Jeff Colyer on Civil Rights

	Jeff Colyer on Civil Rights

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

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law contained the same prohibitions against discrimination of LGBT state employees as an executive order that was repealed by his predecessor, Sam Brownback.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

Stamp out racial cleansing ideology at home and abroad

Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer today issued the following statement in response to the recent events in Charlottesville: "I have seen the evil extremes of racial and ethnic cleansing first hand in Rwanda and other places around the globe. We must stamp out these harmful ideologies and evil doers before they can take root here at home. Kansas has been and will continue to be a beacon of light and hope for those who fight for equality and justice for all." Source: 2017 Lt. Gubernatorial press release, "Ogallala Aquifer" , Aug 16, 2017

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