LGBT

Kansas’ New Democratic Governor Will Restore LGBT Rights

Written by SK Ashby

It's amazing what can happen when you don't elect politicians who are actively hostile to their own constituents.

Kansas Governor-elect Laura Kelly has announced that she will restore an executive order prohibiting discrimination against state employees as soon as she's sworn into office.

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender state employees across Kansas will again have protections from on-the-job discrimination once Democrat Laura Kelly becomes governor.

Kelly on Thursday reaffirmed plans to reinstate an executive order providing a protection from discrimination that former Gov. Sam Brownback rescinded in 2015.

The order, first put in place by Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius in 2007, prohibited harassment, firing or discrimination against state workers based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

In addition to this order, Kelly also says she will issue an order prohibiting adoption agencies from discriminating against LGBT couples if her lawyers determine that she has the power to do so.

Carefully considering the legal implications of an order before signing it is itself something of a departure from Republican rule. Republicans don't routinely concern themselves with legality. In fact, former Governor Sam Brownback waged a years-long campaign against the state judiciary just because the state Supreme Court ordered the state to spend more money on public education. Brownback tried to take away the state Supreme Court's power to appoint judges and then he tried to defund the entire judiciary.

Now, as you might imagine, conservative groups are losing their shit today.

The so-called Family Policy Alliance of Kansas says Laura Kelly is an "enemy of life, family and religious freedom," because nothing says life and family like telling LGBT humans that they don't deserve to live or have families.

I'm not going to waste time by rebutting these bigots in a polite, concise manner. They should just get fucked.