What is wrong about Senate Bill 233

FIGHTING FOR A FOREVER FREE STATE

Issue #14

What is wrong about Senate Bill 233

By Kim Allison

When considering bills that claim to take a moral stand, it is wise to remember that legislation, when divorced from compassion for those affected by it, becomes an exercise in cruelty – especially if they are an unrepresented minority.

Senate Bill 233, eliminating gender-affirming care in Kansas, proposes to protect minors from "any physical, psychological, emotional or physiological harms" through several measures that demonstrably enact those very effects on the population they claim to want to protect.

The most crucial concession the legislature made in reworking SB 233 was to include a medication-weaning period for youth under pediatric endocrinologists' care. This compassionate use clause convinced several Senators to change their vote, including Brenda Dietrich (R-Topeka), who said, "not stopping therapy immediately" and "changes to allow for a gradual reduction" helped her vote yes.

For young people who have been undergoing medical treatment for gender dysphoria for several years but have not yet turned eighteen, there is no humane way to discontinue the treatment. These individuals no longer physically, mentally or emotionally identify with their birth gender. They have been living as their preferred gender in their schools, homes and communities since their middle school years. Ceasing the treatment is cruel and can only cause harm to the very people this legislation claims to want to protect.

Another aspect of SB 233 is the prohibition of state employees from supporting a youth's social transition – a direct harm to the young individuals that conservatives claim to want to help. This constraint means that teachers, counselors, social workers and other important people in a young person's life are denied the right to use the youth's chosen pronouns or names or allow them to dress in a way that matches their gender identity. This prohibition is an unacceptable infringement on the rights of young people who are simply trying to live as their authentic selves and educators who want to provide a safe and welcoming environment that all youth need.

The transgender youth population is small. These kids aren't asking for much, just a little empathy. Can you imagine what life will be like for them under SB 233? In an existence full of unkindness and misunderstanding, must we add cruelty, too?

(SB 233 fell short by two votes in the House on an 82-43 override attempt on Monday.)

Kim Allison works as a college professor who teaches a diverse group of young people in the fine arts. She is the mother of three girls, two of them attending Kansas universities and the third, a transgender teen attending a southeast Kansas public high school.

Citation for quote by Dietrich:

Arnold, Joshua. Kansas Governor Vetoes Bill Protecting Children from Gender Transition Procedures. The Washington Stand, 15 Apr 2024

https://washingtonstand.com/commentary/kansas-governor-vetoes-bill-protecting-children-from-gender-transition-procedures

Canvassing launch!

Door-to-door canvassing for our candidates will start this Saturday, May 4th (yes, yes, May the Fourth Be With You! Dress like a wookie if you feel that you must.) We will gather at HQ at 10am to fix any last minute snags, to inspire each other, and to receive our marching orders.

PLEASE consider coming – even if you don't feel comfortable going door-to-door (yet!), your presence inspires our canvassers and helps to remind them that they are part of a larger effort, working for our community.

IF YOU WILL CANVAS (and if you are a first-timer, we will partner you with someone experienced), please 1) wear comfortable shoes, 2) hydrate, and 3) consider wearing sunscreen.

We will also meet at HQ on THURSDAY, May 2 at 5:30 pm, for anyone who would like some training on the door-to-door process, or who would like the chance to review the scripts in detail prior to Saturday.

THE MAIN EVENT is THIS SATURDAY, MAY 4, AT 10:00 AM. Our Congressional District Chairperson, Alana Cloutier, will be there, as will Jason Peters with the Shawnee County Democratic Party. He will also be around for lunch to talk about the role of precinct captains in the County Party. If you are interested in serving as a precinct captain, he is a great resource!

We will have refreshments, and our candidates will be there to give you talking points and tell you how to sell them. The single most important thing we can do to elect Democrats in Crawford County is knocking on doors.

Hard Facts for Mr. Trump

According to YOU, Mr. Trump

In your list of allegations

Ballots cast with Biden’s name

Were simply fabrications.

The election, it was stolen,

You’ve insisted with each spin.

Ballots, they were tampered with

To make sure Biden wins.

So does that mean those counting votes

Decided they would cheat?

And all the winners ON THE RIGHT

Won also by deceit.

No, they won as honestly

As Democrats through out

No matter what conspiracy

Was floated all about.

Your name appeared just like the rest

Of Republicans then elected,

So “Face it man, and understand

Your name was not selected”.

