The Kansas Equality Coalition is a unified statewide group of fair-minded people who are determined to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. We seek to ensure the dignity, safety and legal equality of all Kansans.

The Equality Coalition currently has chapters in Johnson County, Lawrence/Douglas County, Riley/Geary Counties, North Central Kansas, Southeast Kansas, Southwest Kansas, Topeka, Central Plains, and Wichita/Sedgwick County.

Our current membership stands at nearly 1000 Kansans from all walks of life.

It's because of our members that we have been so incredibly successful in the past year. Some of our groundbreaking accomplishments include:

• Worked with Governor Sebelius to secure an Executive Order banning discrimination, in state employment, on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Worked with the Lawrence City Commission to pass the historic, first-in-Kansas domestic partner registry. Gay and lesbian couples throughout Lawrence have taken advantage of our work, publicly declaring their relationships and making themselves eligible for insurance and other benefits from employers who offer them.
• Worked with Attorney General Paul Morrison to secure an advisory opinion establishing the legality and constitutionality of the Lawrence registry, and fought the far-right to a standstill in their attempt in the Kansas Legislature to repeal the registry.
• Successfully worked to pass a school anti-bullying bill, protecting children from the kind of anti-gay bullying so many of us grew up with.
• Introduced and held hearings on a bill in the Kansas Senate that would add protections for sexual orientation to our state's current non-discrimination laws.
• Held Kansas' first ever "Equality Day" at the Kansas State Capitol in which every Equality Coalition chapter, and many of our allies, participated. With twelve information tables in the Capitol Rotunda, we were able to deliver a positive message of fairness and equality to the State Legislature.
• Through our Political Action Committee, KEC was instrumental in electing two new State Representatives who value fairness and equality to the State Legislature. Additionally, our volunteers were critical to the successful defense of two important allies in the Legislature, helping them hold their seats against far-right opponents who would further roll back our rights.
• Grew the Equality Coalition from the original three organizations that formed KEC to eight chapters across the state.

• Defend the Governor's Executive Order. The far right wants to undo the Order, once again making it legal to discriminate against gay, lesbian, bi and trans state employees
• Defend the Lawrence Domestic Partner Registry. The same forces of intolerance that want to undo the Governor's Order also want to repeal the Lawrence Domestic Partner Registry. They must be stopped!
• Bring non-discrimination to all Kansans. The Equality Coalition has a bill pending that would add "sexual orientation" to the Kansas anti-discrimination laws. We intend to introduce a new bill that would include "gender identity" and work for its passage in the upcoming session. Additionally, Equality Coalition chapters across Kansas are currently working to add sexual orientation and gender identity to local anti-discrimination ordinances. This is a difficult task, made harder by the fact that many localities have no anti-discrimination laws at all!
• Influence the 2008 elections. Our Political Action Committee has been actively recruiting candidates who believe in fairness and equality to run for several Kansas Senate and House of Representative offices. The 2008 election cycle could very well see the election of at least one openly-gay Kansan to the State Legislature!
• Continue to grow the Equality Coalition. We are currently working with community leaders to create at least two new Equality Coalition Chapters by next spring. Every corner of our great state will be active in our struggle for fairness and equality!