers.
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, or RSVP, which is paid for in part by the Urban County Government, reimburses the transportation costs of about 400 volunteers at more than 40 community organizations, such as hospitals and non-profit agencies.
The RSVP contract has always included language to prevent discrimination based on race, gender and religion. The only difference between the agreement this year and the one Central Baptist signed two years ago was the insertion of the words "sexual orientation,'' Burch said.
"I was surprised because that same section of the contract has always held language about religions or beliefs,'' he said. ``You can be a Catholic, Jew or Muslim, and can volunteer. You just can't be gay or lesbian.''
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