Kansas voters approve ban on gay unions

[Rose Siding]

TOPEKA, Kan. -- Voters in Kansas overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment Tuesday banning same-sex couples from marrying or entering into civil unions.

With more than half of precincts reporting, 276,876 votes, or 69 percent, were cast in favor of a constitutional amendment, with 121,836 votes, or 31 percent, opposed.
....
Among the opponents was Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who said she supported the existing state law and viewed it as sufficient.

"I don't think we need a constitutional amendment, and particularly a constitutional amendment that goes far beyond the bounds of that law," she said.

Kansas became the 18th state with such a prohibition in its constitution. Alabama, South Dakota and Tennessee plan elections next year on constitutional bans, and proposals are pending in 13 other states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/04/05/early_results_kansas_oks_gay_union_ban/

[atommom]

1. Yup. Didn't have the heart to post this in LBN myself...

:eyes:

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. This just breaks my heart

We live in a state full of bigots.

[mitchtv]

2. not unexpected

the consumate fly-over state

[Erika]

4. Theocracy at work...

Bible belt governance.

[efhmc]

5. What state(s) have voted on and denied this?

[atommom]

8. I don't think any state has voted this down yet.

[efhmc]

9. Exactly, if it makes it to the ballot it goes down. A sorry state of

affairs but I do not think Kansas is any worse than those other states that preceded them.

[BattyDem]

6. Yet another state feels the need ...

to add hatred and bigotry into their Constitution. What a proud moment for America! :eyes: :grr:

Will someone please explain to me how letting two people of the same gender get married and/or have some legal protection for their families will affect my life one way or the other??? :shrug:

[Maestro]

7. And this helps

marriage by... :shrug:

[whirlygigspin]

11. Welcome to Kansas

back to the good ole days

[Maestro]

13. I just don't get it

I'm straight, married, with kids and I don't see how, if two gays want to enter into a marriage, this affects me. :shrug: Oh wait, it's political pandering that solves no real problem just a perceived one. Meanwhile the real problems are pushed behind the curtain. Disgusting! Is Kansas going to mandate creationism in schools and ban evolution next?

God, people (present company excluded) let's focus on the real problems.

[atommom]

15. I think our BOE would be happy to get rid of evolution right now, too.

That's a hot topic right now. They pretend to be examining the evidence, but it's obvious that the deck is stacked. :banghead:

[StuckinKS]

22. Yes

The religious right whackos, Revs. Terry Fox and Joe Wright were featured in the Wichita Eagle below a banner headline, "AMENDMENT PASSES," as they shake hands while wearing shit-eating grins. Now, they say they are ready to take on abortion, gambling and evolution.

We should all be very afraid.

[renaissanceguy]

30. Unfortunately the rest of the population might not

see it this way, because they are nearsighted. They don't realize that by voting YES on such a bill, they are just giving the RW more momentum in taking away ALL our civil liberties and free thinking and even science.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.16778992

[Nevernose]

10. Well thank God, we can all relax now

We don't have to worry about illegal wars, terrorism, pollution, a broken educational system, 45 miliion Americans w/o healthcare, the lack of affordable housing, the rising cost of food and oil, ad infinitum.

As long as we can still control what consenting adults want to do, the rest doesn't matter, right?

[MuseRider]

12. I am so sorry.

I can't say more right now, I just got home from the watch party. I will post tomorrow when I can go longer than 5 minutes without crying. We worked so damned hard and lost both of our elections tonight. This is just outrageous.

[atommom]

16. I'm sorry too. I hope things start to look up here soon...

:pals:

[MuseRider]

38. Well, they certainly are not

going to be quiet.

[dsc]

18. I am so sorry

Remember you were fighting the good fight. There is no shame in losing the shame is in not fighting.

[MuseRider]

39. You have been so supportive.

Thanks, you have no idea how good that feels right now. I will be there for you when you or if you come up against this.

[StuckinKS]

23. Muserider

Did you work on Tiffany Muller's campaign for Topeka city council? I was sorely disappointed by her loss. Unfortunately, I feel the fundie turnout due to the amendment likely hurt her chances.

I am sad today also. Here in Wichita, we had a diversity-celebrating concert on Monday night and its remaining effects are assuaging my hurt feelings somewhat.

I will say that I will now have NO patience with the bigots in town. If one of my sons' teachers is not totally supportive of my family, they are gonna get a major bitch slap. Metaphorically, at least.

[MuseRider]

40. Yes I did.

Do you mean "Tiffany Muller The Only Openly Gay Council Member"? Never did we see Tiffany Muller city councilwoman bringing jobs to Topeka or any of the other things she did, not once.

