Date: Mon, 6 Feb 1995 04:05:08 -0600 (CST) From: Doug Glaze CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATORS As a result of last year's elections, the Kansas House of Representatives is now controlled by social conservatives. The first bills to negatively affect Lesbian and Gay Kansans have now been introduced there and are likely to pass. (See below.) From there these bills will go on to the Senate, where moderate Republicans are still in the majority. Please contact your state Senator by letter to the State Capitol, Topeka, KS 66612, or call them via the legislative switchboard at 913-296-7300 (M-F, 8-5). If you don't know who your State Senator is, you can find out by calling your local County Election Commissioner - see the blue pages in your phone book. House Resolution 2301 Would require that all sex education programs in Kansas public schools be strictly "abstinence-based" - frank discussion of safe sex would be prohibited, and school teachers would be required to limit their discussion of sex to "heterosexual marriage This bill is currently being sponsored by 47 legislators. It has received the endorsement of the Kansas Family Research Institutue, a Focus on the Family affiliate. House Bill 2092 This bill would rescind the Quality Performance Accreditation program, which prepares public school students in Kansas to live, learn, and work in a global society. Conservatives are using this bill to kill the QPA program in part because it demands that all people, including Lesbians and Gays, be treated frankly and objectively during the presentation of relevant course material. Recommending body: House Education Committee. House Resolution (HCR) 5009 This bill would amend the State Constitution with language that would give parents the 'exclusive right' to determine how their children will be taught in public schools. This amendment, if passed, creates a legal basis to allow creationism to be taught along side science in the classroom, and allows parents to censor school libraries and curriculum, especially when dealing with issues such as sex education and diversity. This amendment would effectively remove any discussion of Lesbian and Gay issues from all public schools. Recommending body: House Judiciary Committee. A public hearing on 5009 has been set for Feb. 8th.