The Kansas Legislature is hearing bills TOMORROW (Wed, 3/21/18) that would allow religious organizations to deny adoptions to LGBT families. In addition to the moral grounds (LGBT persons should not be discriminated against), and the data-driven grounds (LGBT families are at least as stable as heterosexual families), MainStream objects to this legislation because religious morality has no place in government.

The Bills

HB 2687 and SB 401—the hearings are tomorrow—declare that child placement agencies can exclude gay parents when determining adoption placements, if including them would violate the organization's "sincerely held religious beliefs." The US Constitution states clearly that government should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Simply put, the government of Kansas is considering putting into law that some "sincerely held" religious beliefs (gays make bad parents because gays are sinful) trump other sincerely held beliefs (that being gay is in no way indicative of what kind of person, or parent, you will be).

Take These Actions Today!

There are several steps you can take to oppose these bills:

1. Come to Topeka tomorrow morning (Wed, 3/21/18) to let the committees know your opinion in person. We are arranging carpools leaving KC at 7:30 am! Please email Lesa at [email protected] or call her at (913) 649-3326.
   
   
2. Contact the Committees. The bills are being heard at 9 am in the House Committee on Federal and State Affairs, and at 10:30 in the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs. Here are the principals of those committees, and also links ot the rest of the committee. Email or call them to let them know what you think.
   
   
   • Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs
     
     "I oppose passage of SB 401, and ask you to do so, too. This measure imposes the religious views of others on Kansans seeking to adopt children, or on children seeking to find adoptive families. Arbitrary, morality-based restrictions only make it harder to connect children to loving families, at a time when Kansas foster children are having to sleep in state offices for lack of family placements. Thank you."
     
     
     • Chair: Sen. Bud Estes (21% lifetime MainStream score) email [email protected] or call 785-296-7359
     • Vice-Chair: Sen. Rob Olson (0%) email [email protected] or call 785-296-7358
     • Minority Member: Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau (100%) email [email protected] or call 785-296-7387
       
     • See all committee members
       
       
   • House Committee on Federal and State Affairs
     
     "I oppose passage of HB 2687, and ask you to do so, too. This measure imposes the religious views of others on Kansans seeking to adopt children, or on children seeking to find adoptive families. Arbitrary, morality-based restrictions only make it harder to connect children to loving families, at a time when Kansas foster children are having to sleep in state offices for lack of family placements. Thank you."
     
     
     • Chair: Rep. John Barker (26%) email [email protected] or call 785-296-7674
     • Vice-Chair: Rep. Ron Highland (0%) email [email protected] or call 785-296-7310
     • Minority Member: Rep. Louis Ruiz (100%) email [email protected] or call 785-296-7885
     • See all committee members
       
       
3. Contact your legislators. Always let your own legislators know what you think of the issues. Who represents you? How can you get in touch? Loo them up with our tool, ksleglookup.org

Thank you

Again, thank you for all you do, and for doing more than voting. Change starts here. With you.