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| Defying SCOTUS, Kansas Keeps Anti-Gay Laws On The Books (749400) | |||
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Defying SCOTUS, Kansas Keeps Anti-Gay Laws On The Books |
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Posted by JayZeeBMT on Thu Mar 10 06:34:47 2011 Two Kansas state legislators--one republican, the other a Democrat--have successfully carried a motion to keep homosexuality a crime in that state, despite a 2003 Supreme Court ruling making such state laws unconstitutional. The lawmakers, Jan Pauls (D-Hutchinson), a former judge, and Lance Kinzer (R-Olathe), said before the state's Corrections and Juvemile Justice Committee, that homosexuality should be kept on the books as a crime in Kansas.Just in case anyone had the slightest doubt about whether this was an oversight, or a misunderstanding, listen to the words of John Wheeler, the president of the state's District Attorneys' association: “Even to this day, homosexuality is a crime in Kansas." Wheeler made those comments in 2008, a full five years after the Supreme court ruled in Lawrence v. Texas, and his remarks were made before a collegiate audience. Although such laws are technically unenforceable, the deliberate effort to keep them on the books is both chilling, and a very clear message by Kansas to its gays and lesbians: "You are unacceptable, criminal, and we will make every effort to hasten the day when we can start throwing you in jail again, just because of who you are and who you love". DISCLAIMER for Terrapin Station: I am not a lawyer, Kansas state representative, or district attorney. The factual statements in my post are a matter of public record. This is not legal or academic advice. |
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