UPDATE: Some State Agencies Recognizing Same-Sex Marriages, Governor’s Office Contradicts

Posted in Equality Kansas News by Equality Kansas on July 6, 2015Read More

Good morning all –

We reported yesterday that some state agencies were recognizing our marriages.  We have multiple copies of email from government officials to members of our community. We have statements from LGBT Kansans that they have either been able to get their license changed, or have been notified verbally or in writing that they may apply for their spousal benefits.

Late yesterday, however, officials in Governor Brownback’s office denied this was the case.

This is no longer the State of Kansas.  It’s now the State of Confusion, and of continued denial of our constitutional rights.

IMPORTANT:  If you are going to try to update your drivers license, or access any other marriage benefit previously denied you by law, please do the following:

• Get the name(s) of any government officials you talk to, including their job title and contact information
• Get a copy of any documents they read to you.  We have heard from members that officials in government offices have been reading prepared statements justifying their denial of your rights.
• If possible, use your cell phone video to record any encounter that results in a denial of recognition of your marriage.
• Contact our office at 316-683-1706, or by email at info@eqks.org.
• Any information you give us can be kept confidential, but please understand that we have a better chance of successfully pushing our Governor to do the right thing if we can provide details of your encounter to the press.
• Let us know if you are willing to talk to a newspaper or television reporter.

With your help, we can break this stalemate with the state!

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BREAKING NEWS:  STATE AGENCIES ARE RECOGNIZING SAME-SEX MARRIAGES

We’ve been chasing conflicting rumors all day, and we can now confirm that same-sex couples can get their name changes processed on their drivers licenses, and that state employees can enroll their same-sex spouses in their state employee health plans.  This news has come to us from Equality Kansas members and others in Kansas’ LGBT population throughout the day.

Meanwhile, the Governor’s office is continuing to deny this is happening, calling reports of recognition to be “premature.”

We’ll post more news as we get it.