2018 KS Governor's race: on Civil Rights


Jeff Colyer: No commitment to protecting LGBT workers from discrimination

The headline of a recent editorial in The Star asked a fair question: "Why won't Gov. Jeff Colyer commit to protecting LGBT workers from discrimination?" The answer seems very clear: If the governor made such a commitment today--to issue an executive order to protect LGBT state workers from discrimination--he might as well withdraw from the Republican primary race for Kansas governor. That's because with a promise like that, he would virtually be handing over the nomination to Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, whose overall appeal to conservatives makes him the frontrunner. Kobach has stated unequivocally he will do nothing to protect the rights of LGBT workers and said it is up to the Legislature to pass laws if needed.

Although the US Supreme Court has ruled that federal law does prohibit discrimination against same-sex partners and does not allow for sexual harassment, federal civil rights law doesn't apply to sexual orientation or gender identity. That void becomes a state issue.

Source: Kansas City Star on 2018 Kansas gubernatorial race Mar 16, 2018

Jeff Colyer: No executive order banning LGBT worker discrimination

Gov. Jeff Colyer appeared to contend that Kansas law contained the same prohibitions against discrimination of LGBT state employees as an executive order that was repealed by his predecessor, Sam Brownback. He is mostly wrong.

Asked if he is unwilling to put his position into an executive order, Colyer said: "It is the policy, it is the law of Kansas. We will not be dealing with these things."

Kansas has no law prohibiting employer discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Asked to clarify Colyer's remarks, a spokesman reiterated the governor won't tolerate discrimination, but also said Kansas law mirrors federal law.

Federal law doesn't prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. But the Supreme Court ruled that federal law does prohibit same-sex sexual harassment. That means that employer discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity continues to be legal in Kansas [but harassment is illegal].

Source: Wichita Eagle on 2018 Kansas gubernatorial race Mar 16, 2018

Kathleen Sebelius: 2007: Prohibit discrimination on basis of gender identity

Although the US Supreme Court has ruled that federal law does prohibit discrimination against same-sex partners and does not allow for sexual harassment, the current administration's Justice Department says that federal civil rights law doesn't apply to sexual orientation or gender identity. That void becomes a state issue.

Kansas has no such protections now but did for a while with the 2007 executive order issued by former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius that prohibited discrimination and harassment of state workers on the basis of sexual origin and gender identity.

This became a hot-button issue when former Gov. Sam Brownback issued his executive order in 2015 repealing Sebelius'. It is now OK to discriminate against LGBT state workers in Kansas.

The Kansas Republican Party, at its recent state convention, adopted a resolution to "oppose all efforts to validate transgender identification."

Source: Kansas City Star on 2018 Kansas gubernatorial race Mar 16, 2018

Kris Kobach: Do nothing to protect the rights of LGBT workers

The headline of a recent editorial in The Star asked a fair question: "Why won't Gov. Jeff Colyer commit to protecting LGBT workers from discrimination?" The answer seems very clear: If the governor made such a commitment today--to issue an executive order to protect LGBT state workers from discrimination--he might as well withdraw from the Republican primary race for Kansas governor. That's because with a promise like that, he would virtually be handing over the nomination to Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, whose overall appeal to conservatives makes him the frontrunner. Kobach has stated unequivocally he will do nothing to protect the rights of LGBT workers and said it is up to the Legislature to pass laws if needed.

Although the US Supreme Court has ruled that federal law does prohibit discrimination against same-sex partners and does not allow for sexual harassment, federal civil rights law doesn't apply to sexual orientation or gender identity. That void becomes a state issue.

Source: Kansas City Star on 2018 Kansas gubernatorial race Mar 16, 2018

Sam Brownback: 2015: Repeal ban on gender identity discrimination

Although the US Supreme Court has ruled that federal law does prohibit discrimination against same-sex partners and does not allow for sexual harassment, the current administration's Justice Department says that federal civil rights law doesn't apply to sexual orientation or gender identity. That void becomes a state issue.

Kansas has no such protections now but did for a while with the 2007 executive order issued by former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius that prohibited discrimination and harassment of state workers on the basis of sexual origin and gender identity.

This became a hot-button issue when former Gov. Sam Brownback issued his executive order in 2015 repealing Sebelius'. It is now OK to discriminate against LGBT state workers in Kansas.

The Kansas Republican Party, at its recent state convention, adopted a resolution to "oppose all efforts to validate transgender identification."

Source: Kansas City Star on 2018 Kansas gubernatorial race Mar 16, 2018

  • The above quotations are from 2018 Kansas Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Civil Rights.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Sam Brownback on Civil Rights.
Candidates and political leaders on Civil Rights:

Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Apr 19, 2020