A column written in The Hutchinson News by Dan Demming last week about the proposed protections for gay persons made excellent sense. His column was about MODERATION and COMPROMISE, something every elected official in this country needs a lesson in. The column was written about the upcoming City Council meeting on May 15th where the Human Relations Commission will make a recommendation to add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes to the city's non-discrimination ordinances.
The Kansas Equality Coalition made the request to the City Council on November 1st, 2011 and was eventually referred to the Hutchinson Human Relations Commission for study.
The uproar from the radical right started immediately after the request was made but was inflamed when the City came out with a "Frequently asked Questions" memo prior to the Public Forums the HRC was planning. This 3 or 4 page memo was based on what is in the current State Statues and Municipal Ordinances that are already protective of minorities groups.
In my opinion this FAQ document was what ignited the massive uproar and outpouring of misinformation by those against the proposed protections. They were fearful, they werent being given any answers, they could only comment at the forums. It was then that the opponents mobilized just like they have done in every other city across Kansas where these protections have been proposed. Like a well oiled machine, they started cranking out misinformation as fast as it could be manufactured. FOX news even picked up on the proposed ordinance saying that if it passes Churches will be required to perform gay weddings, NOTHING could be further from the truth because Kansas banned gay marriage in a 2005 referendum, a law that was written by Hutchinson Representative Jan Pauls. This proves people will go to any length to SCARE people to try and get their points made- gay people are bad and they are pedophiles BUT I still love you..I got so tired of hearing that... I hope Hutchonians are smart enough to see through the ridiculous of both the FAQ handout as well as the mis-information about forcing churches to perform same sex weddings.
BY ADDING SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY, ALL THAT DOES, IS ALLOW A PERSON WHO FEELS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST THE ABILITY TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION....Keep in mind the person filing the complaint has the responsibility to prove that the discrimination occurred, it's the same for all other protected classes.
The protections we are talking about include being discriminated from being hired or fired from employment, renting or leasing a living space as well as being discriminated in a public place. The radical religious groups think they should not have to follow these protections because being gay is something that is against their religion- isn't eating shellfish an abomination as well?? - that's a different blog...How or why does my being gay effect how I do my job or live in my home? Lastly, gay dollars spend just as easy as straight dollars- something I am sure most businesses dont care about.
So back to what I am writing about... Moderation and Compromise... I totally believe there is room for Moderation and Compromise with this ordinance. The crazy thing is, the ordinance has not even been written and the radical religious groups are obviously not interested in any MODERATION, they are calling this a WIN-WIN situation. If the City Council passes an ordinance- they will just get a petition and vote it down in a referendum. It is their way or no way. That sure is a WONDERFUL CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE now isnt it...
After talking to Dan and others in the community, I am not the Militant Homosexual I have been portrayed to be by certain persons, I am not a pedophile am I am not inflexible as many think.
I am just a 46 year old resident of a wonderful community that I care about, one I have served for many years as a Paramedic and Law Enforcement officer. A community that has a sizable GLBT community, a community with kids and adults who struggle with their identities and a community who I believe doesn't want their friends, family members and co-workers to be discriminated against simply because of who they are and who they love.
My hopes are that the City Council will accept the recommendation of the HRC and then we can sit down and COMPROMISE on an ordinance that works for everyone. This isnt about shoving something down anyones throat, it never has been, its about Equality.
Lastly, I only know of two "Transgender" persons who live in Hutchinson. These two person have not even started to transition, and most likely will not live here in Hutchinson when and if they decide to. After all the rhetoric over locker rooms and public restrooms, this issue is just like the FOX News coverage-- entirely overblown to scare the hell out of Hutchinson residents. So to my friends on the right.. lets be real and lets be honest. this is truly a NON ISSUE and you know it.. NO other city in the US has ever reported a violent act perpatrated on a child or adult by a transgender person in a public restroom.. so please STOP this ridiculous rhetoric, 2 persons out of 40,000-- thats a real threat isn't it??
Im ready to work together for a better and Equal Hutchinson, are you?
Monday, May 7, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Lets Spring into Equality
Good day everyone, it has been a month since we last chatted, so I figured today would be a great day to update you on some Equality issues here in the State of Kansas and my hometown of Hutchinson Kansas.
