Tag: Kansas

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Kansas: Anti-Gay Wackadoos Phillip and Sandra Unruhs File Amicus Brief In State Marriage Case

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Last week, Kansas wackjobs Phillip and Sandra Unruhs were quickly swatted away after their attempt to intervene in the Kansas marriage equality case where they tried to say giving equal rights to gay and lesbian couples was tantamount to STEALING it from straight couples like themselves.

The judge quickly dismissed that weak assertion.

However, the Unruhs were allowed to file an amicus brief in support of denying gays the right to marry, and so today, we have their masterpiece of a brief.

Included in the 8 page filing are statements to the effect that:

• Since the Plaintiffs are lesbians, any ruling should not affect male same-sex couples
• Giving marriage rights to same-sex couples would discriminate against opposite-sex couples based on sex
• Marriage equality would result in the taking of property rights of heterosexual couples in violation of the 5th and 14th Amendments

It’s not a long read, but pretty fascinating in it’s illogic.

See the brief below:

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Kansas Couple Denied Intervention On Same-Sex Marriage Law Suit Based On “Theft of Marriage”

Sandra and Phillip Unruh of Kansas

A married couple in Kansas, Phillip and Sandra Unruh, has filed for and been denied the opportunity to intervene in the state’s same-sex marriage lawsuit.

In what was a very “unlikely to succeed” strategy, the Unruhs filed a brief saying that allowing same-sex couples to marry is “deeply disturbing,” “inflicts profound harm” on them, and is tantamount to a literal theft of their own marriage.

In other words, the Unruhs claim is that “marriage” is for straight people and giving it to gays means stealing it from heterosexuals.

From KCWH:

A Harper, Kansas couple is upset after a judge said they can’t be a part of a same-sex marriage lawsuit filed earlier this month. The judge claimed they could not be parties in the casebecause their views will be represented. So now, they’re writing an amicus brief to have their opinions heard.

“We were disappointed that we weren’t allowed to become parties in the court case but we are also excited about the fact that the judge invited us to file an amicus brief which means friend of the court,” Phillip Unruh said. “It means the judge has allowed us into the court case and will consider our written arguments.”

As thrilled as Phillip Unruh may be, just about anyone can file an amicus brief.

The judge in the case gave the Unruhs until 5pm tomorrow to file their amicus brief.

Can’t wait for that one!

In related news, the crackpots over at Westboro Baptist Church (located in Kansas) have filed a similar request to intervene in the state’s marriage equality fight.  Expect a similar rebuke from the court on that one, too.

Here’s the judge’s denial of intervention below:

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Kansas: Straight Couple Joins Same-Sex Marriage Lawsuit Because the Gays Are Stealing Their “Marriage”

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Kansas couple Phillip W. Unruh and Sandra L. Unruh have filed a motion to intervene in the ACLU’s marriage equality case in Kansas.

If I understand this correctly, the Unruhs say that should same-sex marriage be legalized in Kansas, they would “experience a taking of their property rights in marriage without due process of law.”

Apparently, “marriage” is “property” that belongs to the Unruhs by virtue of the Fifth Amendment.

Seriously, folks, you can’t make this up.

I can’t do better justice than Joe Jervis at JoeMyGod:

“Apparently, once them gays steal a chunk of their marriage, well, it’s all downhill for the Uhruhs from there. Next thing you know they’ll be cooking meth with hobos under a Kansas overpass. The rest of their brief is similarly cracktastic, complete with quotes from Genesis and the usual “they can’t even make a baby” crapola.”

If you really want to entertain yourself, hit this link and read the full brief.

I’m assuming having the nerve to file this must resemble what it’s like to be on drugs…

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Kansas, Montana and South Carolina Still Behind The Curve

Evan Wolfson of Freedom To Marry tweeted that yesterday noting that only Kansas, Montana and South Carolina have not moved to honor the recent rulings in three federal appellate courts concerning the freedom to marry:

• Kansas has a court date this Friday, October 24th, in Kansas City at 10AM where LGBT activists will request a temporary injunction that would bring Kansas in line with the rest of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

• Montana gets a hearing on November 20th in Great Falls where the ACLU has requested a summary judgement on the issue of same-sex marriage in light of the recent ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over Montana.

• South Carolina is moving at a slower pace with written briefs due by October 23rd in a lawsuit filed which would bring the state in line with the ruling from the 4th Circuit Court. Both sides will then have 14 days to reply to briefs, and then a hearing will be scheduled within 21 days after that.

Additionally, Arkansas will also address same-sex marriage on November 20th when Federal Judge Kristine Baker will hear plaintiffs asking for a summary judgement for marriage equality while the state has filed a motion to dismiss the case altogether.

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Kansas: District Court Orders Johnson County Clerk To Issue Marriage Licenses To Same-Sex Couples

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A District Court has directed the clerk of Johnson County to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples who apply for one.  Read the ruling above.

Johnson County, a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, is the most populous county in Kansas.

Things sure are happening fast!

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Kansas state Senate kills anti-gay “religious liberty” bill

The Kansas state Senate president has killed – at least for now – legislation passed in the House that would have legalized discrimination against the LGBT community.

