The ACLU intervened on Mr. Strouse’s behalf, defending his right to carry signs reading “Smile God Loves You,” “Junk It All But Jesus,” or any other wording protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Gov. Brownback has opted to launch an “investigation” based on heavily edited videos that have no connection to Kansas doctors, Kansas clinics, or how reproductive healthcare is provided in the state. Such transparent harassment of women and doctors should be deeply distressing to all Kansans.

Allowing same-sex couples to marry—as the U.S. Supreme Court has now ruled is the law of the land in all 50 states—does not change that in any way, and so today’s Executive Order is unnecessary.

Representative Winn is being punished for speaking her mind on legislation before the committee – something the First Amendment is intended to protect against. If the investigative committee recommends action, many more legislators can expect to be silenced – and that’s bad for Kansans.

We look forward to bringing our Where Freedom Stands tour to the State, and to getting Kansas engaged in the movement to defend the constitutional rights that belong to all of us.

The Kansas House of Representatives gave Senate Bill 34 (SB 34) initial approval this morning with a 63-57 vote. Final approval of this bill would give Secretary of State Kris Kobach the power to prosecute voting crime in Kansas – a move that is strongly opposed by the ACLU of Kansas.

We are asking the Kansas Legislature to stand up and say that Kansas does not support discrimination, and to prevent the state from becoming the next target of national outrage.

The issue at stake in SB 175 is not whether student organizations are free to believe and associate as they like – they are. Instead, the issue is whether student organizations have a right to be publicly funded to operate in a discriminatory manner. They should not.

The Kansas Stronger Together Coalition joined immigrant college students and civic leaders across the state of Kansas today to ask that lawmakers uphold the Kansas state law that gives immigrant students a greater opportunity to obtain higher-education.