Kansas Equality Coalition: News Archive

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Hutchinson: DOMA & Prop 8 Decision Day

Please note the time change to 5:30.

The US Supreme Court will likely be issuing their decisions on Prop 8 and DOMA sometime in June, and likely late June at that. In any event, the decisions will be announced before the end of the term which is on June 30.

There is no way to know, beyond speculation, what those decisions will be. Will there be cause for massive celebrations? Will it be time for candlelight vigils or forms of protest? Will the results be mixed? There is no way to know until the day the decisions are rendered.

[ Posted: Tuesday May 7 2013, 11:06 am | More Details...]

Hutchinson: May Events

April 29th, 10:00-1pm. GSA Luncheon and fundraiser, Blue Dragon Room. GSA will be offering a pulled pork lunch with sides and desert for $7.50. They will also be selling raffle tickets for a 50/50 raffle.
April 30, 7pm BITCHY BINGO. Located at Clic's, 117 E. 2nd. Tons of great prizes. Grand prize will be a trip to Kansas City including tickets to a Chiefs game. We will also be accepting donations for the Jerry Taylor Memorial Scholarship.
May 6th, 6:30pm. Our May meeting, Walnut Room, HCC Student Union, HCC Campus

[ Posted: Monday Apr 15 2013, 9:49 pm | More Details...]

Final Compromise Reached on HIV/AIDS Quarantine Bill

Greetings KEC members, allies, and supporters -

Earlier this afternoon, officials with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment agreed to a final compromise on Substitute for HB 2183. Following days of wrangling in a House/Senate conference committee, KDHE proposed to create a list of diseases *not* subject to quarantine, and to include HIV/AIDS in that list. This list will become a part of Kansas Administrative Rules and Regulations, which have the force of law and with which all health officials in Kansas are required to comply.

[ Posted: Thursday Apr 4 2013, 3:51 pm | More Details...]

Hutchinson: Hutchinson News Story

At our monthly meeting last night Kayla Regan, reporter with The Hutchinson News attended. She is working on a story about the SCOTUS cases dealing with DOMA and Prop 8, and their impact locally. SHE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Please contact her with your opinion, points of view, or any personal stories that she can use to put together her article. This is a great chance to help inform others in our community. She can be reached at 694-5700, ext 314 or at kregan@hutchnews.com.
[ Posted: Tuesday Apr 2 2013, 9:30 am | More Details...]

Hutchinson: April Events

Thanks to all who attending our April Meeting last night, at which the following events were planned for the month of April (click "see more" to view entire list):

April 8, Monday, 7pm at the Cosmosphere; Sheriff Randy Henderson is having a Bullying program open to the public.

April 15, Monday, 6:30pm; Board/Business Meeting. Walnut Room, Parker Student Union, HCC Campus.

April 20, Saturday; Aids Walk; we will have a team participating in the Aids Walk in Wichita, put on by Positive Directions. This is a fundraiser and those participating are encouraged to obtain pledges, but it is not mandatory. If interested in participating on our team, contact Chad Graber, 663-8002.

[ Posted: Tuesday Apr 2 2013, 9:22 am | More Details...]

UPDATE: Initial HB2183 Compromise Reached

Greetings KEC members -

This week, we were successful in getting HB2183 sent to a House / Senate conference committee, where our concerns over removing the current HIV/AIDS quarantine exemption were once again discussed. That conference committee met twice yesterday, and proposed a compromise that we and KDHE have found acceptable.

House Bill 2183 started as a bill that would make it easier for first responders to find out if they had been exposed to HIV, hepatitis, and other blood-borne diseases. The bill was “gutted,” and replaced with the language KDHE wanted. Most significantly, the current law that exempts persons exposed to or suffering from HIV/AIDS from quarantine is being repealed.

[ Posted: Thursday Mar 28 2013, 10:54 am | More Details...]

Prop 8 Transcripts and Audio Online

Slate has published the transcript and the audio from this morning's Prop 8 arguments before the Supreme Court:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/03/26/scotus_prop_8_audio_and_transcript_listen_to_today_s_gay_marriage_arguments.html
[ Posted: Tuesday Mar 26 2013, 1:16 pm | More Details...]