From MSNBC:

House Bill 2453, as drafted and passed by the Republican-controlled state House of Representatives this week, would give any individual, business, group, or government official the right to deny same-sex couples a host of basic goods, services, benefits, or employment – on the grounds of a conflicting “sincerely held religious belief.” Lawmakers in the state House approved the measure on Wednesday by a vote of 72-49.

The bill was widely expected to pass the state Senate, too, as Republicans outnumber Democrats 32-8 in that chamber. But Republican state Sen. Susan Wagle, the Senate’s president, poured cold water on its prospects Thursday night when she released a statement saying that a majority of her caucus opposed the bill’s potential green light to discriminate. On Friday, she reaffirmed that position.

“I believe that when you hire police officers or a fireman that they have no choice in who they serve,” Wagle said at a news conference Friday, according to the Wichita Eagle. “They serve anyone who’s vulnerable, any age, any race, any sexual orientation.”

Many organizations, including the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, criticized the bill saying it would strain employer/employee relations.

A Facebook page titled “Stop Kansas House Bill 2453” has netted more than 50,000 “likes” as of Friday evening.

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Kansas: LGBT discrimination bill may not pass in state Senate

A Kansas bill allowing discrimination against gay couples based on religious beliefs which passed the state House in a 72-49 vote may not see passage in the state Senate, President Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, indicated in an email on Thursday.

The Wichita Eagle reports:

“After an initial review, I’ve grown concerned about the practical impact of the bill,” Wagle said in an e-mailed statement. The bill would allow public and private employees alike to refuse service based on religious views of marriage.

“A strong majority of my members support laws that define traditional marriage, protect religious institutions, and protect individuals from being forced to violate their personal moral values,” Wagle said. “However, 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.”

(via Towleroad)

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Kansas: Waiter stiffed by Christians for being “queer”

From Raw Story: A group of customers refused to tip their 20-year-old server at a Carraba’s Italian restaurant in Overland Park, KS on the grounds that his homosexuality is “an affront to God.” According to KCTV Fox 19, the server went to the table after the group of customers left and found a note explaining their decision.

“Thank you for your service, it was excellent. That being said, we cannot in good conscience tip you, for your homosexual lifestyle is an affront to GOD. Queers do not share in the wealth of GOD, and you will not share in ours,” said the note. “We hope you will see the tip your queer choices made you lose out on, and plan accordingly. It is never too late for GOD’s love, but none shall be spared for queers. May GOD have mercy on you.”

Friends and supportive customers plan to dine at the restaurant Friday evening as a show of support for the waiter who received the hateful note. He has declined to give his name or go on camera and has asked people not to try and give him money.

FOX19.com-Cincinnati News, Weather

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Kansas Pastor Curtis Knapp calls for government to round up and kill gays

The leader of the New Hope Baptist Church in Seneca, pastor Curtis Knapp, told parishioners that the government should round up LGBT people and kill them, according to audio posted by the Good As You blog.

“‘Oh, so you’re saying we should go out and start killing them?'” the pastor asked rhetorically. “No, I’m saying the government should. They won’t, but they should.”

He later explained to CNN that gays have nothing to fear from him, although he did say he believed gays should be rounded up by the federal government and killed.

This comes on the heels of a call for LGBT concentration camps from pastor Charles Worley in North Carolina. That sermon followed one by another North Carolina pastor named Sean Harris, who laughed at the idea anyone could be transgender and suggested cracking the wrists of a son who acts effeminate — a statement he later claimed was some kind of joke.

Also making the rounds today is a cell phone video of a child being cheered on by his Indiana church while singing, “Ain’t no homo going to make it to heaven.”

The Human Rights Campaign quickly denounced the comments and the string of others like it, saying extremists were “hijacking” religion.

“These are extreme and brutal messages that do not represent the beliefs of most people of faith,” said Sharon Groves, HRC’s director of religion and faith. “People like Charles Worley and the parishioners of Apostolic Truth in Indiana are falsely perpetuating the word of God and stand to do real damage to religious institutions in the process.”
(source)

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KS Tea Party/GOP Rep. Says She Can Tell Who Is ‘Illegal’

Kansas

One week ago, the Kansas House Federal and State Committee held a hearing about in-state tuition being granted to the children of undocumented immigrants, which has been the policy in the state since 2004.

Speaking in favor of repealing the law, Tea Party Rep. Connie O’Brien (R-KS) began telling an anecdote at the hearing about how her son had difficulty in getting financial assistance to attend college. She explained that she took her son to a financial aid office, and as she was waiting in line, she believed there was a girl waiting in line with them who was “not originally from this country.”

REP. O’BRIEN: My son who’s a Kansas resident, born here, raised here, didn’t qualify for any financial aid. Yet this girl was going to get financial aid. My son was kinda upset about it because he works and pays for his own schooling and his books and everything and he didn’t think that was fair. We didn’t ask the girl what nationality she was, we didn’t think that was proper. But we could tell by looking at her that she was not originally from this country. […]

REP. GATEWOOD: Can you expand on how you could tell that they were illegal?

REP. O’BRIEN: Well she wasn’t black, she wasn’t Asian, and she had the olive complexion.

There you go folks – if you aren’t black or asian, you must not be from this country originally. Whatever that means.

I also think it’s rich that she didn’t think it was “proper” to ask the girl in question her nationality, but it’s fine to decide she’s an illegal. That’s “proper.” This is the Tea Party kids. Party on…

Listen below: