Human Rights in the Heartland

In these divided times, some folks in the Kansas heartland are showing real courage by calling for human rights in support of gay, lesbian, bi and trans members of the Flint Hills community of eastern Kansas.  The Flint Hills Human Rights Project seeks to “promote a society where people of all classes, races, sexual orientations and gender identities can enjoy complete sexual and reproductive freedom and expression, as part of their full enjoyment of life, without fear of harassment, physical harm, or economic or legal penalty.”  Recent postings from the Project include information about efforts to expand more inclusive sex education in Kansas schools, and a feature on growing up transgender in Hutchinson, Kansas.  It’s a good reminder that the diversity of America doesn’t stop hard at the red-state/blue-state borders, whatever the electoral maps suggest — and that there’s great power in that diversity.