Date: Mon, 06 Dec 93 00:22:28 EST
From: kevyn@aol.com

  On November 19, 1993, The Kansas Chapter of the National Association for
Social Workers (NASW) held a statewide meeting at Lawrence, Kansas.
     During the meeting, Equality Kansas members Pat O'Brien and Ben
Zimmerman gave a workshop on the rise of the radical religious right in
Kansas, and what Social Workers in Kansas could do to help stop it. The
presentation, which drew about 70 participants, focused on the introduction
into the Kansas House of the 'Cornfield Resolution' by religious radicals,
which would "memorialize Congress to refrain from enacting or amending any
legislation that would define certain sexual or life-style preferences [sic]
as having protected class status."
     At the meeting, NASW went on record against the Cornfield Resolution,
and has committed to send a letter of opposition to Speaker of the Kansas
House, Robert Miller, to state their opposition to said amendment.
     Also at the meeting was a panel of Kansas legislators who were there to
discuss general legislative issues for the upcoming session. The legislators
present were: Senator Lana Oleen (R-Manhattan), and Representatives Kent
Glasscock (R-Manhattan), Kathleen Sebelius (D-Topeka), and Forrest Swall
(D-Lawrence).
     When asked about their positions on the Cornfield Resolution, all stated
that they were opposed to the legislation, but some observers felt Glasscock
was being evasive. Rep.Glasscock stated that he didn't think that the
resolution "would go anywhere", suggesting that he probably wouldn't have to
deal with it.
     Senator Oleen, who followed Glasscock in the lineup, stated that she
"KNEW it wouldn't go anywhere in the Senate" because she chairs the committee
from which such an resolution would be introduced, and that she wouldn't
allow such a resolution on to the floor of the Senate. This is, however, a
moot point, as the resolution in question, if passed by the House, would not
go to the Senate at all, but be sent directly to Washington.
     Representative Joan Wagnon (D-Topeka) also spoke at the luncheon, in
which she spoke against the Radical Religious Right's agenda, especially in
regards to children and education.