Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signed executive orders on Thursday to establish Juneteenth as a state holiday and to protect natural hairstyles, including braids, locs, and twists, from discrimination in state workplaces.
Efforts to pass legislation on these issues have previously failed, despite support from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. Sen. Whitney Westerfield, a Republican from Fruit Hill, has advocated for the CROWN Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.” His recent bill faced multiple setbacks in the Senate and was ultimately returned to the Judiciary Committee. Similarly, Democratic Floor Leader Sen. Gerald Neal of Louisville proposed making June 19, Juneteenth, a state holiday, but his bill did not advance.
Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, marking the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom, two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Beshear emphasized the importance of acknowledging this painful history.
“I’ve decided I can no longer wait for others to do what is right,” Beshear, a Democrat, stated before signing the order. “It is our responsibility to look back at one of the ugliest chapters in our history. We must look at it straight on and not hide from our own history, even the parts that are painful.”
Beshear’s order aligns Kentucky with at least 28 other states that recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday. During the Capitol Rotunda gathering, Beshear acknowledged the enduring impact of slavery and Jim Crow laws, committing to listen, learn, and take deliberate action.
Sen. Neal, present at the event, described Juneteenth as both a celebration and a reminder of the struggles and achievements of African Americans. He pledged to continue advocating for legislation to officially recognize Juneteenth in Kentucky.
“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,” Neal said. “We honor our shared history and demonstrate a commitment to equality and justice for all.”
The second executive order targets discrimination against natural hairstyles in state government jobs. According to the Legal Defense Fund, 22 states have enacted CROWN Acts as of 2023. A study by the national CROWN Act campaign revealed that nearly half of Black women feel pressured to straighten their hair for professional settings, and over a fifth of Black women aged 25 to 34 have been sent home from work due to their hair.
Effective immediately, Beshear’s order bans discrimination in state government workplaces based on natural hair texture and protective styles. Melinda Wofford, an assistant director in the state’s Transportation Cabinet, praised the order.
“The way my hair looks is not a reflection of my work ethic,” Wofford said. “It definitely is not a reflection of my character. This order makes possible the freedom needed for me to continue to wear my hair in its natural state, the state that God blessed me with, without fear of discrimination in the workplace.”
