Gov. Sam Brownback rescinds protected-class status for state workers over gender identity

[deminks]

Source: Wichita Eagle

TOPEKA —

Gov. Sam Brownback signed an executive order Tuesday rescinding a protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender state workers that was put into place by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

Sebelius had signed an executive order in 2007 that said state workers could not be discriminated against, fired or harassed because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. In an executive order of his own, Brownback rescinded this and eight other policies that had been put into place by his Democratic predecessors, Sebelius and Gov. Mark Parkinson.

Brownback issued an additional executive order that affirmed that state employees could not be discriminated against because of their race, religion, gender, age or country of national origin but without the protection for LGBT Kansans.

“This action by the Governor is an outrage,” said Tom Witt, executive director of Equality Kansas, the state’s leading LGBT rights group. “Gay, lesbian, and transgender state employees across Kansas have trusted they would be safe from discrimination and harassment in their workplace but Sam Brownback has, by erasing their job protections, declared ‘open season’ on every one of them.”

Brownback explained his decision in a short statement, which did not specifically refer to sexual orientation or gender identity.




Read more: http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article9692624.html

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News from Brownbackistan.

[randys1]

1. So a person who VICIOUSLY hates Gay people (and others, lets be honest) acts out

his belief.

Let us not be surprised by the actions of disgusting human beings.


And it isnt just that HE hates everybody not like him, but he knows his base REALLY does.

He would GLADLY do away with all civil rights for minorities but knows he cant so why bother making a fuss.

[Sienna86]

2. What a horrific person.

When will the majority of Kansas wake up? He is no Bob Dole.

[freshwest]

3. More hate from the Midwest. At one time, they were considered reasonable...

[merrily]

4. coming out firmly in favor of depriving people of equal rights.

[RoBear]

5. In his statement

he referred to Sibelius's order as a "unilateral decision." Wasn't THIS?

He's the supreme jackass among governors. None can come up to his level of stupidity. (Or should that be "come down" to?)

[blkmusclmachine]

6. Ol' Sam is a Christian reconstructionist/Christian dominionist.

[Katashi_itto]

7. Kansans voted him in twice.

[CreekDog]

17. they wanted him to do this?

[Katashi_itto]

18. If they lucky they will get a few more terms out of him.

Of course Kansas may look like Somalia. But hey, it's what they vote for.

[alp227]

8. Had he done this in 2013 or 2014, he'd have been toast.

What shrewd strategy by Brownback to avoid gift wrapping a "HOMOPHOBIA!" talking point for Paul Davis. What were Kansans thinking electing this pro austerity oligarch? At least in Greece the people actually are taking a stand against austerity for once.

[Spirochete]

9. How did this guy

EVER win an election? Even in Kansas

[47of74]

10. Sam Brownshirt at it again

[MsInformed]

11. The legislators commenting in the article

should get together and pass a non-descrimination bill.
Them seem to agree. Just do it!

[RationalMan]

12. I suspect even if the Legislature voted to enact protections for LGBT employees

in both private and public employment, he would veto it saying they are getting "special" privileges.

Mr. Brownback, I know you have a very small and barely functioning brain but hear me out.

As a gay man I am not a lifestyle or a choice or a mistake. The love I have for another man is no more sinful than the love you have for your wife.

LGBT persons are not asking for anything special. They are asking to be treated the same as anyone else. The fact I was born gay means that, in that characteristic, I am different than the majority of the population. Majorities tend to discriminate against minorities or against others that lack sufficient political and economic clout to protect themselves.

The fact now a manager in KS state government can now legally dismiss an employee simply because they are gay is the problem.

I wonder if you would like it if I ran a business and because you are a Christian I chose a Muslim over you. You would go running to the courts to sue me for violating your Constitutional rights.

It is interesting that the one characteristic that is protected in federal and most state workplace and housing anti-discrimination laws that is truly a choice is religion. All the others are immutable characteristics including race/ethnicity, age and gender. One can add sexual orientation or gender identity to that list.

Mr. Brownback has chosen his perverted version of Christianity. I should be allowed to discriminate against him for that because he has made a choice and I don't like people that belong to his version of Christianity.

Of course I am not saying I would discriminate but the fact that religion, a personal choice, is protected but sexual orientation and gender identity which are not is in and of itself perverse.

[Thor_MN]

13. I've been to Kansas twice as my sister used to live there

Never again.

[rtracey]

14. Kansas

What the fuck were you thinking....not once but twice... thus guy almost bankrupts your state and you still vote him back......hahahha seeya

[Miigwech]

15. Knuckle dragger Politics

".... me make budget bad ... uhhhhhhhhhhhh ... me fixey .... hate the gays .... no mo worry' bout budget .... me stop debate .... me smart .... ughhhhhhh"

[Enthusiast]

16. Another Republican idiot. What a surprise.