http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=1221712A Kansas college town is one step closer to approving the nation's strictest ordinance that would award special protections to the "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender" (LGBT) community.
In a 5-1 vote, the Human Rights and Services Board of Manhattan, Kansas, recently recommended to adopt the sexual orientation ordinance, which includes gender identity. The measure now goes before the county commissioners for a vote. So along with a number of concerned pastors, Kansas Family Policy Council (KFPC) director Donna Lippoldt is considering next steps.
"We have to make sure that these city council people do not get reelected next April -- that would be one thing," she explains. "But we're going to be calling the state to Manhattan to prayer and to come to the city council meeting, because this is the broadest sexual orientation ordinance in the nation."
Donna Lippoldt (KFPC)Several cities across the U.S. have recently voted down similar measures, but three of the five Manhattan commissioners have expressed their support for the proposal. Lippoldt says several issues within the ordinance are of great concern fpr Christian organizations and business owners.
"Religious liberties are violated when you tell a Christian college like Manhattan Christian College that they must hire LGBT people to teach at the university, that they must take their restrooms and their locker rooms and make them all gender-neutral," she contends. "Religious liberties are violated when you tell a Christian individual who owns some rental property that they must now rent to LGBT people."
As another example, the law would make it illegal for an employer to fire a bearded male sales executive who also wears dresses and high heels. So to educate the public on more about the sexual orientation debate in Manhattan, Kansas, the KFPC director is