Our state has a history of standing for what is right. From John Brown to Linda Brown’s father, Oliver, Kansans are outspoken advocates for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Similarly, America as a country has made great strides over time. Progress continues, as we seek to make this country a comfortable place for all.
For some, their social identity does not impact their access to rights like marriage, fair wages, education, healthcare, adoption, or voting (to name a few). And that’s okay! But we should be mindful of the fact that many of us experience life in this great country differently than others.
Personally, I am the child of an interracial marriage, which means only a few decades ago, my parents’ marriage was not constitutionally supported. The way that the world interacted with my dad, a black man, was very different than the way the world interacted with my mom, a white woman. My dad faced obstacles and discrimination and hate that my mother did not. Unfortunately, there are Kansans and Americans of marginalized groups who can relate to this reality. To name a few, hate against the LGBTQ+ community, the Asian community, and anti-Black sentiments are all too common. Whether they face verbal harassment, workplace discrimination, or even public policies that create obstacles others do not experience, marginalized groups of people face struggles.
It is up to all of us to look out for those who face these kinds of struggles. It comes in the form of a smile, a briefly spoken affirmation that you support them, or educating yourself about cultures different than your own. Beyond doing all of those things, I will support legislation that eliminates barriers to liberty and justice for all.
For some, their social identity does not impact their access to rights like marriage, fair wages, education, healthcare, adoption, or voting (to name a few). And that’s okay! But we should be mindful of the fact that many of us experience life in this great country differently than others.
Personally, I am the child of an interracial marriage, which means only a few decades ago, my parents’ marriage was not constitutionally supported. The way that the world interacted with my dad, a black man, was very different than the way the world interacted with my mom, a white woman. My dad faced obstacles and discrimination and hate that my mother did not. Unfortunately, there are Kansans and Americans of marginalized groups who can relate to this reality. To name a few, hate against the LGBTQ+ community, the Asian community, and anti-Black sentiments are all too common. Whether they face verbal harassment, workplace discrimination, or even public policies that create obstacles others do not experience, marginalized groups of people face struggles.
It is up to all of us to look out for those who face these kinds of struggles. It comes in the form of a smile, a briefly spoken affirmation that you support them, or educating yourself about cultures different than your own. Beyond doing all of those things, I will support legislation that eliminates barriers to liberty and justice for all.
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