Good morning, Commissioners, and other citizen's, of this city, county and state. I'd like to thank you, on behalf of several different segments of the Wichita community, for granting my request to speak to you this morning.

I'd like you to know from the beginning of my remarks ,that I am not here to persuade you of the morality and appropriateness of domestic partnership. Nor to convince you that gay, lesbian, and nongay people who choose to live 
in intimate relationships outside of marriage, like most other people in our society, lead reasonably normal, healthy lives and are entitled to the same protections and freedoms afforded every other citizen of this city, county, 
state, and country.

Instead, I am here, as a concerned citizen, who believes that the decision this Commission made, to over turn health benefits for domestic partners was unfair and made hastily, and primarily, on the basis of religious values 
presented from one aspect of the religious community in Wichita and Sedgwick County.

We live in a country built upon freedoms. Our founding fathers and mothers fled from countries that compelled them to worship and accept values and beliefs not necessarily their own. I don't believe it is the duty or responsibility of any elected, appointed or hired public official to set policy or make law on the basis of religious values. I do believe, however, it is their responsibility, anytime, and especially when making policy or law, to listen to the people of the communities in which they reside. There are many segments of our city and county's very     diverse community who feel their efforts to voice comments on this particular issue have gone unheard, unacknowledged and otherwise ignored.

I was deeply disturbed by individual comissioner's remarks regarding upholding traditional family values......traditional for whom..........conservative Christians, whether they be Catholic or Protestant cannot be allowed to dictate public policy. We are a democratic country, and regardless of how right or appropriate any person may think their religious beliefs are, we don't make policy or law on that basis. 

Marriage, in our society is a civil institution and, decisions about intimacy and who qualifies as family are not within the parameters of the public office holder. Each of you, of course, are entitled to your personal opinions and faith expressions, you cannot, however, make policy or law on the basis of those opinions and beliefs. Your decisions should always be  guided by constitutional imperatives, and what is really right and just for all citizens. When you make decisions or unmake decisions without hearing from all of the citizens who elected you, then our treasured freedoms and democratic way of life becomes profoundly threatened.

In a truly free and democratic process health benefits are an entitlement due everyone. This seems simple to me and quite clear. My request this morning is simply this.......that you convene a public hearing on this matter so that all our voices be heard. There are religious leaders, politicians of many persuasions, teachers, county employees and a variety of other concerned citizens in Wichita and Sedgwick county who believe you violated their right to speak in these chambers, whether they agreed with your decision or not.

One of you, I believe it was Commissioner Norton, was quoted in the Wichita Eagle, as saying maybe this isn't the right time to be providing leadership on this important social issue........well.......... there are many people throughout our city and county who believe it is the responsibility of public office holders to always provide leadership and to guide public policy with wisdom, understanding, and compassion.

So......... all I am asking this morning is that you convene a public hearing on the issue of health benefits for domestic partners. Allow the voices of all our citizens to be heard. We live in turbulent and frightening times........it is more important than ever for us to treasure and guard vigilantly our freedom, our dreams and hopes for a better world. As someone who has struggled all of her life, for the simple right to be who I am and to love whom I choose, and to worship in ways that don't condemn or oppress me, I am urging you to let the people be heard.

We have gathered, in the last week or so, nearly a thousand signatures in support of health benefits. My prayer is that you will listen to the voices of the people......should you, however, not reopen this issue for public discussion, we will continue to gather signatures until you have no choice but to listen.

Again, I thank you for allowing me to speak. I wish you well in your deliberations and I look forward to the possibility of continued and balanced dialogue.

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