Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has officially signed executive orders to make Juneteenth an executive branch holiday as well as a law that would protect natural hairstyles from discrimination.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has officially signed executive orders to make Juneteenth an executive branch holiday and a law protecting natural hairstyles, including braids, locs, and twists, from discrimination.
According to a report by Kentucky Lantern, Democratic and Republican lawmakers have been unsuccessful at passing bills regarding both issues. The CROWN Act, an acronym for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” has been supported by legislators like Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill. However, his latest bill stalled in the current session after it was passed over in the Senate several times before being recommitted to the Judiciary Committee.
“I’ve decided I can no longer wait for others to do what is right,” said Beshear ahead of signing the order on Thursday, May 23.
“We must look at it straight on and not hide from our own history, even the parts that are painful,” he continued. “Instead, we recognize it, we attempt to learn from it, and we work to repair the lasting damage and heal our nation’s wounds so we can make progress for a better tomorrow.”
What’s more, Beshear also encouraged fellow politicians to support legislation in the upcoming sessions that will better the lives of Black Americans.
“I urge my colleagues in the General Assembly to support legislation in the upcoming session, recognizing the pivotal role Black Americans have played in shaping our country,” Democratic Floor Leader Sen. Gerald Neal said. In doing so, “we honor our shared history and demonstrate a commitment to equality and justice for all.”
Source: Black Enterprise
