The facts about SB175, the so-called Campus Religious Freedom bill

In a nutshell, here are the facts about SB175, this year's so-called "Religious Freedom" bill:

• SB175 will impact all universities in the Kansas Regents system (KU, K-State, WSU, ESU, PSU, and FHSU), Washburn University, and all community colleges in Kansas.
   
• Recognized student associations have access to taxpayer-funded campus facilities, such as classrooms, conference centers, athletic facilities and equipment, and campus communications facilities.
   
• Student associations may apply for grants from student fee funds. Activity fees are mandatory, and are added to the cost of tuition. There are no opt-out provisions.
   
• Board of Regents policy prohibits discrimination by student associations based on age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, physical handicap or disability, and veteran status.
   
• SB175 will create a special exception to the Regents non-discrimination policy, which will apply only to religious student associations. SB175 creates special rights for associations claiming the right to discrimination based on religious freedom.
   
• SB175 will create a religious association exemption to the Kansas Act Against Discrimination (KSA 44-1001 et seq), which prohibits discrimination in public accommodations on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, disability, familial status, national origin or ancestry.
   
• Many people have characterized SB175 as anti-LGBT. It will also permit taxpayer-funded discrimination against all other protected classes.
   
• Public universities are places to learn, to be exposed to new and challenging ideas. They do not exist to protect and fund exclusionary ideologies.
   
• SB175 will grant a license to discriminate to young people fresh out of high school. Events such as the racist chant at University of Oklahoma will come to Kansas.
   
• Kansans are free to create religious associations, to set their own standards, and conduct their affairs as they wish.Involuntary student fees must not be used to grant special rights to discriminate against the students paying the fees.

If you, or someone you know, wants to help in the fight against legalized discrimination, please let us know! – www.EQKS.org.

The Gayly – April 9, 2015 @ 5:10pm.