Lexington, Kentucky: The American Civil Liberties Union is challenging a ban on letters, magazines and other mail with gay-related content sent to inmates at a Kentucky prison.
The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that Kentucky ACLU legal director William Sharp has written to the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex to object to a policy that prohibits prisoners from receiving items that "promote homosexuality."
Sharp says the prison rejected mail for that reason on at least 13 occasions since August. He says the action is a violation of prisoners' First Amendment rights.
Sharp says safety concerns aren't valid arguments for withholding items that mention homosexuality.
Newly appointed corrections commissioner Rodney Ballard says he will investigate the matter.
The facility is a medium-security prison for 1,706 men.