So while you whine and tear your hair

There’s evidence aplenty

The one thing that you cannot change?

“You lost in 2020”.

Delma Thompson 2022

To the lake!

Our next regular Crawford County Democratic Party meeting will be a bring-a-dish luncheon with brisket from Don Pyle on Sunday, May 19 at 1 pm in the Aggie’s Dream Shelter at Crawford State Park near Farlington.

It's an opportunity for us to come together, discuss our strategies, plan upcoming events and enjoy a day at the lake. Your participation is vital to our collective success.

Please let Emily know if you have any items you'd like to see added to the agenda at emily@crawfordcountyksdems.org

We are hoping to see everyone there!

Campaign update

By Jordan Metcalf

Candidate for Third District Kansas House

My father has this way of making simple tasks seem noble, sometimes even sacred. When I didn’t want to do a particular chore, he would tell me that I could put it off, but that entropy never stops. I wasn’t just doing the dishes; I was fighting the increasing disorder of the universe–or at least our small part of it. When you are poor, there is a lot of chaos to fight, and though my parents fought it with superhuman energy, escaping it still took much help and plenty of luck. I grew up with several siblings with parents who worked just as hard but for whom help was more difficult to get and to whom luck was not as kind.

And that’s why I’m running: we deserve better than this system in which so many futures depend on luck, where so many people need help just keeping their bills paid, and staying afloat requires herculean effort.

We all know an individual or multiple individuals who have had a worse health outcome because they put off seeing a doctor. We all know someone who has used a fundraising site to pay medical expenses for themselves or someone else. We all deserve to be able to see a doctor for preventive and primary care, all of us deserve to fill prescriptions without having to decide which bill to skip so we can afford them, and we should not have to worry about bankruptcy after a medical emergency. Medicaid doesn’t solve all these problems, but it fills a lot of gaps–especially those that most directly impact the poor, the small-town and the rural businesses and medical care facilities. Expanding Medicaid means no one must worry about losing healthcare coverage by going from part-time to full-time work, by taking a better-paying job, or by becoming self-employed.

Abortion access–and access to reproductive care –also disproportionately affects the poor. It is not lost on me that the same people–strangers–who would tell my mother that she shouldn’t have had so many kids were the same people who’d have called her a murderer for making that choice. The decision of if and when to have children (or more children) is among the most sacred choices we make, and removing a person’s right to make it deprives them of the fullness of their personhood.

Public education has been a path out of poverty for millions of Americans. Many children’s only meals are school lunches and breakfasts, and many children's extracurricular activities serve as de facto babysitting. Schools may be the only place where many children encounter books or have someone to tell them that they matter. Public schools are the cultural center of many small towns, sometimes the biggest employer, where everyone can be found on a fall Friday night, and how nearly everyone in town knows almost everyone else in town. For many small towns, the school is indistinguishable from the town itself.

I am very aware of how differently my parents, and I are treated now, compared to then. But we weren’t different people then, we were just living under different circumstances. The potential was always present; it was the opportunities that were scarce. I’m running because I think we should have policies that reflect our faith in people’s potential rather than our judgment of their current situation.

“Liberal Ladies” report

By Susy Hammons

Liberal Ladies Who Lunch met on 4/10 and 4/24, at noon, at Dem HQ.

On the 10th Denise Fitzpatrick, who is active with environmental issues, came because we would be discussing Medicaid. We handed out postcards to send to Kansas House and Senate members. Emily will make a poster of all the addresses. Letters to the Editor were encouraged.

Denise reported that the city is very serious about taking over trash service and how that would affect the Recycling Center. Trash cans would go back to the alleys! Postcards could be sent to city commissioners about trash service.

On thr 11th was the meeting in Columbus that Crawford County co-sponsored. Jess Piper from Missouri spoke about grassroots organizing. We were asked to bring fingerfoods, wine, and silent auction items. There was a great selection of each.

We had a Salad and Dessert fundraiser at Memorial Auditorium on 4/1 with food brought at 3 p.m.

Our May County Dem meeting will be in Farlington.

Delma read her latest rhyme to great appreciation.

Harriet has emailed a list of addresses and scheduled a postcard writing day on 4/17. She would be at HQ from 10 to 12 or 1. Delma and I would be there from 1 to 4 for choices of best time to bring postcards.

On th 24th we had a small, but expressive group.

Gail Dubray came for the first time so we gave the history of LLWL, introduced ourselves and gave our history of being a Democrat.

