WICHITA, Kan. - The year 2009 was an eventful year for the women of Kansas and the rest of the women of the nation.
We saw the advancement of the Kansas ERA in 2009. The hearing in the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee was successful and SCR 1608 currently waits in that committee with the potential for placement on the Senate calendar for debate in 2010.
The 2010 legislative session may see the advancement of the DV Tagging Bill (HB 2335), a comprehensive sex education bill and potential legislation to address the short falls of the sexual assault examination procedure in Kansas communities. As always, there is sure to be an abundance of attempts at legislative restrictions on women's reproductive access and health care choices.
Our Year of Action
In 2009 Kansas National Organization for Women (Kansas NOW) increased its actions and activism throughout the state.
The organization hosted a speak out event with Gloria Allred in Wichita and a follow up speak out on choice in Johnson County.
We experienced the shock of having our doctor and champion, Dr. George Tiller assassinated in his Wichita church. I received the telephone call and then turned on the news only to stare in disbelief as our local news station stood watch outside his church, just around the corner from my home. It was a moment that I will never forget. It was a moment that increased my personal commitment to fight for women's rights, choice and dignity - just as Dr. Tiller had throughout his lifetime.
Kansas NOW held a counter demonstration in front of Dr. Tiller's clinic when Operation Rescue and Rev. Patrick Mahoney threatened to hold a "prayer vigil" just two weeks after Dr. Tiller's assassination. Kansas NOW members and their supporters outnumbered the counter protesters, standing out in the rain, successfully keeping the press-seeking hypocrites from dancing on Dr. Tiller's grave.
We rallied at the capitol in Topeka to defend Planned Parenthood's funding and acted as a martyr guard at Dr. Tiller's funeral.
Kansas NOW held a women's rights conference with our guest, national NOW President Terry O'Neil. We also organized clinic escorting and defense at the clinic of Dr. LeRoy Carhart in Nebraska, ultimately outnumbering Operation Rescue 3-1. 
It was a year of action. Kansas NOW was busy spreading the word that the women of Kansas would not take the murder of Dr. Tiller lightly and those that oppose us would not be allowed to claim a "win" from such a heinous act.
Kansas NOW will monitor the trial of Scott Roeder and will be sure to speak out for the women of Kansas as developments arise. The trail is set to start on January 11, just one week prior to our Roe V Wade Day at the Capitol. Please consider joining members of Kansas NOW and others from the reproductive rights community as we rally and lobby at the capitol in Topeka on January 21st. I can think of no better way to honor Dr. Tiller's memory.
Are you interested in attending NOW chapter meetings?
Lawrence NOW:
Meets monthly every 3rd Monday at 6:00 pm at the Mirth Café, 8th & New Hampshire. Contact LawrenceNOW@KSNOW.ORG for more information.
Wichita NOW:
Meets monthly every 3rd Thursday at 7:00 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church 7202 E 21st St., Wichita. Contact WichitaNOW@ksnow.org for more information.
KC Metro NOW:
Join the newest chapter of Kansas NOW and get involved in it's beginning stages! Their first meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 16 at 10:00 at the Black Dog Coffeehouse, 12815 W 87th St Pkwy, Lenexa. Contact KCMetroNOW@ksnow.org for more information.
Please consider donating time or money to help us!
If you wish to become an 'at large' member, donate extra funds to our campaigns or support our efforts through in-kind donations or volunteerism, call 620-245-4904, or email me at Coordinator@ksnow.org.
Donations can also be mailed to Kansas NOW, PO Box 1860, Wichita, KS, 67201.
To follow our work, please visit our Kansas NOW website and read my postings at the Kansas Free Press. We welcome everyone to get involved with our efforts.
As state coordinator and lobbyist for Kansas NOW, I am grateful for every member of Kansas NOW and the support of many citizens in the state of Kansas.
The work that we do is of vital importance toward advancing women's rights in the state.
