Fifty years after its birth as a coal company town, Vicco in Perry County is receiving a birthday gift of sorts. Max Mutchnik, the creator of the popular television sitcom Will and Grace, and his partner, entertainment lawyer Erik Hyman, are giving the tiny Eastern Kentucky community a children’s park.
The park is the couple’s way of thanking Vicco, named for the Virginia Iron Coal and Coke Company, for being the smallest community ever to pass an LGBT non-discrimination law. The town of about 350 called the January 2013 measure the “Fairness Ordinance.” It prohibits discrimination in matters of “employment, housing and public accommodation based upon a person’s actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity.”
(SEE PREVIOUSLY: Kentucky Town of 334 Passes Protections for Gays)
The passage of the Fairness Ordinance was no small feat, according to officials. Vicco became the first Kentucky town to pass a non-discrimination ordinance since Covington passed one in 2003. It was supported by three of the city’s four commissioners, Mayor Johnny Cummings and City Attorney Eric Ashley.
“Vicco is a community that believes all folks should be treated fairly. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Fairness is a Kentucky value, a Vicco value, and one of our most American values,” read a statement issued at the time of the law’s passing.
The Hollywood pair, considered “Hollywood royalty” by columnist Jean Ann Esselink writing for the New Civil Rights Movement’s website, heard about Vicco’s fairness stance. “Max was touched by Mayor Johnny Cummings, who sold the law one-on-one with the townspeople,” wrote Esselink.
Esselink cited three examples of statements in support of the measure by Vicco natives and neighbors as helping to form Mutchnick and Hyman’s decision to give the town a park.
Esselink quoted William Neace as saying, “I think everyone should have rights, regardless of sexuality or whatever they may do. They still need to be treated equal;” Knott County resident Glenn Jones as saying, “We’re all humans and have to live together, so I think it’s good if we all treat each other like humans;” and Lula Gibson as saying, “There’s so much discrimination, and I believe that gays, lesbians and everybody to that effect needs the same opportunity as everybody else does.”
(SEE PREVIOUSLY: Viral Video: Colbert Report Visits Vicco)
“When I read about what was going on in Vicco to advance the cause of equality, I was very moved. I had to reach out to Mayor Cummings and find some way to show my gratitude to the community for such a brave action,” Mutchnik told Esselink.
The way they found was to donate money for a playground and green space the entire town could enjoy.
The couple, fathers to twin daughters named Rose and Evan, recently traveled to Vicco to attend the dedication ceremony. The park was officially named the Rose and Evan Playground and bears a plaque that reads: “Dedicated to the good people of Vicco, Kentucky, for their efforts to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Built by a loving family of two dads and their daughters, Rose and Evan.”
From New Civil Rights Movement via KY Forward
Photo: The new children’s playing area and greenspace in Vicco was built by two Hollywood dads in gratitude of Vicco’s “fairness ordinance” 18 months ago. (Photo from Pintrest/New Civil Rights Movement)