Jean reminded us of the possibility of a city operated trash service. We need to let city commissioners know our support for that. Until something changes Lynn mentioned Four States out of Fort Scott doing a good job.

Sheets of phone #'s and addresses for state officials were given to all to contact to encourage them to vote for Medicaid expansion.

We discussed Trump's trial, and the important Supreme Court decisions coming up. We ended with a group call for Compassion.

Our next meeting will be May 8th. Same time and place.

THE WEAKER SEX

Every day I ask myself how things got set in stone

How men who made the crazy rules got everything so wrong.

How they decided women’s lives were made for just one thing,

As women were “the weaker sex”, meant just for nurturing.

What all this silliness implies is men don’t have a clue

Or just don’t want to know the facts of what we gals can do.

And some men that do know look for ways to keep females constrained

Not wanting to admit the fact that women have a brain.

The “weaker sex” is not a term that I’d apply to mothers

Raising kids requires real strength, not just one skill but others.

No way can this short verse relate the jobs dispatched by mothers

Dispensing love and discipline to little sis and brothers.

So many different skills required in the running of a house

And frequently without the aid of partner or a spouse.

And while there’s much to be admired in moms who choose this task

Others choose to use their skills and take a different path.

Women’s interest may run first to science or to math

Or flying planes, teaching kids or being an osteopath.

It matters not which path they take, one thing is brought to light

Women are not weaklings, nor helplessness their plight.

In spite of what some chauvinist believe is their domain

Women have shown often brawn doesn’t equal brain.

So that old saw we used to hear regarding women’s “place”

Might work for women on the Right but not a “thinking” base.

There are good men who champion women’s rights with pride

For them be ever thankful to have them by your side.

And feel free to do your thing and listen only with disdain

To silly men who won’t admit that women have a brain.

Delma Thompson 2024

Memorable moments of the eclipse

By Jim Orwig and Harriet Bachner

Despite the naysayers about rain and clouds blocking the spectacle of the moon passing to block the sun, we set off on Sunday, April 7 to North Texas to witness the total eclipse on Monday. Since I had lived in The Colony, Texas, where viewing the total eclipse was reported to be one of the best areas, seeing the changes in the town where I had once lived for many years was an additional incentive to take the trip.

Monday morning was cloudy with the sun peaking sporadically through, but we were enthused nonetheless to find a quiet country spot to experience the eclipse. We had a jovial breakfast with our artist friend, Glen Ayers, who gave us some moon pies for the occasion. Then we left the intensity of traffic and crowds in The Colony and Plano, and headed northeast following the viewing line for the total eclipse. We finally settled upon a parking lot and open field with cows and shade trees somewhere a bit north of Bonham, a small town in east Texas.

We were soon joined for the eclipse watch by a multi-generational family from Muenster, Texas, who brought the fixings for a picnic of fried chicken, a snickers cheesecake dessert, curious kids, a baby in a basket, and friendly conversation. We all had a fine time watching and waiting for the totality. As the sky darkened, the grazing cows in the pasture adjacent to our viewing area slowly gathered in a circled group. At the near total eclipse, the cows laid down, the chirping birds quieted, and the stillness of those total eclipse moments was beautiful and awesome. Amidst our encouraging cheers and appreciation to whatever entity awarded our common commitment to wait for the spectacular show, we watched with awe and gratitude to have witnessed this possibly once in our lifetime event.

As the moon continued to move allowing sunlight again, life resumed: birds singing, cows slowly getting up and grazing, folks packing up lawn chairs and picnic leftovers. Then we exchanged phone numbers, moon pies and collage art from our Texas artist friend, and said our goodbyes and hugged, and said goodbye some more to these beautiful folks with whom we shared this memorable event. On we went our separate ways. Memorable moments indeed!

Eclipse watchers in Texas

Medicaid expansion news

By April Holman, executive director-Alliance for a Healthy Kansas

Last Friday the Senate voted on the motion to pull SB 355, the Medicaid expansion bill, out of committee. Unfortunately, this vote failed, with 18 'Yes' votes to 17 'Nay' votes. We needed at least 24 'Yes' votes to pass the bill out of committee.

Please consider sending a note of thanks to those senators who voted 'Yes' to thank them for their support. The names and email addresses of supportive senators are listed below.

