Is Your Religious Discrimination Workshop Discriminating Against Atheists?

Mr. Sexton,

Unless you and your religious panelists would be comfortable with an
Atheist "representing" Christian viewpoints, I respectfully request that
you have an Atheist on your panel to represent the views of non-theists,
who together comprise the largest single block of citizens of our
country.

We understand that, although at least two highly qualified Atheists have
offered to participate, no real live Atheist has been favored with a
seat at your table.

If, in your "Religious Discrimination Workshop" to be held in Lexington,
Kentucky on February 25, 2010, it is your intent to show how religious
persons can continue to suppress Atheists and get away with it, be
assured that American Atheists will let this be known to funding and
regulatory authorities who still respect separation of state and church
in our country.

This message to you will be widely published.

In the sincere hope that there is actually an attempt being made in
Lexington, Kentucky to end religious discrimination, and not to further
it, I am

Sincerely,

Edwin Kagin
National Legal Director
American Atheists, Inc.
Phone: (859) 384-7000
Fax: (859) 384-7324

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Lexington Human Rights Commission
Religious Discrimination Workshop:

Thursday, February 25, 2010
Hilton Lexington/Downtown
369 West Vine Street
Lexington, Kentucky
$45.00 per person
Registration: 8:30 am
Continental Breakfast served
Workshop 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

*Registration and fee due February 12th (per brochure form or via
contact with the HRC, attention Tami Reed, at < lfuchrc.org > or (859)
252-4931. Further questions can be directed to Ray Sexton,
rsexton@lfuchrc.org )

Workshop description:

Employers are generally familiar with the protocol for handling sex or
racial discrimination and harassment claims. But what happens when an
employee complains that the employee in the next cubicle is
proselytizing to other employees? Or when an employee demands
accommodation for prayer time, the Sabbath, or ...an objection to
handling pork or alcohol? And what if an employee objects to your
appearance code because she is a member of the Church of Body
Modification?

Although the wide range of possible religious discrimination and
accommodation claims may seem overwhelming, the protocol for handling
each doesn't have to be. Our presentation will walk you through Title
VII's basic requirements, the elements of a religious discrimination
claim - including specifically what constitutes a "bona fide" religious
belief - and how to determine whether, and what, accommodations are
required.

Speaker - Kenneth Brown, Senior Trial Lawyer, EEOC Louisville Area
Office

Kenneth W. Brown is the Senior Trial Attorney with the Louisville Area
Office of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
His practice concentrates on litigating claims under Title VII of the
Civil Rights Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act
and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Mr. Brown is also an
Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Louisville's Trial
Practice. From 1996 to 2001, mr. Brown was a member of the Tort and
Insurance Group for the law firm of Wyattt, Tarrant and Combs in
Louisville. He is a member of the Louisville and American Bar
Associations and he is the immediate past President of the Louisville
Black Lawyers Association. Mr. Brown received his B.S.B.A Degree (high
honors) from the University of Louisville School of Business in 1993
where he was named a WallStreet Journal Outstanding Student, and his
J.D. Degree from the University of Louisville School of Law in 1996.

Moderator/Faciliator - Tracey Dennis

Panelists:

Rabbi Marc Kline
Jenny Sutton-Amr
Larry Johnson

Commissioners:

Biby Tinajero, Chair
Tracey Dennis, Vice Chair
Eli Mertens, Secretary
Beth Hartmann, Treasurer

J. Scott Benton
Chris Ford
Rabbi Marc Kline
Lindsay Mattingly
Dr. Nadia Rasheed
Melanie Tyner-Wilson