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Kansas haters aim to shred human rights
Kootenay Crust
By Ian Cobb
It didn’t seem believable at first.
I saw a Facebook post today by noted government eye-poker Jesse Ventura who asked: “Isn’t discrimination denying goods and services to a select group of people? What’s next? Same-sex couples have to wear special lapel pins in Kansas so they can be identified and then denied food and water?”
He also provided a link to a CNN story headlined, ‘Denying services to same-sex couples may soon become legal in Kansas.’
Again, I didn’t believe my eyes.
“House Bill 2453 explicitly protects religious individuals, groups and businesses that refuse services to same-sex couples, particularly those looking to tie the knot,” the CNN article begins, adding Kansas’ Republican-dominated House voted 72-49 to support what is nothing more than an attempt at a bill that supports segregation and a glaring violation of basic human rights.
An added kicker is that Kansas has already banned same-sex marriage – but that exclusion of a sector of society isn’t enough. Let’s stop them from suing us for violating their human rights and dignity as people!
“They want to prevent religious individuals and organizations from getting sued, or otherwise punished, for not providing goods or services to gay couples – or for not recognizing their marriages or committed relationship as valid. This includes employees of the state,” the CNN article reports.
Essentially, Kansas is saying that religious people with tiny minds, narrowed from hate-filled brainwashing, can now deny service without reproach to same sex couples.
Welcome to Mississippi 1963.
Is Kansas completely overrun by Westboro Baptist Church maniacs?
If it isn’t, that sick pack’s hate-filled insanity has clearly found a home in the dense minds of many Kansas lawmakers.
And it appears that the bill stands a chance of being passed.
State Governor Sam Brownback praised the bill in an interview with the Topeka Capital-Journal. “Americans have constitutional rights, among them the right to exercise their religious beliefs and the right for every human life to be treated with respect and dignity,” he said, possibly with a 16th Century Quaker’s accent.
HB 2453 states: “No individual or religious entity shall be required by any governmental entity to do any of the following, if it would be contrary to the sincerely held religious beliefs of the individual or religious entity regarding sex or gender: Provide any services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges; provide counseling, adoption, foster care and other social services; or provide employment or employment benefits, related to, or related to the celebration of, any marriage, domestic partnership, civil union or similar arrangement.”
So, 14 years into the 21st Century, lawmakers in one of America’s so-called progressive breadbasket states are poised to approve a law based entirely on hate – and nothing more.
It is pure, vile hatred that is at the heart of this bill and Kansas residents had best be prepared for other equally oppressive bills in the future. If their government can even contemplate a law that spits in the eye of the intent of the US Constitution, what is to stop them taking aim at immigrants or African Americans or Nebraskans?
That sounds silly. Why would Kansas oppress Nebraskans? Well, why would government time and money be spent creating a discriminatory bill that flies the flag of Westboro-style hatred from on high in Topeka, against people who merely want to live their lives without being the targets of hate and hate crimes?
America’s occasional lapses into stone aged stupidity can be hilarious, especially from a Canadian point of view.
For example, it was reported today that almost one-quarter of all Americans believe the sun orbits the Earth (the optimist in me wishes to believe the survey this fact was culled from was conducted in Topeka, but it was nation-wide).
Now that is funny.
When Canadian comics take the Mickey out of our southern cousins by exposing their glaring geographical, historical and societal ignorance, it can be hilarious.
Video clips of Westboro Baptist imbeciles making special fools of themselves, showcasing their terrifying hatred and stupidity, can be hilarious if you’re not completely creeped out enough to pen a giant black X through the state of Kansas in your Rand McNally road atlas to ensure avoidance in the future.
In the past, I’ve excused Kansas for its most famous hate export, believing the good people of the state overall have more going on upstairs than that, but if HB 2453 is passed, that notion will be challenged.
I’ve traveled through Kansas a few times over the years and found it a hospitable place, with some picturesque locales and it is great for summer storm chasing.
But if its governing body approves a bill to support hatred in a time when our world needs to find ways to eliminate the growing cowardly swathe of hatred and bullying that occurs via the Internet/social media, Kansas will become a symbol of oppression and hypocrisy.
A ray of hope for Kansas is coming from Susan Wagle, Republican president of the Senate, who understands the ugliness of this proposed bill.
“I’ve grown concerned about the practical impact of the bill. My members also don’t condone discrimination. If we cannot find ample common ground to ease legitimate concerns, I believe a majority of my caucus will not support the bill,” she said recently. State Democrats are also, not shockingly, opposed to the bill.
But if it is passed, religion again barges into the midst of politics in America and the once beloved and envied US Constitution, and its great authors, are spat upon by tiny people with tinier minds.
Yes, it is the 21st Century, only not in Kansas. Kansas is apparently headed for the dark ages if its Republican thug idiots get their way. Next up, burning witches!
And there I was thinking America wanted to shed its image as the thug in the room who does as he pleases. There I was thinking America was stepping away from being the ignorant, brash moron who is simply too stupid to realize he is stupid.
And along came Kansas and HB 2453.
While the rest of the adult world that isn’t bothered by such inconsequential and unimportant things as who an adult wishes to shack up with will mock you, make fun of you following the Rob Ford bits on the Daily Show and Colbert Report and avoid you because you’re a dangerous idiot, you can find solace in knowing that Vladimir Putin has your backs.
Him and Westboro Baptist Church.
