Scroll To Top
Marriage Equality

Kansas Lawmaker Delivers Crazy Antigay Rant

Kansas Lawmaker Delivers Crazy Antigay Rant

Dick

State Rep. Dick Jones says the Supreme Court has decided gay people are a "third sex."

Nbroverman

Lawmakers in Kansas concerning themselves with a lawsuit filed over 1,800 miles away debated the nature of gay people in Topeka Wednesday.

At a hearing of the House Federal and State Affairs Committee, state representatives considered a "religious freedom bill" and heard testimony from the attorney of a Washington State florist sued for refusing to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding.

"I have been told that I must think and act according to the government's opinions," florist Barronelle Stutzman, who's being sued the American Civil Liberties Union and Washington's attorney general, told the committee, "or the government will punish me if I don't go along with their agenda."

A Republican lawmaker, Dick Jones of Topeka, used the hearing to launch into a bizarre, misinformed tirade.

Speaking of last year's Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide, Jones said, "The Supreme Court has, in fact, established a third sex for all intents and purposes. So there's male and female and gay."

"But we must not forget that gay is strictly a sexual preference," Jones said, according to The Topeka Capital-Journal. "It's not a separate sex. But until we get the public to accept that, your desire to live in your Christian ethic, I think, is practically doomed, and I'm sorry to say that."

The head of LGBT rights organization Equality Kansas, Tom Witt, blasted the proceedings for allowing only antigay voices to be heard.

Ultimately, no action was taken at the session on any legislation.

Nbroverman
Advocate Channel - The Pride StoreOut / Advocate Magazine - Fellow Travelers & Jamie Lee Curtis

From our Sponsors

Most Popular

Latest Stories

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.
Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.