To the editor:

While Jerry Moran will serve another six years as a United States senator, Roger Marshall is up for reelection in 2024. We should all keep an eye on how they are voting.

Recently, both senators voted against the Respect for Marriage Act. The act, which was ultimately passed by Democrats and some Republicans, will require states to recognize same-sex marriages. Notably, it does not require states to permit same-sex marriages, as is currently the law under the 2015 Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, and the Act specially allows religious organizations to discriminate against same-sex partners.

Neither Marshall nor Moran would get behind this bipartisan legislation giving limited protection to those in our LGBTQ community. This is a sad message to send queer folks who live in Kansas — your United States senators do not believe your right to marry who makes you happy deserves to be protected. In other words, you only deserve marriage protections if you are like Marshall and Moran: straight. And that two of our most powerful Kansas politicians voted against this legislation provides oxygen to groups who already fuel hatred aimed at LGBTQ folks.

Marshall and Moran also recently voted against providing railroad workers seven additional days of paid sick leave each year, which was a major contention in the recent railroad union negotiations. Both Marshall and Moran enjoy unlimited paid sick leave, so they don’t have to go to work sick or risk losing their jobs. So much for representing the middle class.

Amii Castle,

Lawrence