I want to thank everyone who has been reading my blog. I am shocked that so many people from all over the world are interested in what I have to say, that is incredibly humbling.
Today is a beautiful day, Spring has really sprung here in central Kansas. The trees have all leafed out and the birds are practicing their songs like an orchestra preparing for a performance, it is wonderful!
On the LGBT Equality front there are many things happening. Locally we have GREAT news! The Hutchinson Human Relations Commission, in a 9-0 vote, will be submitting a recommendation to the Hutchinson City Council to add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" be added as protected classes.
This recommendation didn't come easy.
The opponents are still using the tired scare tactics that women and children will be brutalized in restrooms and that businesses will be sued if they dont have special locker rooms for transgender persons. Anyone who follows this movement knows that this how the opponents stir people up- and the crazy thing is they ask for MONEY while doing it-do you think those contributions are going to the poor and homeless or to soup kitchens? No it is going to promote hate and bigotry.
These innocent sounding groups like the Family Policy Research Council and the American Family Association go the the local churches and the anti gay political parties i.e. the Tea Party, who are already against LGBT Equality. These group tell the churches and politcal groups that the Gays are coming, the Gays are coming...and they want "special rights"or what they call "special rights" and bingo, you have immediate controversy within some of the so called Christian community and far right radical Republicans, who call themselves "Patriots".
After the opponents lost their arguement they immediately began trying to intimidate the City Council by presenting them with close to 600 signature of people who were against adding these protections. The fact is in Hutchinson only 357 signatures are needed to have a special election of the people- so the opponents are sending a message to the City that if they pass the proposed ordinace, they will be petitioning for a special election, so the public can vote on these proposed civil rights.... As one of the Human Relations Commissioners said, if we would have voted on the Civil Rights act of 1964, we would still have slaves.. which is terribly sad, but most likely true.
What people are arguing over for the most part is Transgender persons. Kansas Equality Coalition, the group I am involved with locally only has one person who identifies as transgender. This member hasnt even started his transition yet.. Our opponents are making lots of noise and trying to scare the heck out of a community. I only know of two maybe three persons who identify as transgender living in Hutchinson and NOT ONE has even started transitioning. Our opponents make it sound like there are hundreds in Hutchinson wating to start using restroom and locker rooms all over the city and will be filing complaints and lawsuits on a daily basis if they are not allowed to go in to the restroom or locker room of their choice- which couldnt be further from the truth. I will keep you posted on where this ends up.
At the State level, our insanely conservative Kansas House of Representative passed the Bill that will allow Fred Phelps or those like him to sue City's, local school disctricts and universities if the polices they have in place now or any policies or ordinaces they look at enacting in the future would pose a burden or potential burden to their religious beliefs. The exception to this law is that any exisiting protected class (recognized by the State) cannot be considered to be a burden, only those groups who are not protected can be sued. Guess which groups they are talking about without even talking about it...YES... you got it.. Those damn LGBT taxpayers and voters...
This law, sadly, is just one vote away from being passed here in Kansas, with the Governor promising to sign it. Our only hope is that smarter and less bigoted heads will prevail in the moderate Kansas Senate. If this law is passed the Radical Religious groups will have pierced that vail that seperates church from State, which is why I dont think it would pass a Constitutional test, but that will take years to get through the courts, with LGBT Equality being set back 50 years.
Religious groups are already a protected class in EVERY State of this country. They are free to discriminate against anyone and everyone they chose to, that is how current laws are written. Why do they need these additonal protections, oh thats right, they claim they are under attack from groups who are ruining marriage and brainwashing their children into becoming Gay..
I have three questions to ask,
When is the last time LGBT persons came to your door wanting to share their lives with you and invite you to a LGBT meeting?
Since Religious groups are under such vigorous attacks, why havent we seen ANY claims filed with local, state and federal Human Relations Commissions or EEOC groups?
So who needs protections?
I want to thank everyone who has been reading my blog. I am shocked that so many people from all over the world are interested in what I have to say, that is incredibly humbling.
Today is a beautiful day, Spring has really sprung here in central Kansas. The trees have all leafed out and the birds are practicing their songs like an orchestra preparing for a performance, it is wonderful!
