Kansas State Reps. Jan Pauls (a Democrat) and Lance Kinzer (a Republican) don’t care if the Supreme Court’s Lawrence v. Texas invalidated all laws of the land criminalizing homosexuality: they don’t want to see the language removed from the state’s law books. Which is why, Kansas Equality Coalition relays, they struck language from a bill before the House that would have finally put to rest meaningless anti-gay statutes.
State Representatives Jan Pauls (D, Hutchinson), and Lance Kinzer (R, Olathe) said yesterday that being gay or lesbian should remain a crime in Kansas. Pauls made, with Kinzer’s support, the successful motion in the Kansas Legislature’s Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee to keep the criminalization of gay and lesbian relationships on the books. Their action removed key language from HB2321, proposed by the Kansas Judicial Council, which would have resolved inconsistencies in Kansas criminal code, as well as remove unconstitutional laws.
“Jan Pauls was trusted to be a judge before becoming a state representative, and should know better than to support unconstitutional laws, breaking her oath to defend the Constitution,” said Jon Powell, Chair of the Hutchinson Area chapter of the Kansas Equality Coalition. “We are fed up with her obvious support of harassment of gays and lesbians. We will not be bullied.”
Almost makes you wish other states’ lawmakers would just up and flee to another jurisdiction.
Mango
With the amount of gays that live in KS (well, in the KCMO area, anyway), it really surprises and makes me sick that this law is still on the books. I guess it’s yet another reason to stay put in DC.
Harbo
Now I know why the Westboro Baptist Church is located in Kansas. Its because of stupid, hide-bound, closed-minded lawmakers like Pauls and Kinzer. They are, quite simply, breaking the law and should be impeached. Come on, you bumbling idiots, join the 21st-century. History is leaving you in the dust.
Cam
In the year 2000 I believe over 30% of Alabama voted to keep an anti-interacial marriage law on the books even though Federal Law made the state law meaningless.
These two are no different. Just a couple of bigots.
Francis
All this is is pretty much a statement from two bigots showing us all how much they hate us. Well, we hate them to so who gives a fuck, Supreme Court already rules, stupid bitches.
Corey Mondello
Only the elimination of all conservative Christians will stop the USA from being a Theocracy
How to fix this ongoing problem that will keep getting more and more cruel.
Only the elimination of all conservative Christians will allow all Americans to be free and the world to no longer have to live in fear of the U.S.A.’s imperialist, terrorist holy war.
The conservative ideology has never helped mankind in any way, it has not only never helped mankind in anyway, it has oppressed, murdered, raped and killed all those in it’s way to gain power.
History shows us this.
Fact shows us this.
James Madison, the “Father of the U.S. Constitution”, along with many founders of this country, regardless of their religious or non-religious affiliations, knew keeping politics and religion separate not only preserves each, but helps them flourish:
“The number, the industry, and the morality of the Priesthood and the devotion of the people have been manifestly increased by the total separation of the Church and the State.”
Tommy Marx
I’ve been living in Kansas for over nine months now. I am desperately searching for another job so I can move back to the coast. People who have not been here have no idea how oppressive it can be, especially if you work in a conservative field like retirement plans.
Atheism is prejudice
“Only the elimination of all conservative Christians”
The final solution, eh?
Funny how bigots all rely on the same solutions.
Soupy
Now Cassandra, you would like to eliminate all atheists, wouldn’t you?
Corey Mondello
@ No.7 Atheism is prejudice:
DO you have a better idea? I’m not the one intentionally hurt anyone, however, conservative Christians have ALWAYS been against minorities since they landed on America’s soil. If the facts about this were not available for all to see, and I stated what I did…then I would be a FOX supporter.
Jeffree
@Corey Mondello: “Elimination” is too loaded a word to use in drive-by posting.
Better solution is to encourage decent people of faith to support us, and together we can outnumber the fundamentalists who seek to “eliminate” us. There are LGBT and straight Christians & Jews (other religions too, I’m sure) who work toward justice & equality for LGBTs. Don’t lump all religionists in the same category.
@Atheism is Prejudice:
Please don’t assume all people “not of faith” think alike. You’re better than that.
Bostonian
Needless to say, I have my own problems with religion, especially religious extremists. But let’s not forget history. Joseph Stalin. First they came for the religious, next they came for us..
Brad
@Atheism is prejudice: I agree. I’m not a conservative Christian or anything. I’m actually on the gays side. That kind of a reaction only lowers you to a bigots level and your right on that. Not all conservatives are bad, I mean notice how a democrat aided in passing this too. There are atheist that would do the same to certain groups, muslims, agnostics, occultist, anyone. Hate knows no boundaries.
D Smith
@Brad: but an atheist owns their own hate… the people that allow themselves to be deceived simply for their fear of death, use their faith in an attempt to justify their hate. if your going to hate. be honest. own it. i am an atheist. and i hate religion. it is a useless remnant of a more barbaric time and should be laid to rest for the good of humanity.
Storm
Don’t just express your displeasure here. Go leave a message on the facebook page of the Kansas Democratic Party. It’s easy to do. Jan Pauls, who launched this legislation, is a democrat. You can express your anger to her personally at [email protected] and also at [email protected]
gregger
@Atheism is prejudice: Please, I’ve had conservative Xtians, Muslims, and Jews spit upon me and wish for my death SOLELY FOR MARCHING IN A GAY PRIDE PARADE.
gregger
@Brad: not all Democrats are liberal. To believe so is to believe that all human beings are basically good at heart, in short, to be naive.
Peter M.
From the Kansas Democratic Party State Platform (under the heading “Promoting Equal Rights, Human Dignity and Diversity”):
Kansas Democrats believe in equal rights for every Kansan regardless of race, color, age, physical abilities, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Wow, I feel so much better now, knowing that…