Pick another vehicle to protect LGBT state workers

“It wasn’t the right vehicle,” said House Majority Leader Jene Vickrey, R-Louisburg, about the House’s 81-42 vote Tuesday against allowing consideration of an amendment to safeguard gay state workers from workplace discrimination and harassment. If not, what’s keeping lawmakers from otherwise responding to Gov. Sam Brownback’s recent decision to rescind a Sebelius-era protection for state workers who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender? Brownback said it was a matter for the Legislature to decide. But a bill sponsored by Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, to restore the protection for state workers – and extend it to the private sector – has gone nowhere. As it is, lawmakers’ failure to act speaks louder than any of their words decrying workplace discrimination against LGBT state workers. – Rhonda Holman

This story was originally published March 25, 2015 at 2:59 PM with the headline "Pick another vehicle to protect LGBT state workers."