On the LGBT Equality front there are many things happening. Locally we have GREAT news! The Hutchinson Human Relations Commission, in a 9-0 vote, will be submitting a recommendation to the Hutchinson City Council to add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" be added as protected classes.
This recommendation didn't come easy.
The opponents are still using the tired scare tactics that women and children will be brutalized in restrooms and that businesses will be sued if they dont have special locker rooms for transgender persons. Anyone who follows this movement knows that this how the opponents stir people up- and the crazy thing is they ask for MONEY while doing it-do you think those contributions are going to the poor and homeless or to soup kitchens? No it is going to promote hate and bigotry.
These innocent sounding groups like the Family Policy Research Council and the American Family Association go the the local churches and the anti gay political parties i.e. the Tea Party, who are already against LGBT Equality. These group tell the churches and politcal groups that the Gays are coming, the Gays are coming...and they want "special rights"or what they call "special rights" and bingo, you have immediate controversy within some of the so called Christian community and far right radical Republicans, who call themselves "Patriots".
After the opponents lost their arguement they immediately began trying to intimidate the City Council by presenting them with close to 600 signature of people who were against adding these protections. The fact is in Hutchinson only 357 signatures are needed to have a special election of the people- so the opponents are sending a message to the City that if they pass the proposed ordinace, they will be petitioning for a special election, so the public can vote on these proposed civil rights.... As one of the Human Relations Commissioners said, if we would have voted on the Civil Rights act of 1964, we would still have slaves.. which is terribly sad, but most likely true.
What people are arguing over for the most part is Transgender persons. Kansas Equality Coalition, the group I am involved with locally only has one person who identifies as transgender. This member hasnt even started his transition yet.. Our opponents are making lots of noise and trying to scare the heck out of a community. I only know of two maybe three persons who identify as transgender living in Hutchinson and NOT ONE has even started transitioning. Our opponents make it sound like there are hundreds in Hutchinson wating to start using restroom and locker rooms all over the city and will be filing complaints and lawsuits on a daily basis if they are not allowed to go in to the restroom or locker room of their choice- which couldnt be further from the truth. I will keep you posted on where this ends up.
At the State level, our insanely conservative Kansas House of Representative passed the Bill that will allow Fred Phelps or those like him to sue City's, local school disctricts and universities if the polices they have in place now or any policies or ordinaces they look at enacting in the future would pose a burden or potential burden to their religious beliefs. The exception to this law is that any exisiting protected class (recognized by the State) cannot be considered to be a burden, only those groups who are not protected can be sued. Guess which groups they are talking about without even talking about it...YES... you got it.. Those damn LGBT taxpayers and voters...
This law, sadly, is just one vote away from being passed here in Kansas, with the Governor promising to sign it. Our only hope is that smarter and less bigoted heads will prevail in the moderate Kansas Senate. If this law is passed the Radical Religious groups will have pierced that vail that seperates church from State, which is why I dont think it would pass a Constitutional test, but that will take years to get through the courts, with LGBT Equality being set back 50 years.
Religious groups are already a protected class in EVERY State of this country. They are free to discriminate against anyone and everyone they chose to, that is how current laws are written. Why do they need these additonal protections, oh thats right, they claim they are under attack from groups who are ruining marriage and brainwashing their children into becoming Gay..
I have three questions to ask,
When is the last time LGBT persons came to your door wanting to share their lives with you and invite you to a LGBT meeting?
Since Religious groups are under such vigorous attacks, why havent we seen ANY claims filed with local, state and federal Human Relations Commissions or EEOC groups?
So who needs protections?
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Kansas Legislature launches attack on Gay Kansans
It is with great sadness and frustration that I must write another blog that speaks to yet another attack on gay Kansans by the Kansas Legislature. What are Kansas Gays and Lesbians doing to deserve this?
Last year about this time, I wrote about a proposed law that was in the Kansas Legislatures, specifically the House Judiciary Committee:
http://blog462.blogspot.com/2011/02/kansas-preservation-of-religious.html?showComment=1298212771693#c4964292147089069708
Thankfully last years Bill was stopped do to significant public outrage, it never got a vote in committee. Fast forward 1 year to Feb 2012 and the same Bill as last year was proposed in the House Judiciary committee again.
The Bill, HB2260 PASSED out of the committee and will now be voted on by the full House on or about March 13th.