KEC Joins `Red State` Amicus Brief in Prop 8, DOMA Cases

Greetings KEC members, allies, and supporters –

This week the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments against the Defense of Marriage Act and California’s Proposition 8. On Tuesday, the Court will hear the challenge to California’s Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriages from the date of its passage, but left intact legal same-sex marriages that had been performed prior to its enactment. On Wednesday, the Court will hear the challenge to DOMA, which was signed into law in 1996 by then-president Bill Clinton. DOMA prevents the Federal government from recognizing legal same-sex marriages in states that allow them, and also allows states to ignore same-sex marriages performed outside their borders.

[ Posted: Tuesday Mar 26 2013, 7:14 am | More Details...]

So-Called Religious Freedom Bill Passes, Heads to Governor for Signature

Greetings Kansas Equality Coalition members -

Just moments ago, the State House of Representatives voted to approve the final version of this year's "Religious Freedom" bill, HB2203. The bill, approved last week by the Senate, now goes to Governor Sam Brownback for his signature.

Unlike the version of this bill we fought in 2011 and 2012, HB2260, HB2203 does not have language that will directly undermine local non-discrimination ordinances, school district and university policies, and so on, that include protections based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Because the language targeting local laws was removed from this year's bill, Kansas Equality Coalition took a neutral position.

[ Posted: Monday Mar 25 2013, 10:29 am | More Details...]

Lawrence: Criqui for Lawrence City Commission

Dear Friends,

Over the course of the last six months, I have been planning a campaign for the Lawrence City Commission. With the election less than a month away, I wanted to reach out to you for your support.

As you likely know, I currently serve as the vice chair of the KEC’s Lawrence/Douglas County chapter. In that capacity and as a member of the Kansas Equality Coalition I have worked diligently to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

[ Posted: Monday Mar 18 2013, 6:20 am | More Details...]

Hutchinson: 2013 Anti-Bullying Campaign

FOR THOSE OF YOU who have made inquiries pertaining to the artwork competition for the 2013 anti-bullying campaign.....The flyers will be finished tonight and distributed tomorrow. I look forward to seeing the talent and passion the children bring to this cause. To update those who are unclear, we are taking designs from all those interested from grade school through college and will choose one lucky winner who's design will not only be used on the shirts but who also receive a $100.00 cash prize. Please encourage your children....all children...to participate. Enlighten them as to what this cause is about and above all, tell them to have fun and be original. I personally look forward to seeing each and every entry.
[ Posted: Tuesday Mar 12 2013, 4:19 pm | More Details...]

So-called Religious Freedom Bill Sheds anti-LGBT Language, Advances to Senate

In 2011, on the heels of the City of Manhattan amending their human rights ordinance to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, right-wing extremists introduced a bill they dubbed the “Religious Freedom Restoration Act.” Hidden in that bill was a provision that would have made local non-discrimination ordinances, such as the new one in Manhattan or the existing one in Lawrence unenforceable. The 2011 bill, HB2260, declared that on issues of discrimination, the only protected classes that would be allowed were those found in the current Kansas Act Against Discrimination, the statewide law banning discrimination based on race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin or ancestry or in housing by reason of familial status. Any local ordinances, including university and school district policies, that included protected classes that went beyond state statute by including sexual orientation and gender identity, were declared not to be a “compelling government interest,” and could be challenged as “likely” to infringe on “religious liberty.”

[ Posted: Monday Mar 4 2013, 10:50 am | More Details...]

Hutchinson: March Events

03/04 Monday. Our monthly meeting will be held at our new meeting venue, the Walnut Room on Parker Student Union on the HCC Campus. Enter throught the main door of the Student Union, and the Walnut Room is the direction of the cafeteria. Meeting begins at 6:30pm.
03/16 Saturday. Family-friendly Holiday Social Event. Beginning at 3:00pm, we will meet at Payge Carter's home at 301 N. Collingwood in Pretty Prairie for an Easter egg hunt, for the children to make shamrocks, then closer to 5pm, we will have the firepit going and roast hot dogs and marshmallows. The Chapter will provide drinks, hot dogs, and marshamallows; those attending, please bring a side dish.

[ Posted: Thursday Feb 21 2013, 9:50 am | More Details...]