Roeland Park Passes Nondiscrimination Ordinance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug 5, 2014

CONTACT: Holly Weatherford, Advocacy Director, ACLU of Kansas, 816-756-3113, x.234, [email protected] or Donnie Morehouse, Interim Executive Director, ACLU of Kansas, 816-756-3113, x 240, [email protected]

Kansas City, MO – The Roeland Park City Council passed a nondiscrimination ordinance last night, Aug. 4, 2014, prohibiting discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people can now live, work and play in Roeland Park without fear that they will be discriminated against.

This ordinance makes Roeland Park the second community to have such protections in Kansas.
Everyone has a right to live his or her life without fear of discrimination. The ACLU of Kansas celebrates the passage of this important ordinance with all those who work and live in Roeland Park, Kansas.

Ardie and Gretchen Davis, long-time Roeland Park residents, championed the passage of this local ordinance and expressed their gratitude for this victory. “We are thrilled to see Roeland Park become the second community in Kansas to protect all of its citizens and those who work, play and shop in Roeland Park. We are so proud of those individuals who have been part of this moral struggle. We know that we have started a conversation in Roeland Park that will be continued in other cities around us. Thank you to everyone who helped to champion this effort, including local activists in Roeland Park and partner agencies Equality Kansas, ACLU of Kansas, PFLAG-Kansas City, and the MainStream Coalition.”

The ACLU of Kansas was one of a consortium of groups and individuals that supported the ordinance and pushed for its passage, including Equality Kansas-Metro Kansas City, JoCo United Against Discrimination, PFLAG-Kansas City, and the MainStream Coalition.

For more information on the ACLU of Kansas, please see our website, aclukansas.org.

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"Roeland Park pushes back anti-discrimination vote again after another lengthy discussion", Prairie Village Post, 05/06/2014

"Roeland Park council chambers overflow with anti-discrimination ordinance drawing crowds", Prairie Village Post, 05/20/2014

"As I See It: Roeland Park’s anti-bias effort enriches all of us", The Kansas City Star (joco 913), 05/20/2014

"Roeland Park anti-discrimination ordinance closing in on vote; workshop set for next week", Prairie Village Post, 06/03/2014

"Long list of questions about anti-discrimination ordinance faces Roeland Park Council; anonymous flyer appears on doorsteps", Prairie Village Post, 06/10/2014

"Mystery flier causes controversy over Roeland Park anti-discrimination ordinance", KSHB, 06/10/2014

"A Roeland Park equal-rights ordinance takes a hit from a dubious hired gun", The Pitch, 06/11/2014

"Roeland Park puts off vote to ban discrimination for sexual orientation and gender identity", The Kansas City Star, 06/11/2014

"Roeland Park City Council closer to vote on discrimination ban", The Kansas City Star, 06/17/2014

"Roeland Park finally sets date to vote on non-discrimination ordinance", The Kansas City Star, 07/10/2014

"Roeland Park needs to ban discrimination", The Kansas City Star, 07/15/2014