Maybe Kansas can be "saved" afterall. I saw this news this morning about the Topeka anti-discrimination ban being upheld and read further.
'Tiffany Muller (D) is running to retain her seat on the Topeka City Council. She was appointed to the seat last year by a majority of the Council and is the only out official in the entire state of Kansas. Her re-election bid has incited the ire of www.GodHatesFags.com founder Fred Phelps, whose church is located in Topeka. Phelps' granddaughter, who regularly travels from city to city to insult and harass gays and lesbians, is running against Tiffany. '
I hope you reccomend so this gets on the radar. I think the grass roots is way to build a stronger party in the future!
http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/03/01/topeka.gay.rights.ap/index.html
http://secure.victoryfund.org/cand_detail.php?cand_id=1250
(More from the Victory fund site)
Tiffany is a 26-year old activist who successfully led efforts to increase protections for the LGBT community in state Hate Crime legislation and in the citywide nondiscrimination ordinance. She currently lobbies for the Kansans for Justice and Equality Project and is the lead spokesperson in the state on LGBT issues, making her race a rallying point for the right-wing community centered at the Westboro Baptist Church who see her as vulnerable because of her sexual orientation.
The Phelps' vile anti-gay machine has managed to garner enough signatures to get an initiative on the ballot that would bar and repeal any law protecting gays and lesbians. This measure is very similar to Article XII in Cincinnati. Additionally, there is an anti-marriage and anti-civil union amendment that will be up for a statewide vote in April.
This race is an opportunity to support an LGBT candidate that not only has had the courage to be on the frontlines lobbying for LGBT rights, but is also seeking office even in the face of anti-gay attacks. It also offers a chance to show the anti-gay right wing that we take their attacks seriously and will take the battle to their turf.
During the past two years a local gay-rights organization in Topeka learned that the vast majority of Topekans are fair-minded. 62% of registered voters across the city support the expansion of anti-discrimination protections in Topeka. Additionally, residents throughout the city have recognized the harmful effects that Westboro Baptist Church and their graphic hate has had on the community overall. The Phelps believe that Tiffany's sexual orientation ensures that the voters would never elect her. However, Topekans are ready to stand up to the image of being a city filled with hate and are prepared to vote for progress in Topeka.
She has three opponents in the Primary, and the top two vote-getters will proceed to the general election on April 5th. It is imperative that Tiffany be the highest vote-getter in the primary to have the best possible chance to win the general election. Bob Percival is a Reform party candidate. Jael Phelps, a Republican and Fred Phelps' granddaughter, is running solely because Tiffany is a lesbian and had the courage to run. Tiffany's toughest competition is from Richard Harmon, a Republican tax attorney who is a political moderate. His weakness is that he has not taken clear positions on many key issues facing the city, including an upcoming anti-LGBT initiative. He faces the real possibility that the conservative vote will be divided between him and Jael.
Tiffany is very publicly associated with gay rights issues and her opposition may try to paint her as a single issue/special interest candidate. However, she has helped lead the fight for jobs, advanced downtown redevelopment, neighborhood development and works to promote keeping tax dollars in Topeka.
Contribute today to help Tiffany breakthrough in Topeka!
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p.s. how do you make the box quotes... :-)