Anti-Gay Marriage Bill Wins Kansas House Approval

TOPEKA, Kan. -- Gay-rights advocates are lashing out at the Kansas House's leading Democrat, saying he showed only tepid opposition to a bill protecting people who, based on their religious beliefs, discriminate against gays and lesbians.

Minority Leader Paul Davis, a Lawrence Democrat who's also running for governor, voted against the measure, which the House passed 72-49 on Wednesday, sending it to the state Senate.

The bill would prohibit government sanctions or anti-discrimination lawsuits against individuals, groups and businesses over faith-based refusals to recognize marriages, civil unions or domestic partnerships or to provide goods, services, accommodations or employment benefits to couples.

Supporters argue the bill would protect the rights of Kansans to adhere to their religious beliefs even if federal courts strike down the state constitution's ban on same-sex unions. They contend the measure is akin to protections for churches, religious groups and others in states where lawmakers have legalized gay marriage.

Davis issued a statement after a House debate Tuesday saying the bill "goes out of its way to ignore the critical challenges families are facing right now." The statement did not mention the bill's contents or deal with critics' main concern, that the measure would encourage widespread discrimination against gays and lesbians.

"Every day we spend on issues like this is one day less this Legislature and Governor has to tackle the real, growing crises at hand," Davis said in the statement.

Equality Kansas State Chairwoman Sandra Meade decried Davis' response to a "blatant attempt to maintain second-class citizen status" for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Kansans.

"It's unfortunate that discrimination against LGBT Kansans is seen as a distraction for the Democratic leadership, rather than a call to action," Meade said in a statement.

Davis declined to respond.