Commonwealth Policy Center

A number of Kentucky cities have recently passed Fairness Laws that protect LGBT status under local laws. But a newly filed lawsuit in Federal District court against Louisville’s Fairness ordinance may roll back the trend. Louisville photographer Chelsey Nelson is suing the city of Louisville because she believes the ordinance violates her First Amendment freedoms. The lawsuit says that “Like other commissioned artists, Chelsey selects her projects and uses her skills to tell particular stories and to promote particular values. While Chelsey works with clients of all beliefs and backgrounds, she just can’t accept requests to promote certain subjects for anyone— such as photographing content that is obscene or demeaning to others.” Chelsey also believes that marriage should only be between a man and a woman, which makes photographing and celebrating them something her conscience won’t allow.