A GROUP WITH ‘KANSAS GRIT’
THIS BILL POSTED
FOR PUBLICK NOTICE!
FOR PUBLICK NOTICE!
MAINSTREAM’S TOP TEN REASONS TO VOTE NO ON THE APRIL 5TH KANSAS BALLOT INITIATIVE
1. THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IS NOT SO MUCH ABOUT "GAY MARRIAGE" AS IT IS ABOUT RELIGIOUS TYRANNY. a. At its root, this amendment is about the imposition of a fundamentalist Christian perspective onto the citizens of Kansas via our state constitution. b. Fundamentalist Christian activist preachers are the driving force behind this amendment. Men such as Fred Phelps, Jerry Johnston, Joe Wright and Terry Fox wish to impose their particular versions of Christianity onto the state of Kansas constitution. c. These fundamentalist Christian preachers are part of a larger movement to make the United States an exclusively "Christian" nation—Christian at the exclusion of other religions and fundamentalist Christian—at the exclusion of Christians who think differently from or whose views are not the same as the fundamentalist views. d. What will be next? The dismantling of public education, limiting the religious freedoms now enjoyed by all Americans, further limiting reproductive choice, setting science standards that reflect these men’s personal beliefs rather than those agreed upon by scientists, restriction of divorce statutes, rolling back of women’s rights, banning books in the public library, and banning the conduct of business on Sundays?
2. SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IS ALREADY AGAINST THE LAW IN KANSAS. a. Current Kansas law states: "The marriage contract is to be considered in law as a civil contract between two parties who are of opposite sex. All other marriages are declared to be contrary to the public policy of this state and are void. The consent of the parties is essential. The marriage ceremony may be regarded either as a civil ceremony or as a religious sacrament, but the marriage relation shall only be entered into, maintained or abrogated as provided by law" (Kansas State Statute S 23-101a). b. Kansas statute declares further that, "All marriages contracted without this state, which would be valid by the laws of the country in which the same were contracted, shall be valid in all courts and places in this state. It is the strong public policy of this state only to recognize as valid marriages from other states that are between a man and a woman" (Kansas Statute S 23-115). c. The Kansas Supreme Court has upheld this definition of marriage. d. What will be next?
3. VOTING "NO" DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU APPROVE OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AND/OR ARE COMFORTABLE WITH HOMOSEXUALITY. a. These topics are being discussed, debated, and, in some instances, fought, within most Christian denominations, as well as within other faith traditions. There is value in these kinds of theological discussions occurring within our varied faith traditions. b. It is pretty easy to "pick off" gay and lesbian Kansans, but what about when "they" come after something or someone who is dear to you? There is a fundamentalist Christian agenda at work in Kansas that may be easier to ignore when the targets are a group of people about whom you may have mixed or negative feelings. Do not wait for this movement to impact you directly—act now. c. This will not stop with gay and lesbian Kansans. Jerry Johnston, senior pastor at Overland Park First Family Church, was quoted by AP on 02/07/2005 as saying: "A thousand Kansas pastors realize we can now multiply ourselves and get things done." Whether there are 3 or 300, fundamentalist Christian preachers should not be using their own religious beliefs to create State of Kansas policy about marriage, or anything else. d. Who will be next? Educators, women, Jewish or Muslim Kansans, scientists, universities, divorced persons, public librarians, business owners?
4. THIS AMENDMENT NOT ONLY PROHIBITS GAY MARRIAGE, BUT DENIES MANY KANSAS CITIZENS THE RIGHT TO MAKE LEGAL CONTRACTS. a. Part B of the proposed amendment states, "No relationship, other than a marriage, shall be recognized by the state as entitling the parties to the rights or incidents of marriage." This provision leaves in question legal contracts made by Kansas citizens that may involve the "rights or incidents of marriage," such as health care powers of attorney, access to financial records and accounts, or the right to inherit property. b. This provision could impact not only gay and lesbian Kansans, but may prohibit grandparents, step-parents, friends or neighbors and others from making legal contracts that are considered to involve the "rights and incidents of marriage," which are not clearly defined in this amendment or in state law.
