She wrote him an open letter on Facebook. So annoying when that seems to be the only way to get a relative’s attention.
What’s wrong with House Bill 2320? Maybe the dishonest, disrespectful, and inflammatory language? Here‘s some of it:
“The state shall no longer be in the parody marriage funding and endorsement business and shall disentangle itself from the… lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) secular humanist church pursuant to this section and the establishment clause of the 1st amendment of the constitution of the United States. The state shall not, through any government action create, enforce or respect any LGBTQ or any other secular humanist policy whether directly or symbolically. The state shall maintain the separation of church and state, which includes separating itself from the non-institutionalized religions such as secular humanism, expressive individualism and postmodern western individualistic moral relativism.”
“Parody marriage”? What the hell? Don’t worry, the bill defines it:
“Parody marriage” means any form of alleged marriage that does not involve a man and a woman. The term “parody marriage” refers to a variety of so-called marriages that do not involve a man and a woman that amount to doctrines that are inseparably linked to the religion of secular humanism. The term “parody marriage” refers to so-called marriages between more than two people, persons of the same sex, a person and an animal, or a person and an object.
“The Interrupted Wedding” by Edmund Bristow.
A man, a woman, a Christian church – what could be the problem? Sudden news of the groom’s previous relationship and two children stops the ceremony and averts a parody marriage.
Basically it’s an attack on same-sex marriage, wrapped in snide. Along with paranoid doctrine about secular humanism (not a religion) etc. Apparently no one expects it to pass. It’s just grandstanding.
The legislator whose daughter wrote the open letter is Ron Highland, of Wamego. Wamego is the home of the Oz Museum. Celebrating the Oz books, written by L. Frank Baum. A Theosophist. Who created the first trans character Sumac ever read of. Tip, who turns out to be – spoiler alert! – Princess Ozma. But we digress.
The daughter, Christel Highland, described herself on Facebook as “a proud member of Kansas City’s LGBTQ+ community, a Mother, a Partner to the love of my life, an Artist active in my creative community, and a hard-working Businessperson.”
Here’s the open letter (lightly edited) she posted:
“Dad,
“You have not responded to my email, but I still have so many questions. Why? With what one must assume to be a deep understanding and knowledge of exactly what type of polarizing political stunt you were supporting, why? Furthermore, why would you not take the time to read the legislation you took the time to co-sign?…. Why would you openly attempt at [sic] policy that elevates hate and hurts my family or friends? Why would a person of integrity want to legislate and force their beliefs on another?
“…Your actions strike against what this country was meant to become. All of this brings me to a passage that struck me in the wake of this upsetting news: “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, not the most intelligent, but the most responsive to change,” by Charles Darwin. The perfect person to quote in the midst of this, because, Father, you were once a Scientist. It is time for you to change. You made me responsive to change through our many moves and your many career changes. You made me strong through your encouragement that I am, indeed, someone with a voice that deserves hearing. You actively built my capacity to work hard, with great focus, from your example of intense intellectual and business pursuits.
“I always hoped this day would never come, but it has, and I think this moment presents an opportunity for you to set a principled example to your colleages and constituents. Your most sacred job as an elected official is to serve and protect people. Your God did not elect you, living, breathing human beings did…. Hate has no place in public policy. I respectfully request an apology on behalf of my family and beloved friends that this cruel attempt at legislation impacts – viable or not – and I beg that you show yourself to be the honorable man I’ve always known you to be. Ultimately, what is right can never be something that hurts another. You taught me that.
“One thing you said to me that struck me to my core at a very young age, which has lasted with me until to this day is, “Think before you speak.” I would respectfully ask that you think deeply before sponsoring any legislation. Legislation which reeks of utter disrespect toward anyone, actively striving to make the lives of others more difficult is beneath you. I love you, I always will, in spite of your flaws. I cannot, however, condone your cruel actions. Shame on you.
“Your Daughter,
“Christel”
“When it says ‘think before you speak,’ Dad, does that also mean ‘think before you co-sponsor’?”
(Wellcome Images.)
The legislation she says Ron Highland didn’t take the time to read, all that gibbering and frothing about secular humanist religion and so-called marriages between people and objects, didn’t originate in Kansas. It’s a piece of garbage legalese peddled to far-right legislators around the country. It’s been introduced in South Carolina and Wyoming. The author, whose name SorryWatch doesn’t feel like promulgating (though it’s in this link), has tried to demonstrate what “parody marriage” might be by applying to marry his laptop in several venues, and then suing when he can’t get permission. In Utah, in addition to ruling against him, a judge noted that the laptop had not reached the age of consent.
Vespula germanica, the European wasp.
Fellow hateful crackpots have taken up the legislation but it hasn’t gotten anywhere. Don’t worry about Hatey McShowboat, he has lots of projects. Like mandating porn filters on every internet-connected device, violating restraining orders against his ex-wife and former in-laws, pretending to have rescued sex slaves in Southeast Asia, claiming to be a member of the bar, snatching his toddler during visitation, suing Apple for selling him a device without porn filters and thus destroying his marriage – he’s a busy little wasp.
Forget him – what about the Highland family? Ron Highland responded to his daughter’s Facebook post by withdrawing his sponsorship of the bill. He said he’d made a mistake. “The bill that I should not have signed on to cosponsor contained some hateful language which I do not condone, and it is against our Lord’s command to love our neighbors. I have asked for my name to be removed from the bill. The process for doing so is in motion,” he wrote in a statement to the Wamego Times. He also said:
I trusted the author of the bill who is my office mate and signed on to several of his bills. Knowing that some of them were really important, I trusted that they all were, and that was not the case. I must admit it was a mistake, and apologize.
Christel Highland accepted the apology. In a statement she said, “It took strength to do what my Father did, and I’m proud of him for setting an excellent example to his colleagues and constituents by removing his co-sponsorship from HB 2320. I think this situation is an example of what is possible if we work together toward good with love in our hearts.”
We hope she’s right, and we hope Highland’s colleagues follow his example, and think about what they signed onto. Even if they don’t have eloquent gay daughters.
…a judge noted that the laptop had not reached the age of consent.
Snarky judges are fantastic.
Wow, did he sign field trip slips without reading them, too?
I think he should be fired. Not to be catty, but this is at least the second time this year, if not the third, that I’ve heard of someone claiming they “didn’t know” what a bill said.
People: we voted you in to do ONE JOB.
If you’re not capable, you’re out.