Governor Brownback's administration has made note of the changes here:
http://www.wibw.com/...
In a statement announcing the order, Brownback said the measure is meant to guarantee all Kansans enjoy the same civil rights, without creating new protected classes.
“Any such expansion of ‘protected classes’ should be done by the legislature and not through unilateral action," Brownback said. "The order also reaffirms our commitment to hiring, mentoring and recognizing veterans and individuals with disabilities.”
The Brownback administration has argued that the inclusion of sexual orientation as a non-discrimination was done as an executive action without consulting the legislature, and as such should not continue to be the policy.
Kansas last year undertook consideration of so-termed "Religious Freedom" acts, in order to enable businesses to discriminate against LGBT individuals.
While the Brownback administration notes that the removal of LGBT members from protected status in Kansas is designed to show a strengthened support for other members, specifically the disabled and veterans, there are no comments to be had on the impact of LGBT veterans and LGBT disabled Kansans.
Equality Kansas issued their official response:
http://eqks.org/...
Earlier this afternoon, Governor Sam Brownback signed an executive order cancelling job protections for LGBT employees of the State of Kansas. His order rescinds an executive order issued by former Governor Kathleen Sebelius in 2007, which added sexual orientation and gender identity to discrimination protections based on race, color, gender, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, military or veteran and disability status.
Discrimination against State of Kansas employees, in every state agency, is now permitted under Brownback’s order.
This action by the Governor is an outrage. 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.
If you work for the state, and have felt comfortable being “out” at work knowing you had protection from bigotry, that protection is gone.
If you work for the state, your measure of job performance is no longer the quality of your work, but rather who you love and go home to at the end of the day.
It is a sad day for Kansas – not just for the LGBT community, but for our friends, our families, and our co-workers whose jobs are now at risk.
Let Governor Brownback know how you feel. Give him a call at Capitol at 877-579-6757 or 785-368-7138. Leave a message for him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/... or on Twitter at @govsambrownback
Comments are closed on this story.