To say we are disappointed in this outcome is an understatement. We were hopeful that lawmakers had finally heard the voice of Kansans and would do the right thing and hold a full and transparent debate and pass Medicaid expansion. We know many of you feel similarly.

However, the work we have done this session is not lost. Because of the pressure you and other advocates put on lawmakers, we were able to get hearings in both the House and Senate on expansion for the first time in years. More than 900 pieces of written testimony were submitted in favor of Medicaid expansion. Thousands of supportive emails and postcards were delivered to lawmakers. The voice of the people was so loud that the Kansas Legislature had no choice but to talk about it, even after avoiding the conversation for so long.

We will have more information soon about upcoming plans for the summer, where we'll continue to drive the movement for Medicaid expansion in local communities around the state.

In the meantime, we hope to see you at our next Healthy Kansas Advocacy Community meeting on May 8 at 7:00pm.

'Yes' votes on last week's SB 355 action

HQ update

The Crawford County Democratic Headquarters, located at 217A N. Broadway, has scheduled hours of Monday-Friday, from 10-4 and from 1-3 on Saturdays.

The headquarters depends on two things to keep the doors open- monthly financial support and Democrats giving of their time.

Volunteering at the HQ is a place to visit with likeminded friends and meet new friends while supporting Democratic wins in elections.

Whether you could work on a regular basis or could just fill in occasionally, your time will make a difference.

Calling the HQ at 620-670-6867 or stopping by to fill out a volunteer form would be greatly appreciated!

We are sincerely hoping to expand the open hours to include evening and weekend hours. Volunteers will make all of the difference.

Thank you,

Marcia Weeks

Book Club report

By Joe Kennedy

What a wonderful time the Book Club had Wednesday, April 17th at Crawford County Democratic Headquarters to discuss the novel "Trust" by Hernan Diaz. Everyone brought a dish to share and we had a book lovers feast before diving into discussion. A good deal of the discussion centered around the book but our sideline discussions such as funny things that happened at weddings (not sure how we got into that one) were hysterical. Come to our next Book Club for some good food, stimulating conversation, laughs and a warm, good feeling friends bring.

Due to activities and schedules in May we are not meeting until June. We plan to meet again on June 19th at 6:30 PM at Crawford County Democratic Headquarters. An email reminder will be sent to all on our book club list. If you have a friend interested, send me their name and email address at jfk1308@gmail.com. The book for June is "Ordinary Grace" , a novel by William Kent Krueger. A synopsis from the internet is below.

“That was it. That was all of it. A grace so ordinary there was no reason at all to remember it. Yet I have never across the forty years since it was spoken forgotten a single word.”

New Bremen, Minnesota, 1961. The Twins were playing their debut season, ice-cold root beers were selling out at the soda counter of Halderson’s Drugstore, and Hot Stuff comic books were a mainstay on every barbershop magazine rack. It was a time of innocence and hope for a country with a new, young president. But for thirteen-year-old Frank Drum it was a grim summer in which death visited frequently and assumed many forms. Accident. Nature. Suicide. Murder.

Frank begins the season preoccupied with the concerns of any teenage boy, but when tragedy unexpectedly strikes his family—which includes his Methodist minister father; his passionate, artistic mother; Juilliard-bound older sister; and wise-beyond-his-years kid brother—he finds himself thrust into an adult world full of secrets, lies, adultery, and betrayal, suddenly called upon to demonstrate a maturity and gumption beyond his years.

Told from Frank’s perspective forty years after that fateful summer, Ordinary Grace is a brilliantly moving account of a boy standing at the door of his young manhood, trying to understand a world that seems to be falling apart around him. It is an unforgettable novel about discovering the terrible price of wisdom and the enduring grace of God.

Let us hear from you!

Article submissions are needed from Crawford County Democrats and friends about issues and topics we should all be thinking about. We want to publish your thoughts in this Revue, for distribution to county Democrats and others across the state.

Please email your thoughts or those of your caucuses and interest groups for publication in the county party’s newsletter to news@crawfordcountyksdems.org. Accompanying photographs or other ideas for illustrating your articles are also welcome. Feel free to ask questions by text or phone of newsletter crew Harriet at 620-704-8566 or Phil at 708-466-0659. Also please include your phone number with your message in case we have questions for you.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

By Crawford County Democratic Party

Dr. Emily Walters, Chair

CHANGING OPINIONS AND WINNING VOTES

Newsletter contacts: Harriet Bachner & Phil Burgert news@crawfordcountyksdems.org