This Bill will allow the infamous anti gay Fred Phelps of Topeka and other anti-gay representatives from the Kansas Family Policy Council, which is part of the Family Research Council and Focus on the Family, to "sue" Gay Kansans, cities, schools and universities if they become a "burden" to their religion-which we already know we are.
The "key" to this proposed law is that they can only sue people or groups who "are not" from a protected class. Kansas currently protects persons based on Religion, Gender, Origin, Race, Familial Status and Disability....So guess who the Kansas Legislature is targeting? They are singling out and targeting Gay and Lesbian Kansans, as they are not a protected class.
To answer the question why is the Kansas Legislature targeting Gay persons- here is the answer- The Kansas Equality Coalition, a true grass roots GLBT Equality group, has been working with the Kansas Legislature for close to 6 years to try and pass Employment and Housing non-discrimination laws that would protect GLBT Kansans from discrimination as of today Employers and Landlords can fire or evict gay persons for NO reason and it is legal. Our proposed laws would struggle to even get hearings in committees and in most years the proposed law never made it out of the committees. Kansas Equality Coalition decided to take their fight for EQUALITY to a local level. In 2012 they have made 4 requests to local cities to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the cities list of protected classes- something that has hit a nerve with the "religious fringe" who obviously has the ear of the Kansas Legislature this year.
Additionally, as currently written, HB2260 would WIPE OUT any local ordinances - TAKE AWAY any existing protections gay persons have anywhere in Kansas, including schools and universities, setting back Equality in Kansas at least 50 years.
If this law passes, which it is looking more and more likely, PROTECTIONS for Gay and Lesbian Kansans will be non-existent and would not be allowed to be worked on locally, without the threat of cities and Equality groups being sued by religious groups who are against Equality. This would allow for the continued discrimination of Gay and Lesbian Kansans which currently exists and is obviously being condoned by the State.
The mere existence of this law should be enough proof for anyone that discrimination is occurring in Kansas, as the law itself is discriminatory and only affect the GLBT communities of Kansas.
Every legislator who VOTES FOR this Bill in the Kansas House, when it comes up next week, should be targeted and ousted for promoting discrimination. This is 2012 not 1960.
If you want to follow this Bill click on the legislative link below as it is always updated: http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2011_12/measures/hb2260/
For my fiscal conservative friends, this proposed law has what they call a fiscal note attached to it, the fiscal note estimated the cost to the taxpayers at $100,000 plus per year - depending how many cases are filed..lets be real - do you think the anti-gay religious crowd wont use this law if passed..each case at $100,000 per year.. As an example KEC is working with 5 cities trying to work on non-discrimination ordinances that $500,000 the right there not including all the GLBT non-discrimination policies from school districts and universities we could be well into the Millions...
Does Kansas need this DISCRIMINATORY LAW aimed at taking away rights from Gay and Lesbian Kansans and costing the state Millions of dollars?....Who do you know that would be affected by this ridiculous law?
If religious groups need to villainies people, why not find another group, why have they settled on Gay persons? Contrary to what these so called preachers preach on Sundays, gay persons don't choose their sexual orientation. Just like the preachers didn't choose to be heterosexual, I didn't choose to be gay...If these religious groups need to go after someone to justify their existence why not go after those who "choose" to eat shell fish and touch the skin of a pig when playing football, as those to are both abominations according to the Bible. You know why they wont do that???? Because Red Lobster, Joes Crab Shack and the NFL have money and tons of attorneys to defend ridiculous claims... Kansas Gays dont- they are typically poor or apolitical...the intelligent ones have already fled the persecution...
As a friend of mine said last year, Bigotry wrapped in prayer is still Bigotry...how true...
If you want to help support the Kansas Equality Coalition and their fight against the Kansas Legislature, you can donate or join by clicking the link below. All monies help pay for our State Lobbyist and help local chapters to fight for GLBT Equality.
www.kansasequalitycoalition.org/join
Thank for listening....
I welcome your comments...
Last year about this time, I wrote about a proposed law that was in the Kansas Legislatures, specifically the House Judiciary Committee:
http://blog462.blogspot.com/2011/02/kansas-preservation-of-religious.html?showComment=1298212771693#c4964292147089069708
Thankfully last years Bill was stopped do to significant public outrage, it never got a vote in committee. Fast forward 1 year to Feb 2012 and the same Bill as last year was proposed in the House Judiciary committee again.
