By Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas’ conservative Republican governor signed legislation Tuesday allowing faith-based groups at college campuses to restrict membership to like-minded people, likely putting the state on a collision course with civil liberties groups.
The GOP-dominated Legislature approved the legislation earlier this month, even though the U.S. Supreme Court ruled nearly six years ago that universities can require membership in such groups to be open to all. Supporters have said the bill was a victory for the freedom to exercise religious beliefs, but opponents called it a veiled attempt to legalize discrimination.
Kansas already has a religious objections law that prevents state or local governments from limiting people’s freedom to express their religion, though that law doesn’t touch on organizations at universities. With Gov. Sam Brownback’s signature, Kansas becomes the second state after Oklahoma to have a college-specific law.
“This is very good, narrow, targeted piece of legislation that will serve the betterment of our college campuses,” Brownback said.
The new law, which will take effect July 1, will prevent public colleges and universities from denying religious groups funds or campus resources for limiting their memberships.
Critics argue that the bill is far broader than its supporters acknowledge and will in effect force minority students and their parents to support groups that would actively discriminate against them. They said the new law will sanction discrimination not only against gays and lesbians, but based on race, gender or disabilities.