I just came from her house, we were picking up signs. She is one strong woman but she is very unhappy. They certainly demonized her. I am hoping she will go back to being a strong activist and I am certain Topeka has not heard the last from her. I worked more for her than the amendment but they became the same issue.

I wish I had known about the concert, I'll bet that was wonderful. Do you have an Equal Justice Coalition? You must. Get involved. I am up for a board position here and I think in this state we need to get everyone together and figure this thing out. It may take years of chipping away at it but I have nothing else to do now so I am game for the fight.

:hug:

[Solly Mack]

24. (((((Muserider))))))

You have nothing to be sorry for....I know how hard you worked!

[MuseRider]

41. Thanks Solly,

it is good work and worth every minute. Coalition building, we have a great start and now we know our starting point. I was told this when I was sulking in the corner last night, I'm not sure it helped but it does make sense.

[DemExpat]

33. Hugs to you, MuseRider...

:hug: :hug: :hug:

And you can feel good about the hard work you put into the good fight of this disappointing loss....:-(

DemEx

[MuseRider]

43. I do feel good about the work

but we got creamed. I am very curious who did those polls that had the campaign office so certain we were close. Out of nowhere (churches) they came and demolished us. :shrug: I would not have ever thought it would be this bad but I do know I am done sticking up for the "good people" of Kansas. I am very ashamed of them now.

[Guckert]

14. And I thought it was blacks marrying whites that was to be the downfall

of civilization as we know it???? who knew it was the gays all along???:sarcasm: :puke: I love this country.

[yorgatron]

17. what's the matter with Kansas?

it's full of idiots,that's what :mad::grr:

[atommom]

19. Well, 70% full of idiots ... which is close enough for government work...

:dunce:

[KansDem]

34. Yeah, my new bumper sticker...

So 70% of Kansans are bigots and
homophobes? Who woulda thunk it?!

[Roland99]

20. We can, hopefully, take heart that SCOTUS will reprimand the States

and put the smackdown on the bigots.

[dubyaD40web]

21. I hate this fuggin' state!

As much as I'd like to move, I'll stay here and fight for us!

[zanne]

25. That is so selfish...

Can you imagine how much time and money was spent just trying to deny happiness to same-sex couples? Come to think of it, it's selfish and cruel.

[atommom]

28. Tons of time and money. And our legislature pushed the gay

marriage amendment through before anything else, even though our state supreme court had ordered them to fix our school finance problem ASAP. If they applied this kind of zeal to actually helping the citizens of this state, we'd be a lot better off.

[renaissanceguy]

31. Fear and ignorance

does wonders to a population. Heil Amerikka.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/466053

[WindRavenX]

26. well damn

That starts my day off pretty poorly x(

[frictionlessO]

27. The Goddess hates Kansas!

Kidding.. sorta.

This is just so depressing. America so full of intolerance and disrespect for diversity. Why do they fear so?

[Behind the Aegis]

36. What I find interesting.

I just love when I see these assholes on TV screaming that WE need to respect and be tolerant of THEM! When was the last amendment to ANY state constitution denying the rights of the religious to marry or participate in the creation of their own families? Oh that's right...NEVER!!! FUCK THEM!

You ask; why do they fear us? The fear and HATE us for our FREEDOMS!! And, if they have their way, they will continue to strip us of them! They are terrorists without bombs!

[THUNDER HANDS]

29. and liberals stay in these states....why?

Really...move to a swing state or something. There should be a liberal relocation project.

If every solid liberal moved from a solid red state to a swing state we could OWN the presidency for decades.

But I guess life on the 'ol farm is too good to pass up for a chance at having a real democracy again.

[atommom]

35. It's more complicated than that, really, but I'm not in a good enough

mood today to explain why without getting bitchy. Just take my word for it. :D

[MuseRider]

37. atommom

:hug: :thumbsup: :applause:

[zanne]

42. I lived in a liberal town for three years...

You couldn't go out the door without bumping into another liberal. Everybody agreed with me most of the time. For the first year, it was exhilarating; I had grown up in a conservative state and I felt so "free" in my new hometown; the second year was OK, too. By the third year, I would have gone out of my way to have someone disagree with me. I was bored to tears most of the time. I guess some people just need a little conflict in their lives; it's a challenge.

[LoganW]

32. Time to get the 14th amendment involved

[Fovea]

44. Wait until they have

an issue of non traditional couples unable to sign a consent waiver in a hospital, or visit a critically ill lover occur in their family.

But as Malloy says -- at least queers caint git married.

I and my S/O voted against it. So did my Catholic neighbor, a staunch Croat-American conservative dem from Strawberry Hill. Not that he was all that hot on gays, but it was bad law, he said.

The voting looked really light at Reardon Center.