Hays, KS – Kansas Governor, Sam Brownback issued an executive order Tuesday rescinding protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender state workers. This order, among others, is consistent with conservative policies advanced since his election in 2011.
As Brownback explained to The Wall Street Journal, “My focus is to create a red-state model that allows the Republican ticket to say, ‘See, we’ve got a different way, and it works.’”
The LA Times quoted Thomas Witt, head of Equality Kansas on the executive order: “This action by the governor is an outrage,” he said in a statement. “Gay, lesbian and transgender state employees across Kansas have trusted they would be safe from discrimination and harassment in their workplace, but Sam Brownback has, by erasing their job protections, declared ‘open season’ on every one of them.”
In response to Tuesday’s executive order, Dr. Mirta Martin, Fort Hays State University president issued the following statement via email to all university faculty and staff:
Dear All,
Some of you may have concerns related to the recent release of the Governor’s Executive Order related to discrimination. The University’s position on this matter remains consistent with its policy statement inserted below:
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.
If any of you has any concerns or issues related to this policy, please feel free to contact the HR department or me.
Thank you for all you do.
M3
Mirta M. Martin, Ph.D.
Fort Hays State University