Is gay marriage legal in ks

is gay marriage legal in ks

Kansas Republicans reject changing laws that say marriage is between a man and a woman

Kansas Republicans on Monday rejected an seek by Democrats to alter state laws that necessitate marriage to be between a man and a woman.

While the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that states must distinguish same-sex marriages, the Kansas Constitution and state statutes refer to marriage as between opposite sexes.

House Bill 2177 would have removed from statute the designation "who are of the opposite sex" when defining the parties to a marriage contract and displace the term "take each other as husband and wife" with "desire to be married." It would also would have slice the phrase, "It is the strong public policy of this state only to recognize as valid marriages from other states that are between a man and a woman."

The bill was introduced in 2023 by three openly LGBTQ members of the Kansas House. But the bill never got a hearing.

Ahead of the last regular week of session, Rep. Brandon Woodard, D-Lenexa, made a motion to withdraw the bill from committee. House rules grant such motions if a committee hasn't acted on a bill within 10 work days.

Woodard made the motion on Wednesday "for the reas

Issues in Same-Sex Divorces

After the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges, queer marriage became lawful in Kansas. As a result, both married same-sex couples and straight couples now have similar divorce rights in the state. However, gay couples may face some singular challenges during the divorce process. Besides determining when their marital relationship really began, there may also be some key issues when determining spousal assist, property, and parental rights. 

At Oleen Statute Firm, we’re devoted to offering highly-personalized legal counsel and brilliant advocacy to gay couples in the legal matters of same-sex divorce. Our experienced Kansas family law attorneys are available to enlighten you about the key issues in same-sex divorces and help you make informed decisions in your marital dissolution. We’re pleased to serve clients across Manhattan and Junction City, Kansas. If you’re in the area, reach out today for support

Same-Sex Marriage in Kansas

Same-sex marriage or gay marriage is a marital partnership between two individuals of similar sex or gender individuality. Gay marriage became in the declare of Kansas legal on June 26, 2

Kansas' Equality Profile

Sexual Orientation

48%

of population
fully protected

0%

of population only
partially
protected

    Legend

  • State
    Protections
  • County
    Protections
  • City
    Protections
  • No
    Protections
  • Protections
    Banned

County map only shows areas with complete protections for sexual orientation (i.e., discrimination prohibited in intimate employment, housing, and public accommodations)


City and County Numbers:

1 county out of 105 has an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in private employment, housing, and widespread accommodations (full protections).

19 cities have an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in intimate employment, housing, and public accommodations (full protections).

0 municipalities, not including those listed above, have an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in personal employment, housing, or public accommodations (only partial protections). Look table below.

48% of the mention population is protected against discrimination based on sexual orientation in private employment, housing, and universal accommodations (full protections).

A

LGBTQ+ Rights

Since 1936 the ACLU has been a coerce for LGBTQ+ rights, and we are proud to keep that fight alive in Kansas. Even as the nation moves forward toward equality for all people, there are also some who seek to create unnecessary obstacles for people in the Queer community. People face discrimination in the work place, housing, and the widespread sphere based on their sexual orientation gender individuality, and there are several laws in place to protect them.

What are we doing about it?

In 2014 the ACLU of Kansas filed the lawsuit Marie v. Mosier challenging Kansas’ ban same-sex marriage, and won! Other states appealed similar rulings all the way to the Supreme Court, where bans on same sex marriage were declared unconstitutional. As a result, same-sex couples across Kansas have been qualified to legally marry since November 2014. 

As some states, Kansas included, seek to enact laws that legalize discrimination, the ACLU of Kansas works to guarantee that no legislation is passed denying civil liberties to the LGBTQ+community and has been a robust voice for the rights of transgender Kansans. We have been part of expanding non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people, from standin

The Freedom to Marry in Kansas

Winning Marriage:June 26, 2015

The United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of the freedom to commit nationwide on June 26, 2015, allowing all queer couples in Kansas the ability to marry once and for all. The decision followed more than a year of marriage litigation in Kansas, and legal weddings for gay couples in many of the counties in the state.

History and the Road to Victory:

  • April 11, 1996: The Kansas Legislature passes a state statute restricting marriage to different-sex couples.
  • April 5, 2005: Opponents of the freedom to unite in Kansas push through Kansas Amendment 1, a constitutional amendment denying gay couples the freedom to marry and any other legal family status. The amendment cements clearly discriminatory language into the Kansas Constitution.
  • 2005-2014: As Americans nationwide engage in conversations about why marriage matters, national and local advocates in Kansas take strides toward increasing understanding of lgbtq+ couples and their families.
  • February 2014: Polling in Kansas tracks marked growth in support for the independence to marry, reflecting the power of the national discussion of w