Kansas governor-elect Laura Kelly is already making her mark on Kansas’ never-ending culture wars. Today, she announced that she will restore protections for LGBT state workers. Democratic former Governor Kathleen Sebelius instituted protections by executive order in 2007, but former Republican Governor Sam Brownback rescinded them in 2015.
Kelly also pledged to direct the Kansas Department of Children and Families (DCF) to contract only with non-discriminating agencies for its foster care and adoption programs, circumventing the much-derided “adoption discrimination bill,” which narrowly passed earlier this year.
Tuesday’s elections created historic firsts. Voters elected three openly gay candidates — one to Washington, DC and two into the Statehouse: Sharice Davids beat Kevin Yoder in the 3rd Congressional District, Brandon Woodard will represent the 30th House District, and Susan Ruiz will represent the 23rd House District.
Well done, Kansas, but we will not rest until LGBT citizens have full equality in employment, housing, and health care.