Republican Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has overturned an executive order that protected many state employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
The order he rescinded was put into place by former Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Her order had barred executive branch state agencies from discriminating in hiring and employment based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Doug Bonney, with the ACLU of Kansas, says the move comes as a surprise.
“It’s a very sad and unfortunate sign that we are going backwards in time in terms of state protections against employment discrimination. It’s too bad,” says Bonney.
Bonney says Kansas anti-discrimination laws don’t include sexual orientation. Brownback says current law protects state employees, and all Kansans, from discrimination based on race, religion, gender and other factors.
He says any additional protections should be passed by the Legislature, not put into place by executive action.
