(AP) — A Kansas lawmaker has questioned why a state agency included sexual orientation in an anti-discrimination clause for safe houses for victims of human trafficking.
Rep. Jan Pauls, D-Hutchinson
The safe houses are part of anti-trafficking statutes passed by state lawmakers last year. Gov. Sam Brownback will sign a proclamation Thursday declaring January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Kansas.
Rep. Jan Pauls, D-Hutchinson, questioned a KDHE official Tuesday about why sexual orientation was included with gender and race in the nondiscrimination categories for admission to the secure facilities. Pauls says including sexual orientation in legal nondiscrimination regulations could pose problems for religious institutions that provide help and also oppose homosexual activity.
Pauls said protections based on sexual orientation could be included elsewhere.