Kansas bill would expand anti-bias laws to gays

Topeka, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas House Democrat has drafted a new proposal to bar discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Kansas City Rep. Louis Ruiz presented his proposal Tuesday during a meeting of the House Federal and State Affairs Committee. The panel agreed to sponsor it.

Such proposals have failed to pass several times in recent years in the Republican-controlled Legislature. Expanding anti-discrimination laws to protect gays, lesbians, bisexuals and the transgendered against bias in employment, housing and public accommodations is a key goal of the gay-rights group Equality Kansas.

The bill's introduction came a month after the House passed a "religious freedom" bill that critics said would allow widespread discrimination in the name of protecting gay-marriage opponents from fines and lawsuits.

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The Gayly – March 12, 2014 @ 9:10am