Hutchinson History
Hutchinson Bathroom Bill Update
Beginning with the most recent, here are the developments on the Hutchinson Ordinance so far:
Click HERE to read recent national news accounts of the Hutchinson Ordinance.
The Awaken Hutchinson Petition Drive was successful.
Links to petitions documents below are informational only as we are no longer collecting signatures.
Petition Drive Launched
As the recently adopted ordinance granting new rights based on sexual orientation went into effect on June 8th, Awaken Hutchinson is now working to collect signatures to place the misguided ordinance on the November Ballot.
Petitions are now available for signatures and there are a number of Awaken Hutchinson volunteers already collecting signatures.
The forms and instructions are available for download now by clicking below.
Our goal is to collect at least 1000 signatures in the coming weeks and we need your help.
Read the Hutchinson News coverage of our recent organizational meeting HERE or HERE.
Read coverage of our petition announcement HERE or HERE.
Tuesday June 5th, the Hutchinson City Commission voted 3-2 to adopt new ordinance language adding new protections for individuals based on sexual orientation in employment terminaiton and housing eviction. At the meeting, there was a move to introduce further changes when one commissioner suggested that it may be necessary to consider other protections related to hiring practices in the future. Read the coverage of the City Commission action HERE.
Check back for updates on any further action rgarding this matter.
Tuesday May 15th, In a surprising turn of events, the Hutchinson City Commission nearly rejected the Hutchinson Bathroom Bill in its entirety, opting for a very diminished compromise. At least one commissioner noted that there had been hundreds of phone calls and emails against the proposal. The effort of Hutchinson residents was apparent. The crowd that attended the meeting was 90% against the troubling original ordinance.
The City Commission voted 3-2 for a compromise worked out between Commissioners Sellers and Bush which instructs the City Staff to draft an ordinance that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation only in matters of employment termination and housing eviction.
At this time KFPC is waiting for the ordinance to be drafted before determining the next step. We are working with the Alliance Defense Fund to obtain qualified and experienced legal opinions on the implications of the proposed ordinance.
While it is premature to make the determination, it is entirely possible that KFPC will pursue an official protest petition in this matter. An official protest petition would require less than 400 qualified signatures from Hutchinson residents to place this matter on a future ballot.
We anticipate that the ordinance will be drafted by early June - check back often for more information and updates.
Wednesday April 25th, the Hutchinson Human Relations Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the City adopt changes to the City Code to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes under the municipal civil rights code. The matter will go to the City Commission in the coming weeks. You can read the Hutchinson News coverage of the story HERE or HERE.
On Tuesday April 17th, The Kansas Family Policy Council attended the City Commission meeting to deliver the petitions in opposition to the discrimination ordinance. In the end, we had an excellent response rate to the petitions - over 880 people signed the petitions and of those, 665 were residents of Hutchinson-proper. This is an excellent step in communicating to the City Commission that there is quite a number of people who are concerned with this misguided proposal. You can read the Hutchinson News coverage of the City Commission meeting HERE or HERE.
On Wednesday April 11, the Hutchinson Human Relations Commission voted to recommend that the City Council adopt changes to Hutchinson City Code that create special rights based upon sexual orientation and gender identity. It was regrettable that the Hutchinson Human Relations Commission reached this decision, but even more regrettable that with one or two exceptions, the concerns raised at the three public forums were largely ignored during the deliberations Wednesday evening.
The Hutchinson News covered the meeting - you can read more HERE or HERE.
On Saturday March 31, The Hutchinson Human Relations Commission held its third and final public forum on the proposed changes to the Hutchinson discrimination Ordinance.
You can read the Hutchinson News coverage of the meeting HERE.
On Thursday March 29, the Hutchinson Human Relations Commission held its second public forum on the proposed changes to the Hutchinson discrimination Ordinance.
You can read the Hutchinson News coverage of the meeting HERE.
On Tuesday March 27, the Hutchinson Human Relations Commission held its first public forum on the proposed changes to the Hutchinson discrimination ordinance.
You can read the Hutchinson News coverage of the meeting HERE.
On Wednesday February 29th, The Hutchinson Human Relations Commission considered the path ahead regarding the proposed ordinance and its consideration in Hutchinson. The Human Relations Commission has set three public meetings in late March at which Hutchinson residents will have the opportunity to voice their concerns about the ordinance. All public forums will be held at Memorial Hall, 101 South Walnut, Hutchinson, Kansas, according to the following schedule:
On Wednesday February 15th, the Hutchinson Human Relations Commission held its first meeting to consider the course ahead regarding the ordinance. At this time the matter is still under consideration however as we currently understand the process, there will likely be at least one public meeting at which the citizens of Hutchinson will have the opportunity to voice their concerns. As soon as information is available about the schedule and the forthcoming deliberative process, KFPC will update this page - please check back here for the latest information.
On Monday February 6th, after many weeks of inaction, the Hutchinson City Commission decided to refer this matter to the Hutchinson Human Relations Commission for a 90 day review.
On November 1, 2011, the City of Hutchinson was asked to consider modifying its current nondiscrimination ordinance to include two new protected classes: sexual orientation and gender identity. These protected classes would create special rights for individuals in the areas of housing, employment and public accommodation. Aside from the creation of protected classes based upon lifestyle choices and sexual behavior, the ordinance creates legal pitfalls for employers and landlords. In other areas of the country these laws have created legal precedents to allow access to women's restrooms by men who have chosen to live as women.
In the meantime, KFPC continues to work with several churches in Hutchinson to educate citizens about this proposed ordinance. KFPC has provided informative bulletin inserts and initiated a petition drive expressing opposition to this ordinance.
If you would like more information or if your church wants get involved please contact KFPC at 316-993-3900.
Please click HERE to sign the online petition expressing opposition to this ordinance.
Click HERE or on the image below to read the bulletin insert that a number of churches have used in recent weeks regarding this measure.
