TOPEKA, Kan. - Senate Bill 169, adding "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to Kansas' current non-discrimination statute, will come before the Kansas Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee on Thursday. SB 169 expands the Kansas Act Against Discrimination, making it unlawful to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
"Many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Kansans have been discriminated against in employment and housing," says Thomas Witt, chair of the Equality Coalition. "No one should be fired or denied the basic human need of shelter because of who they are or who they love."
Independent nonpartisan polling conducted by Jayhawk Consulting Services, in January of 2008, supports that an overwhelming majority of Kansans (79 percent) agree that it is wrong to fire someone for being gay or lesbian. Furthermore, the same research indicated that 68 percent of Kansans favor legislation banning discrimination against gay and lesbian Kansans.
SB 169, carried over from the 2009 legislative session, had previously been recommended by the committee for passage, but was returned to the committee last year. Upon approval by committee, the bill will again proceed to the Kansas Senate floor for possible consideration.
"I am certainly appreciative and want to thank the Senate State and Federal Affairs Committee for bringing SB 169 to a committee vote," said Brad Kemp, the Equality Coalition's legislative and lobbying chair.
"I invite all of the Equality Coalition's membership the LGBT community and our allies to come to the committee vote to witness this momentous event and to show support for equality," said Kemp.
The committee members will meet and debate the bill in room 144-S of the Kansas State House at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.
Current Kansas law only prohibits workplace discrimination based on race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin or ancestry.
In 2007, then-Governor Kathleen Sebelius added, by executive order, similar protections for employees of Kansas state government.
"We need to make sure all our employees are treated with dignity and respect and that the doors of employment are open to all," said Sebelius upon signing the order.
"SB 169 will provide the opportunity for Kansans to have a complaint investigated and addressed if sufficient evidence of discrimination is found," Witt said.
According to its website, the Kansas Equality Coalition's mission is to "end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and to ensure the dignity, safety and legal equality of all Kansans."
The Kansas Equality Coalition is a GREAT organization. Glad to see they're tackling this issue at the state level.