Kansas Equality Coalition

Chapters Central Plains Lawrence North Central Northeast Riley/Geary Southeast Southwest Topeka Wichita

Welcome, Visitors!

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.

About Our Members

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.

Our work is not done.

We need you to get involved! Our goals for the upcoming year include:

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!

News & Events

Southwest: NORTHWEST Chapter Organizing Meeting in HAYS

Come be a part of growing the movement! Meet members of Kansas Equality Coalition from other parts of the state! Meet Hays area residents interested in forming a NORTHWEST chapter.

For more information, contact Tom Witt, KEC Chair, 316-683-1706 or Anne Mitchell, KEC Vice Chair, 620-635-5213.
When: March 20th, 2010, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Where: Semolino (110 West 11th Street, Hays, KS)

[ Posted: Friday Feb 19 2010, 12:04 pm | More Details...]

Northwest Kansas Chapter Organizing Meeting - ALL WELCOME!

Kansas Equality Coalition, the statewide organization working for LGBT rights in our state legislature, our school boards, city councils and county commissions, is organizing our 10th chapter.

Formed in late 2005, we currently have nine chapters across the state. This includes our Southwest chapter, which presently covers 23 Kansas counties.

Our goal is to organize and represent LGBT Kansans living in the northwest part of our state, from Great Bend to Goodland, from Hays to the Nebraska state line.
When: March 20th, 2010, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Where: Semolino Coffee Shop (110 W. 11th Street, Hays, KS 67601)

[ Posted: Friday Mar 12 2010, 5:00 pm | More Details...]

Topeka: KEC Topeka Rules of Goverance

Please review the attached PDF File to See Topeka Chapter's Rules of Governance.
[ Posted: Monday Mar 15 2010, 11:59 pm | More Details...]

An amazing young man in Arkansas!

Many have heard of this amazing 11 year old already, but here are some new clips of this young man willing to take a stand for what is right!
(cut and paste if this link doesn't take you directly)
http://perezhilton.com/2010-03-15-this-kid-is-amazing
[ Posted: Monday Mar 15 2010, 8:48 pm | More Details...]

Wichita: Wichita KEC Chapter Meeting

Come join us at our monthly chapter meeting. New (and old!) faces welcome.
When: March 23rd, 2010, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Where: First MCC (156 S. Kansas, Wichita, KS)

[ Posted: Sunday Feb 14 2010, 1:42 pm | More Details...]

North Central: UPDATE/CHANGE - North Central KEC Monthly Meeting CHANGED to Thursday 3/25

We have CHANGED the date of our March meeting to Thursday, 3/25/10 from this Thursday 3/18. Several members will not be available to attend this week due to Spring Break and other scheduling conflicts. The time and location have NOT changed.

As previously posted: It's time for our monthly meeting again this week, Thursday. It would be great to have as many attending as possible. We'll be discussing lots of critical information for the coming year. See you there!
When: March 25th, 2010, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Where: Unitarian Universalist Church (901 Beatrice, Salina, KS 67401)

[ Posted: Monday Mar 15 2010, 8:39 pm | More Details...]

Northeast: Northeast Kansas (formerly Johnson County) Chapter Reorganization Meeting

To all Northeast Kansas Chapter (formerly Johnson County Chapter) members, friends, allies and supporters:

As you know, KEC board member and JOCO/NEKS Chapter Chair Steve Brown passed away late last month. At the time of his death, Steve was working on rebuilding this chapter back to what it had been prior to his suffering heart trouble over a year ago.

Steve's plan was to rename the chapter to encompass a larger area and broaden its appeal. He was working to reach out to long-time members and ask them for renewed activism, and was planning to recruit new members from the LGBT communities in Wyandotte, Leavenworth, and other northeastern Kansas counties. His health problems slowed this process but did not stop it; indeed, he and I exchanged four emails on this subject the morning of his death.

When: March 27th, 2010, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Where: YWCA of Greater Kansas City (1017 W. 6th Street, Kansas City, KS 66101)

[ Posted: Saturday Mar 13 2010, 11:52 am | More Details...]

Chapter Conference Meeting in LAWRENCE

There will be coffee and water provided. The Eldridge has a Sunday brunch buffet until 2 p.m. for $17 or something like that.
When: March 28th, 2010, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Where: The Big Six Room, Eldridge Hotel (701 Massachusetts Street, Lawrence)

[ Posted: Sunday Feb 28 2010, 8:57 pm | More Details...]

KEC Introduces Bill Regulating KS Court Retention Campaign Finance

Dear Kansas Equality Coalition members, supporters, and allies:

Last Wednesday, Kansas Equality Coalition requested introduction of a bill in the Kansas Legislature that will, if passed, bring judges who run for retention into the campaign finance regulations (http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2010/563.pdf). This is a somewhat complicated story, so I'll break it down as clearly as I can.

Some important facts:

[ Posted: Sunday Mar 7 2010, 10:00 am | More Details...]

Eats at Salina meeting Sunday, 2/28

This is VERY late notice, but we will have a Subway platter and various other eats at the meeting/church at 12:30 for all that would like to arrive early for a bite to eat.

See you all tomorrow.
Gary!
[ Posted: Saturday Feb 27 2010, 3:37 pm | More Details...]

Central Plains: Central Plains Chapter Meeting

When: April 13th, 2010, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: Java Cat 5 (610 Merchant St. Emporia, KS 66801)

[ Posted: Tuesday Mar 9 2010, 6:46 pm | More Details...]

A Loss to Our Community

Dear friends,

It is with great sadness and grief that I must share the news that Steve Brown has passed away. Steve died yesterday, February 19, at the age of 60.

Steve will long be remembered for his tireless work to bring equality and fairness to LGBT Kansans. He was the founding president of the Kansas Democratic Party's LGBT Caucus, was a founding member of the Kansas Equality Coalition, and until his death served as the Chairman of KEC’s Northeast Kansas chapter. In addition to his work in Kansas, Steve has worked with a number of Missouri LGBT organizations over the years.

[ Posted: Saturday Feb 20 2010, 12:24 pm | More Details...]

Lawrence: Lawrence Human Relations Commission again votes AGAINST protection from discrimination based on gender identity

Yesterday the Human Relations Commission listened to almost 2 hours of public comment for and against an amending the Lawrence Human Rights Code to add protection from discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression. There were more people in attendance opposed to amending the City Code to than in favor, as you could tell from the applause levels, but more people spoke at the podium in support of an amendment than against it. Nevertheless, the Commission voted down a motion to reconsider their November vote against the amendment.

[ Posted: Friday Feb 19 2010, 3:49 pm | More Details...]

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