Republican vows to stop Lawrence's new domestic partner registry

To no one's surprise, Rep. Lance Kinzer said today he will once again try to ban domestic partner registries statewide.

Lawrence's new registry goes into effect Aug. 1 for both same-sex and heterosexual couples. Even if he succeeds, Kinzer couldn't get the Legislature to pass a ban until the session starts in January. If that happens, a victory by Kinzer would demolish a registry that would already have been functioning for months. A victory by Kinzer would declare null and void the registrations of many couples.

The bill by the Olathe Republican was approved last session by a committee in the House. However, it never made it to a vote of the full House. The ban would have to be passed by the House and then get through a Senate committee and the full Senate before going to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for her signature. Sebelius has not said whether or not she would sign such a bill.

A domestic partner registry does nothing more than allow couples to access benefits their employers already offer to them. It is nothing more revolutionary than a list of names. Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison has already said that Lawrence's registry is constitutional, even with the state ban on same-sex marriage.

If you want to be part of stopping Kinzer's attempt to keep Lawrence couples from getting insurance and other benefits, join the Kansas Equality Coalition and become a part of the fight for fairness.

What's next for Lawrence's domestic partner registry

Both the mundane and, let's say, the profane are expected in the next few months now that the Lawrence City Commission has passed a domestic partner registry.

First up will probably be the mundane. The registry is supposed to go into effect on Aug. 1. The city still needs to determine an exact fee and set up the web site that partners will use to register. As soon as I have details, I'll post them and a link to the registration site. You can read the ordinance here.

What may be profane -- or what dictionary.com calls "common or vulgar" -- is an expected attempt to stop the registry. The Lawrence/Douglas County Chapter of the Kansas Equality Coalition has been hearing for months that someone (don't know who) plans to file an injunction to block implementation of the registry.

This may well happen, but right now I'm personally a bit uncertain it will. Although the battle was long and hard and took a ton of work, the opposition proved itself to be fairly toothless by the time the whole thing was over. On the other hand, it never pays to underestimate the commitment of our opponents.

I'm more concerned, though, about a renewed attempt in the Kansas Legislature to pass a bill banning domestic partner registries throughout the state. Introduced by Olathe Republican Lance Kinzer, the bill was passed by an ultra-conservative House committee last session.

When the Legislature goes back into session in January, Kinzer's bill could go to a quick vote by the full House, which is largely conservative. The bill would still have to pass the more moderate Senate, but I would prefer that we never have to engage in that fight.

Kansas Equality Coalition Chair Thomas Witt reminds us that "the work is not done," and he's right.

I propose a short break for everyone to catch their breath, and then renewed commitment to the fight. One important way to get involved is to become a member of the Equality Coalition. It only costs $15.

Becoming a member not only provides financial support for the group, but it also proves to decision makers that everyday voters support our goals. The truth is that many do, but our opinions have often been drowned out by the screams of the religious right.

Kinzer says he won't stop trying to ban domestic partner registries

File this one under the so-what-else-is-new category: The Kansas Legislature's leading right winger says he won't give up on his push to block Lawrence and other Kansas cities from being fair to LGBT citizens.

At issue is Lawrence's impending passage of a domestic partner registry. Already anointed by a 4-1 vote, the registry is expected to pass two more votes and become a reality on Aug. 1 or thereabouts.

Note that this registry is nothing more than a list of names. Note also that all it does is allow people -- both straight and gay -- to gain access to insurance and other benefits their employers already offer.

Most folks call that being fair. But to Rep. Lance Kinzer the simple act of saying that people who are couples (some for decades) are, well, couples is horrifying. The KC Star reports:

But there are opponents, including one Kansas legislator who vows to push legislation next session to undo what Lawrence is doing and keep other towns from enacting similar registries.

“I think the city of Lawrence is doing this just to make a political statement,” said Rep. Lance Kinzer, an Olathe Republican who fears that the ordinance could lead to a challenge of the state’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriages. “I don’t think it does on its face, but the potential is there.”

In the just completed 2007 session, Kinzer was the only sponsor on a bill to ban registries. While the bill made it out of one of the most socially conservative committees in the House, it never made it to the House floor for a vote. Apparently, there wasn't enough support to bring it up.

One warning, though. Never underestimate the power of the right to pass anti-gay legislation. That's why joining the Kansas Equality Coalition and helping the coalition in its Statehouse work is important.

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PHOTO: Lance Kinzer