Date: Sun, 30 Jan 94 22:47:44 EST
From: equalityks@aol.com
Subject: WBPL Letter

Greetings, Equality Kansas Members:

     Below, please find a copy of a letter written by The
Wichita Business and Professional League to Wichita
Representative Gwen Welshimer in regards to the Cornfield
Resolution.
     I would encourage YOU to have YOUR group write a
similar letter to your representatives and the Governor.
With the legislature now in session, we cannot let up on the
pressure now. We must make sure that the legislature
continues to feel pressure from their constituency to keep
this resolution from passing.



-Kevyn
============================================================

From: The Wichita Business and
Professional League
1103 Pearce
Wichita, Kansas
67203

                                        January 11, 1994

To: The Honorable Gwen Welshimer
Kansas House of Representatives
The State House
Topeka, KS 66612

Dear Representative Welshimer:


     The Wichita Business and Professional League (WBPL) is a newly
formed, growing organization of highly motivated gay and lesbian
professionals and business persons in Wichita and Sedgewick County.
It is our goal to support our community while providing the general
public and business community with information and support on
issues involving personal freedom and citizen's rights.

     As individuals ans as an organization, we adamantly oppose
"The Cornfield Resolution."  The Resolution and it's insidious
wording attempt to legitimize discrimination and to perpetuate
divisiveness and hate. No citizen should be subjected to
discrimination because of his or her sexual orientation, but as
each and every member of WBPL knows all to well, gays and lesbians
have been denied credit, refused housing, denied employment, and
have even been fired from their jobs. Many of these actions, right
here in Kansas, have occurred merely because someone suspected, or
feared, that the individual was gay or lesbian.

    As Professionals and businesspersons, we personally deplore
"The Cornfield Resolution."  In opposing the resolution, we desire
to work for the greater benefit of our state's business development
and citizen's rights. The last thing we want for our state and its
economy is the business chaos suffered in Colorado, Cinicinnati and
other locales attempting to limit citizens' rights. In it's attempt
to codify an "equal standing" for its citizens with no "special
rights" for gays and lesbians, Colorado has faced boycotts, adverse
publicity and court battles - all to the detriment of its taxpayers
and business economy. Moreover,  the Colorado judiciary has ruled
that "homosexuals have a fundamental right not to have the state
endorese and give effect to private biases." Kansas must profit
from Colorado's experience and heed the judicial mandate. Our state
is no place to wage a similar fight.

     As Kansans with growing numrical and financial strength, we
will actively fight any  discrimination and hate that exists simply
because of one's sexual orientation. We strongly urge you to fight
against "The Cornfield Resolution," and to  vote against any
attempt to deprive any Kansas citizen the right of equal protection
guaranteed  in our state and federal constitutions.

Sincerely,

The Legislative Committee of the
Wichita Business and Professional League