Topeka ? Gov. Kathleen Sebelius recently signed an executive order that made it illegal to discriminate against state employees in the workplace because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

But while Sebelius’ order covered an estimated 25,000 state workers, it couldn’t extend to employees in agencies led by other statewide elected officeholders or to the legislative and judicial branches.

Now, Sebelius is calling for others to adopt the same rules.

“We have spoken also to all the other statewide officeholders, urging them to do a similar declaration because their employees do not fall under the executive order that I issued,” Sebelius said.

So far, the response has been mixed.

The offices of Attorney General Paul Morrison, Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh and Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger report they have in place policies similar to the executive order.

Bob Hanson, a spokesman for Praeger, said when Sebelius announced her decision “we made the decision to be in compliance with those directives.”

But State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins has not issued any new workplace policies.

“Treasurer Jenkins believes the executive order issued by Governor Sebelius covers areas largely addressed previously by federal and state laws,” said Jenkins’ spokeswoman Jenalea Linn.

State government already prohibited discrimination in hiring and employment based on race, ethnicity, gender, national origin and age. But Sebelius’ executive order added sexual orientation and gender identity to the list.

More than 30 states and 90 percent of Fortune 500 businesses have similar policies, as does the city of Lawrence. Kansas University has had a policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation for 30 years.

But those protections are lacking for employees in the judicial branch of government, according to Ron Keefover, a spokesman for the Kansas Supreme Court.

“No one has moved to amend the rules” to ban workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, he said.

And the Legislature’s rules don’t protect workers against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Supporters of gay and lesbian rights say the patchwork system shows the need for a uniform state law that covers all Kansans – in state employment and private employment.

“We’d like it extended even to the private sector,” Maggie Childs said Tuesday. Childs, of Lawrence, is a chapter leader in the Kansas Equality Coalition.

“That is why we are working for a law,” Childs said.

Earlier this year, legislation was introduced to extend anti-discrimination protections in private employment and housing, based on sexual orientation and gender identity. But it couldn’t muster enough votes to get out of committee. Sebelius has said she supports that measure, and advocates have promised to renew their efforts to pass the legislation when lawmakers convene their 2008 session in January.