5. THIS AMENDMENT WILL BE COSTLY TO KANSAS TAXPAYERS. a. Due to the ambiguity of the above-mentioned clause, this amendment will be challenged in court. In other states with similar amendments and/or statutes, lawsuits have been filed already. Kansas taxpayers will pay the bill for all legal challenges for an amendment that is not legally necessary.
6. THIS AMENDMENT MAY RESTRICT THE POLICIES OF PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND MAY CAUSE BUSINESSES TO LOCATE ELSEWHERE. a. Almost half of all the Fortune 500 companies provide varying levels of benefits to the unmarried partners of their employees. Sprint, SBC, and Boeing are among the large corporations in Kansas that provide such benefits. This amendment may impact their ability to do so and, thus, may impede their freedom to set corporate policy and hire "the person best qualified for the job." b. This amendment may cause other corporations to choose locations whose state constitutions do not interfere with corporate policies and operations.
7. THIS AMENDMENT VIOLATES THE AMERICAN PRINCIPLE OF SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, AND ITS PASSAGE COULD LEAD TO OTHER VIOLATIONS OF THIS LONG-HELD AMERICAN VALUE. a. Just as no religious institution can be required or prohibited by the government to marry an interfaith couple, no religious institution should be prohibited or required to marry a same-sex couple. b. This is an "issue" that needs to be decided and practiced within our strong religious institutions rather than in our state constitution.
8. VOTING "NO" IS PRO-FAMILY. a. This is a family values issue. Increasingly, gay and lesbian couples are adding children to their families. These children become members of our extended families, schools, faith communities, friendship circles, neighborhoods, community groups, clubs—and are children who deserve all the benefits and stability offered in the contracts held between their parents. b. Strong Kansas families have gay or lesbian family members. Not only are gay and lesbian people impacted by this, but keep in mind that their parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins are also hurt by this kind of targeted discrimination. This is a family issue. c. Keep #3 in mind here. The realities of fellow gay and lesbian Kansans lives may be hard for you to understand, but the families impacted are your neighbors, co-workers and fellow citizens.
9. THIS AMENDMENT IS TARGETED AT OUR NEIGHBORS, FAMILIES, AND FRIENDS. a. The 2000 US Census revealed same-sex couples living together in every county in Kansas. About 4,000 same-sex couples were willing to identify themselves in Kansas during the 2000 count. These couples—and many other LGBT people living alone—work, pay taxes, worship in faith communities, and vote. Their parents, siblings, and extended family members do the same.
10. THIS AMENDMENT STANDS IN STARK CONTRAST TO THE KANSAS TRADITION OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL AND TREATS OUR STATE CONSTITUTION AS A DOCUMENT TO BE CHANGED AT THE WHIM OF A FUNDAMENTALIST RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT. a. This amendment does not follow in the "Free State" tradition, but rather allows religious ideology to be used to impose religious tyranny onto our state constitution, while targeting a specific group of fellow Kansans. b. If a state can have a sacred document, our Kansas constitution is just that. As Kansans, we have never used our constitution to deny the personal rights of fellow Kansans (except in Article 5, Section 2 which allows the legislature to deny the voting rights of those with mental illness, prison inmates or felons). This amendment stands in contrast to our rich heritage. c. Finally, across history, Kansans have not easily amended our constitution. It is the cornerstone of who we are as citizens of this great state. Our constitution is a document with inclusion and freedom at its core. Passage of this amendment will officially sanction discrimination as part of the story of our proud Kansas heritage.
Please print out and share this document, especially with family, neighbors and clergy friends who you feel will support the amendment for lack of information, or because they feel they don’t have a vested interest in the outcome of the vote.
POSTED MARCH 5TH, 2005 TO OVER 500 READERS ON THE
Round Rooster Barn Circuit
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