In Kansas Dorothy Can Not Be Lesbian: Law Forbidding Homosexuality Stays on the Books
Members of Kansas' gay community aren't happy as lawmakers in Topeka, KS, have decided to leave on the books laws banning homosexuality.
Laws banning gay sex have been ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, but the law remains in place in Kansas. An effort to repeal the law was killed this week, leaving gay and lesbian Kansans outraged.
"Good people make bad decisions, and I believe this was a very bad decision," said Jackie Carter of Metropolitan Community Church.
Carter is a leader of the gay and lesbian community in Wichita, KS, and the pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church.
She said she's saddened by the move to leave the law on the books, and that it leaves thousands of gay Kansans under the impression they are unwelcome in the Sunflower State.
She said she's saddened by the move to leave the law on the books, and that it leaves thousands of gay Kansans under the impression they are unwelcome in the Sunflower State.
"I read that message quite clearly: you really don't matter so if you move to another state we really won't care," Carter said.
The House Judiciary Committee was considering a bill to clean up Kansas' criminal code when a pair of lawmakers, Jan Paul from Hutchinson and Lance Kinzer from Olathe, removed an amendment from the bill that would have repealed the law banning homosexual acts.
"I think their motivation is pretty clear," said Thomas Witt, chair of Kansas Equality Commission. "They don't like gay people and they're going to make sure in the eyes of the law we're still considered criminals."
A rally is planned for next week to protest leaving the law on the books.
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(Source: NBC)
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