From the Gallery
State Legislation
Adding sexual orientation / gender identity to civil
rights
Last week the Senate Federal & State Affairs
Committee once again voted SB 169 (adding "sexual
orientation" and "gender identity" to civil rights) out of
committee. The committee chairman Pete Brungardt,
(R-Salina) allowed a "review" of the bill to take place.
The bill was voted out of committee last year after
hearings and was sent back to the committee. Most
bills that have that history eventually die in committee,
but under the discretion of the chairman this one
was "resurrected". Our position has been that the bill
gives special rights to a group of people based on
behavior rather than the standard applied to other civil
rights legislation - unchangeable characteristics such
as gender, ethnicity, race, and physical handicaps.
Also those who are applying for special consideration
under civil rights requirements must demonstrate
economic deprivation and political powerlessness.
We asserted in our testimony last year that none of
these requirements were met by the homosexual /
transgender, and bi-sexual community. In addition,
we argued that "sexual orientation" is a very
ambiguous term that could include pedophilia or one
of thirty-plus "paraphilias" listed in the American
Psychiatric Association's definition of "sexual
orientation." Most people assume that it means
homosexuality but that is not specified in the bill. The
APA has rescinded its "gay gene" theory recently so
the idea of "unchangeability" is also in
question. "Gender identity" by definition is a "moving
target" and is perceived by the owner of the professed
identity. Three senators on the committee voted
against the bill: Senators Abrams (R-Arkansas City);
Ostmeyer (R-Grinnell) and Pyle (R-Hiawatha).
Senator Steve Morris(R-Hugoton) was absent. The
rest of the committee voted for passage and referral to
the full Senate: Senators: Owens (R-Overland Park),
Reitz (R-Manhattan), Faust-Goudeau (D-Wichita), and
Francisco (D-Lawrence).
This bill adds civil rights for sexual orientation and
gender identity that applies to securing and holding
employment in any field of work or labor for which a
person is properly qualified, for equal public
accommodations, equal opportunities in housing
whether sales or rental, contracts, etc. It does
ostensibly exclude religious or private fraternal and
benevolent associations or corporations. However,
history has proven that organizations like the Boy
Scouts and Salvation Army have hardly been spared
numerous lawsuits regarding what is perceived
as "discrimination" against the community practicing
homosexuality. The questions we have are regarding
church-affiliated organizations such as schools, day-
cares and after-school programs. We also wonder
about summer recreational programs, coaching
camps, etc.
Another troubling aspect is that the homosexual
activists readily admit this type legislation is
an "incremental step" in overturning legislation
defining traditional marriage. Several state courts
have cited these laws in decisions mandating same-
sex marriage or some other form of legal recognition
for homosexual unions.
ACTION: You need to contact your senator and
urge him/her not to support this legislation. In
addition contact Sen. Derek Schmidt (R-
Independence) who is the Senate Majority Leader.
Ask him to make sure the bill does not come to the full
Senate for a vote.
Contact Information for Kansas Sentators:
Steve Abrams, R-Arkansas City, District 32, 785-296-7381
Pat Apple, R-Louisburg, District 12, 785-296-7368
Jim Barnett, R-Emporia, District 17, 785-296-7384
Karin.Brownlee, R-Olathe, District 23, 785-296-7358
Terry Bruce, R-Hutchinson, District 34, 785-296-7300
Pete Brungardt, R-Salina, District 24, 785-296-7390
Jeff.Colyer, R-Overland Park, District 37, 785-296-7383
Leslie Donovan, R-Wichita, District 27, 785-296-7385
Jay Emler, R-Lindsborg, District 35, 785-296-7354
Oletha Faust-Goudeau, D-Wichita, District 29, 785-296-7387
Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence, District 2, 785-296-7364
David Haley, D-Kansas City, District 4, 785-296-7376
Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, District 19, 785-296-3245
Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, District 3, 785-296-7372
Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, District 38, 785-296-7359
Terrie Huntington, R-Fairway, District 7, 785-296-7369
Laura Kelly, D-Topeka, District 18, 785-296-7365
Dick Kelsey, R-Goddard, District 26, 785-296-7367
Kelly Kultala, D-Kansas City, District 5, 785-296-7357
Janis Lee, D-Kensington, District 36, 785-296-7366
Julia Lynn, R-Olathe, District 9, 785-296-7382
Bob Marshall, R-Fort Scott, District 13, 785-296-7370
Ty Masterson, R-Andover, District 16, 785-296-7388
Carolyn McGinn, R-Sedgwick, District 31, 785-296-7377
Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, District 39, 785-296-2419
Ralph Ostmeyer, R-Ostmeyer, District 40, 785-296-7399
Tim Owens, R-Overland Park, District 8, 785-296-7353
Mike Petersen, R-Wichita, District 28, 785-296-7355
Mary Pilcher-Cook, R-Shawnee, District 10, 785-296-7362
Dennis Pyle, R-Hiawatha, District 1, 785-296-7379
Roger Reitz, R-Manhattan, District 22, 785-296-7360
Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, District 15, 785-296-2497
Vicki Schmidt, R-Topeka, District 20, 785-296-7374
Jean Schodorf, R-Wichiat, District 25, 785-296-7391
Chris Steineger, D-Kansas City, District 6, 785-296-7375
Mark Taddiken, R-Clifton, District 21, 785-296-7371
Ruth Teichman, R-Stafford, District 33, 785-296-7394
Dwayne Umbarger, R-Thayer, District 14, 785-296-7389
John Vratil, R-Leawood, District 11, 785-296-7361
Susan.Wagle, R-Wichita, District 30, 785-296-7386
State Sovereignty Resolution
The state sovereignty resolution (SCR 1615) will be
moving to the Senate floor. The resolution passed out
of the Senate Judiciary Committee last week in order
for the full Senate to consider it. This does not mean
that the bill will necessarily make it to the Senate floor
because of procedural maneuver s of the Senate
calendar.
Healthcare Freedom Amendment
HCR 1626 amends the Constitution of the state of
Kansas by adding a new article 16 regarding health
care and the freedom of the state to exercise its
sovereignty over the federal government regarding
health care. The resolution will be heard in a
committee (joint meeting with Senate Judiciary and
House Health and Human Services) on Tuesday,
February 9, in the Docking Building (across from the
Capitol) Room 784, 1:15 p.m.
FYI: Removal of sales tax exemption on churches,
etc.
There will be a hearing on Thursday, February 11,
9:00 a.m., in Room 783 of the Docking Office Building
on HB 2549. This bill proposes to remove sales tax
exemption from many entities including not-for-profits
such as churches and charitable organizations for
goods, services, purchases, and fund-raising
sales.
ACTION: Contact members of the committee
if you have problems with the removal of these
exemptions.
House Taxation Committee:
Richard Carlson, Chairman, R-St. Marys, District 61, 785-296-7660
Jeff King, Vice-Chair, R-Independence, District 12, 785-296-7667
Anthony Brown, R-Eudora, District 38, 785-296-7679
Pat George, R-Dodge City, District 119, 785-296-7655
Mario Goico, R-Wichita, District 100, 785-296-7663
Gary Hayzlett, R-Lakin, District 122, 785-296-7640
Marvin Kleeb, R-Overland Park, District 48, 785-296-7656
Bill Light, R-Rolla, District 124, 785-296-7636
Virgil Peck, R-Tyro, District 11, 785-296-7641
Larry Powell, R-Garden City, District 117, 785-296-7694
Don Schroeder, R-Inman, District 74, 785-296-7689
Sharon Schwartz, R-Washington, District 106, 785-296-7637
Arlen Siegfreid, R-Olathe, District 15, 785-296-3500
Kay Wolf, R-Prairie Village, District 21, 785-296-7663
Julie Menghini, Ranking Minority Member, D-Pittsburg, District 3, 785-296-7687
Lisa Benlon, D-Overland Park, District 22, 785-296-7647
Stan Frownfelter, D-Kansas City, District 31, 785-296-7677
Dolores Furtado, D-Overland Park, District 19, 785-296-7677
Tom Hawk, D-Manhattan, District 67, 785-296-7665
Steve Lukert, D-Sabetha, District 62, 785-296-7651
Melody McCray-Miller, D-Wichita, District 89, 785-296-7687
Gene Rardin, D-Overland Park, District 16, 785-296-7646
Don Svaty, D-Ellsworth, District 108, 785-296-7643
Concerned Women for America of Kansas
P. O. Box 11233
Shawnee Mission, KS 66207
Phone/Fax: 913-491-1380
Email: director@kansas.cwfa.org
Web site: kansas.cwfa.org
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