Public commenters urge council to act with care and protect marginalized residents

An invocation led by Reverend Aaron Austin of Central Baptist Church opened the Feb. 20 Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council meeting, and two residents delivered substantive public comments urging the council to protect marginalized residents and to act from a principle of care.

Reverend Aaron Austin, associate pastor of missions and outreach at Central Baptist Church, offered a prayer that asked the council to "look out for the needs of our neighbors" and to "create equitable systems and statutes." Austin asked that the council "make room and include voices that have been left out."

In the public-comment period, Phoenix Barrie, who identified their pronouns as they/them and their council district as District 6, read a passage and urged the council to "act in love" and to address the "oppression that is caused by hierarchy." Barrie told council members that community members often feel unheard when told to call or email. "We are asking that we all act in love," Barrie said.

Rory Hefner Templar of District 10 said many marginalized residents feel fearful and unsafe in public life and urged council members to publicly commit to protecting the rights and safety of queer people, women, Black and Brown residents, religious minorities and others. "You are meant to represent us, not the other way around," Templar said. He asked council members to sign a pledge to protect the safety and dignity of all community members, saying, "We're not free until all of us are free."

Why it matters: Public comments highlighted concerns about safety, inclusion and governmental responsiveness for marginalized populations in Lexington. While the speakers asked for public commitments and policy attention, the transcript does not show any formal council response or policy action taken during the meeting.

What was said (selected quotes)

- Reverend Aaron Austin, Associate Pastor of Missions and Outreach, Central Baptist Church: "May we create equitable systems and statutes. May we make room and include voices that have been left out."

- Phoenix Barrie (District 6): "We are asking that we all act in love... and to break the unloving feeling that is hierarchy."

- Rory Hefner Templar (District 10): "You are meant to represent us, not the other way around... We're not free until all of us are free."

Context and next steps

The comments were made during the non-agenda public-comment period. The meeting record does not show the council taking any formal action in response to the comments on Feb. 20. The speakers asked for public commitments and for council members to signal support for vulnerable residents; any formal pledge or policy response would require council action in a future meeting.