Order extends anti-discrimination policies to gays - Kansas

[MuseRider]

Yesterday was one very important day for GLBT (and all) Kansans. My organization, Kansas Equality Coalition, was the major push for this with the involvement of the HRC and the LGBT caucus. 20 of us were invited to the ceremonial signing in the Governors office. It was very exciting and she gave us more than we hoped for by endorsing our push to extend these protections for all Kansans.

Between this and moving I have not been around much but did not see this yet so I thought I would stick it in before I go back out to another meeting and then more moving :). Little by little, step by step.

*snip*
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Friday signed an executive order that will add sexual orientation and gender identity to the classes protected under anti-discrimination policies for state employees.

"We were out of date and out of step," Sebelius said at a Statehouse news conference.

*snip*

A bill in the Kansas Senate that lawmakers could consider when they return in January would extend protections to those classes for employment, public accommodations and housing.

The Kansas Equality Coalition said Friday it plans to push for the measure's passage, and Sebelius said she would support the proposal.

After the signing, she shook hands with members of a group who had helped craft the order's language. As she greeted a lesbian state employee who was there with her partner, Sebelius said, "Sorry it took us so long."

*snip* (the best part for our future)

Andy Wollen, chairman of the Kansas Traditional Republican Majority, laid out his position on Friday's action a little more bluntly.

"It's about time," he said in a statement.

http://www.cjonline.com/stories/090107/sta_196188540.shtml

[Ian David]

1. Awesome! Keep it up, guys! Also, I'd like to suggest a theme song for you...

Dumb Dumb Dorothy
By Brenda Sutton
© 2000

I've clicked my heels so many times. I was a fool to grieve
For Flatland and the monochromes I now desire to leave
I want my eyes to match my gown, to float the bubble tram
And be where I know simply who I am

Summon all the Gods of Air and let the wild wind howl
I'll pitch my porch to the gray-green sky and ply the witch's trowel
Put Kansas to my backside, and bid a swift farewell
To the dust and the hogs and the prairie corn sage smell

Chorus:
I want to go where nothing's as it seems
I want to sing and fight and laugh and dream
I want my answers to be "Just because
That's the way in the merry old land of OZ."


<snip>

Kansas is all right, yet it is not my only home
I may visit now and then, but will always roam
How ya gonna keep me down on the farm, after all I've seen?
Please let OZ be real and Kansas be the dream





More:
http://www.threeweirdsisters.com/lyrics_dumbdorothy.htm

[ruggerson]

2. Way to go, MR!

Congratulations, that's awesome.

[dsc]

3. wow just wow

I am so amazingly proud of you and your friends in KS. Great job.

[MuseRider]

4. Thanks everyone!

I stopped in to add this little bit. Did you see that we were able to get gender identity? We were very happy that we were able to add that language, probably one of the things I am most happy about.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

8. The toughest thing to get.

And 4 years ago, so many thought Kansas was lost for all time. Amazing.

[EST]

11. I stand in rapt amazement, doffing my chapeau--

DAMN! You guys are POWERFUL!



Edit to add: Big ol' Kand R

[Trillo]

5. No recs yet?

There's one for you all.

[TomInTib]

6. Kicking and recommending.

If Kansas can get behind this, then surely every other State in the Union can (no offense intended to any Kansans).

This is just wonderful (and I am utterly and hopelessly hetero).

[Solly Mack]

7. Excellent!

You're great!!!!

[Cooley Hurd]

9. Big ol' K&R!

:thumbsup:

[DURHAM D]

10. Congrats.

You all should take a day off and celebrate.

I am a big Gov. Sebelius fan - I think she has a bright national future when she is done fixing Kansas.

[Adelante]

12. A million billion

Congratulations :hug:

[uppityperson]

13. Great! Good job and about time they did this. Good job!

[LWolf]

14. Fantastic, Muse!

Where are you moving? Out to someplace/ranch you've been building for a long time, if memory serves?

[burrowowl]

15. K&R!

[LonePirate]

16. My governor continues the good fight

I sure hope she runs against Bigot Brownback in '08. She would give him a good fight.

As for pushing this measure through the Rethuglican dominated legislature, it's going to be a long haul and I don't believe it will pass anytime soon. Even with the support of every Democratic legislator and even gay friendly Republicans from around Kansas City, there still aren't enough votes to pass this measure unfortunately. We'll need a federal measure passed and then we'll still need to wait 10 or so years before the state passes one. Kansas may not be the most conservative state in the nation; but fire and brimstone Rethuglicans dominate the legislature and that's not going to change for many years to come.

[MuseRider]

17. You are all too much!

I was such a tiny part of this. Thanks, it was pretty cool being there. Tears and cheers and hugs. The press, photos and lots of handshaking. Personal kudos from the governor and personal kudos to the governor and I have a ceremonial pen to remember this day. I was there and was honored to be invited but I was only a teeny part of this.

To each of you that sent me a PM, I am proud to be your friend. Sending hugs and a promise to get back after I clear enough boxes out to walk in the house and set up my office :).