‘Legal discrimination’: dismay as Kentucky poised to ban DEI in colleges

State representative Jennifer Decker, who sponsored the bill that would in effect ban DEI programs at public colleges and universities. Photograph: Jon Cherry/Getty Images

Kentucky is poised to become the next state to ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at public colleges and universities, prompting student backlash.

Under a new bill advanced last week by the Kentucky house, the state would defund DEI offices and related staff at public universities and prohibit all scholarships that consider a student’s race, gender or religion in the selection criteria.