We have three urgent action alerts for you to do as soon as possible! Please use your voice and contact your state legislators before 5:00 on Friday to stand up for public schools, reproductive rights, and queer youth.

Not sure who your state legislator is or how they voted on these bills? Find out at KSLegLookUp.org.

Mainstream Messenger: What to Expect from the KS Leg Week 8 -

Another Embarrassing Week for Kansans

Hi Mainstream supporter,

In case you missed it, last week was quite the embarrassment in the KS Legislature. Between legislator tantrums shutting down committee hearings, legislators refusing to answer questions regarding voting rights from the House floor, and continuing investigations into a near-brawl between Republican and Democrat legislators, we don't have a lot of nice things to say about the majority of our Kansas Legislature right now. And that's before we even talk about this gem of a townhall with U.S. Sen Marshall!

This week we have more shenanigans to prepare for, starting with the hearing of SB 76 tomorrow (Tuesday, 3/4) in the House Committee on Education. This bill, titled the "given name act" would restrict teachers' first amendment right of free speech by prohibiting them from using chosen names and pronouns for students unless they have written permission from parents. It also would put into statute that teachers and school staff are not required to use chosen names/pronouns, even with parent consent. We obviously have problems with the hypocrisy of this so called free speech, parents' right bill that is just a mask for trans erasure. You can read our submitted testimony here.

Tomorrow is also Equality Day at the statehouse, making the hearing on SB 76 a slap in the face to the hundreds of LGBTQ+ Kansans who will join us in Topeka to tell their stories and ask legislators to support LGBTQ+ equality. Despite countless Kansans showing up daily to testify on issues that impact them and their loved ones, the KS Legislature continues to pass bills to try to erase queer Kansans, control women's bodies, and gut our public education in favor of private, often religious, schools.

We know it's hard to focus on state and local advocacy when so much is going wrong at the federal level. So thank you to everyone who takes action with us and to everyone who came by at last Saturday's Boots on the Ground Volunteer Fair to learn more about Mainstream. Only a few more weeks to go in this year's KS legislative session - let'd do everything we can to stop these attacks on Kansans!

Mainstream Messenger: What to Expect from the KS Leg Week 6 -

Urgent Action Needed to Stop School Vouchers and Protect LGBTQ+ Kids

Hi Mainstream supporter,

Despite the bad weather coming our way, the KS Leg is still moving towards a full week of action before Turnaround Day on Feb 20. We're expecting the legislature to take up the veto vote on the gender affirming care ban, SB 63, starting Tuesday, as well as floor votes on the latest voucher bills. Here's what Mainstream is following this week and how you can take action to protect church-state separation.

Mainstream's 2025 Legislative Advocacy Toolkit is now available!

Have questions about how to vote today, or know someone who does? Make sure to share our Election Day FAQ graphics (just right click and save or share our Facebook post) and be prepared to cast your ballot before polls close at 7:00 pm.

TL;DR: There are a lot of judges on your ballot this November, including 7 KS Court of Appeals judges and lots of district court judges. Check out the KS Bar Association survey results for the Kansas Court of Appeals and the Johnson County Bar Association website when they publish their survey results later this month.

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The 2024 election will be here before you know it. Have you taken a look at your ballot yet? (If not, what are you waiting for, go to ksballot.org and check it out!). 

See that long list of judges at the bottom of the ballot? There are 20 in Johnson County - 7 for the Court of Appeals and 13 for the Johnson County District Court  - and this election voters will be asked to retain each one of these judges.

Mainstream Civic Engagement Foundation is proud to recognize our friend and partner, Rev. Cheryl Jefferson Bell, as this year's Stand-Up, Speak Out Honoree at the GOTV Brunch Fundraiser on September 8.