Rev. Jackie Carter of Wichita's First MCC is named an American Red Cross Hero Award

Rev. Jackie Carter & American Red Cross Hero Award from Mel Martinez on Vimeo.

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Morality Over Tolerance

Who would have thought the morality would be a bigger factor in moving LGBT rights forward than tolerance? We sure didn't, but reading Linda Hirshman's article; Gay rights’ surprise weapon: Morality over on Salon it makes since.

"Gay activists reversed this trend. Asserting their claim to marriage, gay activists told the predominantly straight world that there are more ways to think about morality than the Evangelical Christian morality of Victorian sexuality. And they were persuasive."

Our LOVE has always been about more than how we have sex. It's nice to see that the message is starting to take hold.

Five Most Embarrassing Video Moments of the Anti-Gay Right

Pam's House Blend is up with the 5 most embarrassing moment's of the anti-gay right for 2011. Best of all, they are all on video. Whether you prefer Brian Brown getting laughed at on Fox News or Al Franken humiliating Focus on the Family Pam's House Blend has them all, and more. Make sure to check them out (and tell them Gay Kansas sent you).

Until There's A Cure

Senator Jerry Moran Hates You

Dear XXXXX:

The Respect for Marriage Act of 2011 would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriages and allows individual states to refuse to recognize such marriages performed in other states. Thank you for contacting me to share your opinion on this matter.

Attorney General Holder recently announced that the Obama administration would not defend DOMA. DOMA was signed into law by President Clinton in 1996. I believe marriage should be between one man and one woman, and I support the continued enforcement of DOMA. While we may not agree on this issue, t he [sic] recognition of same-sex marriages generates debate on both the federal and state levels and I appreciate knowing your opinion.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance in the future. Each week, thousands of Kansans stay informed about activities in Congress by reading my email newsletter, Kansas Common Sense. If you are not already a subscriber, I welcome you to sign up for these updates by visiting www.moran.senate.gov.

Very truly yours,

Jerry Moran

Senator Pat Roberts Still Hates You

October 26, 2011

Mr. XXXXX XXXXXXXX
XXXX XXXXXXXXXX
Wichita, KS 672XX

Dear Mr. XXXXXXXX:

Thank you for contacting me regarding same-sex marriage. I appreciate hearing from fellow Kansans on this matter.

Recently, Representative Dan Burton (R-IN) introduced H.R. 875, the Marriage Protection Act. During the 110th Congress, Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced similar legislation. The resolution proposed to amend the Constitution to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman. I was an original cosponsor of this legislation because I believe it is wrong for a select minority to impose their definition of marriage on the nation. A similar bill has yet to be introduced in the Senate during the 112th Congress.

In March, Representative Paul Broun introduced H. J. Res. 45 to propose to amend the Constitution to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman. The resolution was referred to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties for consideration. A similar resolution has yet to be introduced in the Senate.

It is important to remember that, while not impossible, amending the Constitution was intentionally made a difficult process by our Founding Fathers. However, the Defense of Marriage Act remains federal law (Public Law 104-199). The Act defines marriage as the legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife and a spouse as a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.

In March, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced S. 598, the Respect for Marriage Act. I am opposed to this legislation that repeals the Defense of Marriage Act. The bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Kansas adheres to a longstanding policy that does not recognize same sex marriages. Most recently, 70 percent of Kansans voted overwhelmingly in favor of the April 2005 ballot initiative to amend the state constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman.

Again thank you for taking the time to contact me. If you would like more information on issues before the Senate, please visit my website at http://roberts.senate.gov. You may also sign up on my home page for a monthly electronic newsletter that will provide additional updates on my work for Kansas.

With every best wish,

Sincerely,



Pat Roberts

PR:vr

Great Image

Lt.. Dan Choi Coming to Kansas

Lt. Dan Choi will be in Kansas this June. He will take part in a rally in Topeka and will be the Grand Marshall of the Wichita Pride celebration.

More details to follow.

Kansas Republicans Hate You (Part 3)

WE WERE WRONG! We've told you here and here about a bill that would have had a major impact on the LGBT community. We said we didn't think given the current legislative make up we had much chance of stopping it except to run out the clock. Well, we were wrong. The committee voted today to table HB 2260.

While it's not officially dead, it could be brought back up, the odds we'll see it again this session are slim.

But, watch out next session as everyone is getting ready to run for reelection. Going after the "gays" is a good way to stir up the hate base.

Thanks to everyone who made calls and sent E-mails against this bill.

Kansas Republicans Hate You (Part 2)

Yesterday we told you about a terrible piece of legislation in the Kansas house that would allow people to claim that their religion allowed them to fire LGBT employees or refuse to rent to them.

We were very pessimistic about our chances of stopping this legislation short of running out the clock on it.

Well, we may well have been wrong (and we'll be happy if we were). We're hearing some rumbles that you are calling and what legislators are hearing is not to pass this legislation. We're also hearing that there is some apprehension among some in the capital with the bill.

We're still not going to hold our breath on this one. That said, keep those phone calls, letters, and E-mails going. We'd love to be wrong on this one.