Awaken Salina
A Project of the Kansas Family Policy Council invites you to join
Congressman Tim Huelskamp
For a Religious Liberty Rally To REPEAL the LGBT Ordinance on the November 6thBallot
Monday, October 22, 2012
Salina Bicentennial Center
800 The Midway
Salina, KS
6:00pm – 7:00pm
Doors open at 5:30pm
No cost to attend
Salina - Petition Approved
Repeal Effort Moves Forward
In May, the Salina City Commission gave final approval to a sweeping new ordinance granting new protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the areas of housing, employment and public accommodation. The ordinance poses a threat to churches, religious institutions, individuals, business owners, landlords and families in Salina.
The main concern with the ordinance in Salina relates to its impact on religious liberties. There was no exemption for churches or religious institutions unless they were closed to the public. The City provided material that stated that churches open to the public could not decline to rent space to a gay couple for a party under the new ordinance (question 1Q on page3 HERE). Likewise, business owners and landlords with deeply held religious beliefs could be subject to legal action should a legitimate business decision adversely affect an LGBT individual.
Secondary concerns relate to the public accommodation portion of the ordinance and the ability to continue segregating bathrooms based on gender. Under the ordinance, men who choose to live as women (transgender) could not be prevented from using the women's restroom. The city provided guidance that stipulated the provision of separate unisex bathrooms was not adequate. Read the document provided by the City of Salina (question 4Q on page 3 HERE).
Finally, in its report to the City Commission, city staff noted that there was no good information to define a problem in Salina and furthermore it was difficult to determine what negative harms might result from enactment (page 5 section E HERE.
Throughout the summer, Awaken Salina and KFPC worked to collect 2,446 signatures seeking the repeal of this ordinance. Kansas law required that 1,297 registered voters sign the petition. On Tuesday, August 21st, the petition was delivered to the City Clerk. Late in the day on Thursday August 23rd, the Saline County Election Commissioner confirmed that the required number of signatures was present and that the petition was certified to move forward. See the Salina Journal story HERE.
Within 20 days, the matter will come before the City Commission which will have the opportunity to repeal the ordinance or place it before the voters in November.
Cick HERE to read more about the history of the Bathroom Bill in Salina.