To the editor:
I was recently quoted in this paper as saying it's legal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation "in some places." What was I thinking? It is legal in MOST places. People think it is illegal because they know such discrimination is wrong. Nevertheless, it happens quite a bit. While we gained protection from such discrimination in employment and public accommodations in Lawrence in 1996, just a few days ago the City Council of Topeka decided against adding sexual orientation to their non-discrimination policy.
I would also like to point out that the headline of the article was "Local pastor helps rally for gay rights." The headline should have referred to "equal rights for gays." There are no "gay" rights.
Maggie Childs, Lawrence
Comments
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KS (anonymous) says…
Learning to navigate around and I am really starting to like it. Thanks.
PolishBear (Chuck Anziulewicz) says…
Here in West Virginia we have hate crimes laws and civil rights laws that protect people based on their actual or perceived race, religion, and national origin. They do not protect people based on sexual orientation. Gay people here in the state can and do get fired from their jobs for no other reason than the fact that the boss does want Gay people working for him, and they have no legal recourse. The state's Human Rights Commission doesn't even have the power to investigate such cases.
Tychoman (anonymous) says…
That's ridiculous. Why doesn't the HRC have power?
gr (anonymous) says…
I thought there were labor laws that require "just cause" for firing someone. Does that mean only if you are on a "special list" you have rights?
Crispian (Crispian Paul) says…
In Kansas, Wichita and Lawrence are the only two cities that have anti-discrimination laws for this population.
gr (anonymous) says…
Are you seriously saying that someone could fire you for driving a certain kind of car, being fat, having the wrong hair or eye color?
To quote Tyco, "That's ridiculous"!
crazyks (anonymous) says…
Don't you know that in Kansas, they can fire you for anything?
When I first started my job, my employee agreement stated that I could be terminated at any time, without prior notice, for any reason, or for no reason at all.
It's like that for everyone, unless you work in big business and have a contract that states otherwise.
crazyks (anonymous) says…
As an aside here...
They no longer want us to comment on the new design in the comments section for other articles...but then they take away any link whatsoever to let us comment on the new design??
gr (anonymous) says…
"Don't you know that in Kansas, they can fire you for anything?"
If that's true, then why do I keep hearing about so many businesses with "dead weight" they don't know how to get rid of? Maybe they just mistakenly think the employees have rights?
"As an aside here:"
Will this work for you?
http://www2.ljworld.com/redesign/2007/