Following the announcement of an executive order rescinding an earlier order establishing sexual orientation as a protected working class within the State of Kansas, student at Fort Hays State University have voiced concern over the perception that this order will give the state and worry there could be a more negative backlash against those that were originally protected.
James Bell (TMN reporter): On Tuesday Kansas governor Sam Brownback issued an executive order rescinding an earlier order which set up sexual orientation as a protected class of worker for state employees. Now many on the Fort Hays State campus are questioning that decision.
Vivian Agnew (FHSU student): We’re a joke now. We’re the butt of a joke of uh state or a population that has decided to place itself 50 years in the past. A state that (inhale) has decided to ignore uh like a vast majority of people and decide their rights aren’t worth anything. Um I mean that nate nationally we we look kind of stupid and I I don’t want to associate myself with that.
Anna Hand (FHSU student): Honestly, I’m very disappointed in the decisions made by Governor Brownback (inhale) this last week. I feel that (sigh) in my personal opinion they’re pushing us back into the past by about 50 years.
James: This action has now made many Fort Hays State student question whether or not they would like to stay in Kansas following graduation.
Vivian: I don’t think that I can stay in a state that refuses to give rights to like a vast majority of people in its population or a state that refuses to reset to like respect a person’s rights and their (inhale) abilities and their like you know who they love or what they identify as. And I just I just don’t think it’s appropriate and it’s a reason that I would leave this state. Across campus people aren’t (inhale) exceptionally happy about this.
They don’t understand why Brownback would make this decision. They don’t understand like what implications or what kind of (inhale) resolutions he’s working for or what even was the problem in the first place. But I don’t think (inhale) people are going to stay here. Especially if they’re afraid they’ll be discriminated against for whatever reasons.
Anna: They if they can’t have personal freedoms such as getting married or even just personal freedoms as walking into an office and (pause) feeling safe. If they’re being denied that then why should they stay and why should people move to our state if they don’t if they’re not going to feel safe or if they’re not going to have job security just because of some national issue like this.
James: Part of that statement reads: Executive order 1502 rescinds an order signed by Governor Sebelius that unilaterally established an additional protected class rights for state employees, specifically for sexual orientation and gender identity. As part of the executive order Governor Brownback issued a media release that backed up some of his reasoning behind the change. In that text was this statement: “This executive order ensures that state employees enjoy the same civil rights as all Kansans without creating additional protected classes as the previous order did. Any such expansion of protected classes should be done by the legislature and not through unilateral action. The order also reaffirms our commitment to hiring, mentoring and recognizing veterans and individuals with disabilities.”
On Wednesday Fort Hays president Mirta Martin issued her own statement assuring the community that Fort Hays would not change its operations following the governor’s executive order. In that statement Dr. Martin said, “Fort Hays State University does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, national origin, color, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or veteran status in its educational programs, employment and all other activities. In addition, the university does not discriminate on the basis of a person’s genetic information. FHSU is committed to an environment in which students, faculty, administrators, and staff work together in an atmosphere free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, exploitation and intimidation, including, but not limited to, verbal, physical, or written behavior directed toward or relating to an individual or group on the basis of their protected class status.”
While Governor Brownback’s executive order has now become a national controversy, many Fort Hays students were supportive of Dr. Martin’s statements on Wednesday.
Vivian: I was incredibly I was so incredibly happy with that. I was incredibly happy with her almost immediate response in letting (inhale) our student body and this population know that that that’s not something that Fort Hays State University would support. And I am 100% (inhale) behind that action and it makes me very proud to be a Tiger.
Anna: I’m very excited to see that we have a very outspoken president who even when these times when we’re trying to make sure (inhale) that we’re you know trying to keep the university safe, trying to keep funding coming for um the university. We are not afraid to stand up for what is right and what (inhale) um is going to keep our students here at Fort Hays State University safe.
Vivian: I was I was super upset to hear that because I I was (inhale) like glad that we had been in like a state that you know didn’t discriminate in that way and I don’t understand what the rationale is here. Um we are like a government with a separation of church and state. There’s no logical reason that discrimination should be (inhale) possible. It’s I mean it’s 2015.
James: While the controversy may rage on, it’s at least become clear that not everyone at least at Fort Hays State is supportive of the governor’s actions. Reporting for TMN, this is James Bell.