It’s Manhattan . . . Kansas, where Stephanie Mott on Friday started a statewide tour to raise awareness of transgender issues. From KTA.com:

Topeka — In an effort to raise awareness about transgender issues, a kick-off rally was held in Manhattan Friday morning. The Kansas Transgender Education Project executive director Stephanie Mott will be traveling throughout Kansas to spread the word about transgender and sexual orientation issues. In particular, Mott will address some misunderstandings people have about lesbians, gays, bisexuals and the transgendered. “This is wrong. It is wrong to terminate somebody’s employment because they happen to be LGBT. It’s wrong to deny somebody housing because they are LGBT. It’s wrong to say someone can’t come in this place just because they’re LGBT. There’s nothing about who I am that has anything to do with whether or not that I can do a good job or whether or not I’ll be a good tenant or whether or not I’ll come into a place and be an inappropriate customer,” says Mott. From the group’s Facebook page (it may be archived by the time you read this): My name is Stephanie Mott. My dream came true today. Interested persons from the across Kansas gathered to birth the Kansas Statewide Transgender Education Project (K-STEP) What is K-STEP? It is a group of transgender people, their families, all supporters, and interested professionals (psychotherapy, human resources, education, the faith community) who are dedicated to providing transgender education across Kansas. Thanks to all have supported K-STEP to this point in any way. Get ready, here we come. And last but not (to me) least, see a separate article about Stephanie “finding her way back to Christ” at the Topeka MCC. I repeatedly maintain that one of the greatest harms done to lgbt youth and adults is the lie that our lives are not compatible with faith. That’s not an advertisement – it’s probably easier being gay than being an atheist in a lot of places – but many churches welcome us with loving arms. And don’t you let anyone tell you otherwise!]]>