The Bill, HB2260 PASSED out of the committee and will now be voted on by the full House on or about March 13th.
This Bill will allow the infamous anti gay Fred Phelps of Topeka and other anti-gay representatives from the Kansas Family Policy Council, which is part of the Family Research Council and Focus on the Family, to "sue" Gay Kansans, cities, schools and universities if they become a "burden" to their religion-which we already know we are.
The "key" to this proposed law is that they can only sue people or groups who "are not" from a protected class. Kansas currently protects persons based on Religion, Gender, Origin, Race, Familial Status and Disability....So guess who the Kansas Legislature is targeting? They are singling out and targeting Gay and Lesbian Kansans, as they are not a protected class.
To answer the question why is the Kansas Legislature targeting Gay persons- here is the answer- The Kansas Equality Coalition, a true grass roots GLBT Equality group, has been working with the Kansas Legislature for close to 6 years to try and pass Employment and Housing non-discrimination laws that would protect GLBT Kansans from discrimination as of today Employers and Landlords can fire or evict gay persons for NO reason and it is legal. Our proposed laws would struggle to even get hearings in committees and in most years the proposed law never made it out of the committees. Kansas Equality Coalition decided to take their fight for EQUALITY to a local level. In 2012 they have made 4 requests to local cities to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the cities list of protected classes- something that has hit a nerve with the "religious fringe" who obviously has the ear of the Kansas Legislature this year.
Additionally, as currently written, HB2260 would WIPE OUT any local ordinances - TAKE AWAY any existing protections gay persons have anywhere in Kansas, including schools and universities, setting back Equality in Kansas at least 50 years.
If this law passes, which it is looking more and more likely, PROTECTIONS for Gay and Lesbian Kansans will be non-existent and would not be allowed to be worked on locally, without the threat of cities and Equality groups being sued by religious groups who are against Equality. This would allow for the continued discrimination of Gay and Lesbian Kansans which currently exists and is obviously being condoned by the State.
The mere existence of this law should be enough proof for anyone that discrimination is occurring in Kansas, as the law itself is discriminatory and only affect the GLBT communities of Kansas.
Every legislator who VOTES FOR this Bill in the Kansas House, when it comes up next week, should be targeted and ousted for promoting discrimination. This is 2012 not 1960.
If you want to follow this Bill click on the legislative link below as it is always updated: http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2011_12/measures/hb2260/
For my fiscal conservative friends, this proposed law has what they call a fiscal note attached to it, the fiscal note estimated the cost to the taxpayers at $100,000 plus per year - depending how many cases are filed..lets be real - do you think the anti-gay religious crowd wont use this law if passed..each case at $100,000 per year.. As an example KEC is working with 5 cities trying to work on non-discrimination ordinances that $500,000 the right there not including all the GLBT non-discrimination policies from school districts and universities we could be well into the Millions...
Does Kansas need this DISCRIMINATORY LAW aimed at taking away rights from Gay and Lesbian Kansans and costing the state Millions of dollars?....Who do you know that would be affected by this ridiculous law?
If religious groups need to villainies people, why not find another group, why have they settled on Gay persons? Contrary to what these so called preachers preach on Sundays, gay persons don't choose their sexual orientation. Just like the preachers didn't choose to be heterosexual, I didn't choose to be gay...If these religious groups need to go after someone to justify their existence why not go after those who "choose" to eat shell fish and touch the skin of a pig when playing football, as those to are both abominations according to the Bible. You know why they wont do that???? Because Red Lobster, Joes Crab Shack and the NFL have money and tons of attorneys to defend ridiculous claims... Kansas Gays dont- they are typically poor or apolitical...the intelligent ones have already fled the persecution...
As a friend of mine said last year, Bigotry wrapped in prayer is still Bigotry...how true...
If you want to help support the Kansas Equality Coalition and their fight against the Kansas Legislature, you can donate or join by clicking the link below. All monies help pay for our State Lobbyist and help local chapters to fight for GLBT Equality.
www.kansasequalitycoalition.org/join
Thank for listening....
I welcome your comments...
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