BY JADEN MOUNT
In less than seven months, citizens of Kansas will cast their ballot for the next governor. Current Governor Jeff Colyer took over office after his predecessor, Governor Sam Brownback, resigned to serve as a United States Ambassador for International Religious Freedom. With the election looming on the horizon and individuals beginning to cast their names into the hat for governor, Colyer announced his own candidacy, but recent actions could hurt his ticket for election.
On May 4, the Kansas State Legislature passed a bill that would allow “faith-based” adoption agencies to turn away same-sex couples based solely on religious beliefs. The bill passed through the House (63-58) on the night of May 3 then Senate (24-15) in the early hours of the next day.
Colyer released a statement after the bill had passed.
“Catholic Charities and other adoption agencies are key to the fabric of our communities. I look forward to signing this bill because it increases the opportunities for needy children to find loving homes.”
The bill has attracted attention and controversy as Kansas joins Oklahoma as the two states to pass legislation of this kind. Supporters state the bill is necessary to protect adoption agencies’ rights whereas critics have called the bill discriminatory.
Members of Fort Hays State University’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) were shocked at the passing of the bill. Tiger Media Network received anonymous statements from these members.
One member said, “Passing this legislation shows that we are still concerned about appearances instead of well being. If we were more concerned about the needs of the children being adopted then it wouldn’t matter if the couple was same sex or not.”
Another reaction was, “By passing this legislation that rejects LGBTQ parents from the adoption/foster care process, lawmakers are putting religion above the needs of children. This sort of thinking is backward and has no place in civilized society. This legislation is a disgrace.”
The FHSU GSA is advised by Dr. Amanda Fields, assistant professor of English, and Alicia Arias, assistant professor of Nursing.
“My initial reaction was shock,” said Arias. “The passing of this legislation is definitely a step in the wrong direction. There are so many children in need of loving/supportive homes. Choosing to not include possible foster/adoptive parents on the basis of sexual orientation is not only discrimination but it prevents children in the system from being placed in suitable homes. I am a firm believer that sexual orientation does not define who will be a good parent.”
Arias said that legislative decisions like this can make her job as an advisor difficult.
“This has been a challenging year. My stance is to support our students and also inform them of ways to get involved in legislative processes.”
Of all the current candidates in the running for Kansas governor, only four have placed LGBTQ concerns in their stances or issues; Democrats Arden Anderson, Carl Brewer, Josh Svaty, and Republican Tyler Ruzich.
Party primaries will take place in August with the election on November 2, 2018. Colyer will serve as the election incumbent if he makes it out of the primaries, but it is unclear how this bill will hurt or help him this November.