Everything you ever need to know about Wichita (Lawrence, Andover: house, buy)

[pioneer88]

I agree that scientific theories do change with new finds in research. I'm pretty sure there have been plenty of situations in which a evolutionists have bent the 'facts' to fit into their own 'old book.' (Origin of the Species)

In response to the burning at the stake comment: I agree, Religion has brought a lot of terrible and hypocritic situations to our world. They completely contradict what being a Christ follower ie christian is really about. When religion got in the way and replaced compassion and truth with legalism and humanism we end up with things like the Crusades. The point for me isn't to be religious its to have a relationship with my God and to seek his truth.

[buck75061]

Look, there is much I love about Wichita and Kansas. I love the wide-open spaces and the big skies. I love getting anywhere in town in less than 30 minutes. I love the clean air. I love the people, not only because they are friendly, but also because the friendliness seems genuine. But, if they learn you don’t think like them, whether it be religion, politics or social issues, you will be shunned. Really.

I’m an openly gay man in his early 40s with a master’s degree and professional-level skills. Wichita is my hometown, but I’ve been living in Dallas. I moved back last year because my sister became afflicted with a dreadful chronic disease (she was hospitalized and mostly unconscious for 11 weeks last winter and spring, but she’s improved and the condition is being managed for now) and my parents are in their 80s and not getting around so well. I love my family, and I had missed them while in Texas, so I cashed-in some financial reserves and moved back home early last year. I’d forgotten how tough it could be here. While Texas isn’t exactly a liberal state, its cities can be very progressive. Dallas had a large, active GLBT chamber of commerce with membership representing almost all the major employers in its metro, including leadership from Fortune 500 companies. I participated in other, straighter, professional organizations and was welcomed with open arms, sexual orientation and all. However, what is often the first question I get when networking in Wichita? It’s “Where do you go to church?” Ugh.

I found a job soon after my sister was released from the hospital and my resources were starting to dwindle. I loved the mission of the place and looked forward to bringing my knowledge to the team and contributing to its growth. The first few weeks were great, but I kept getting awkward questions like “Where do you go to church?” (yes, there are plenty of gay Christians, but I happen to be a secular humanist), “Are you married?”, “Do you have any kids?", etc. So, I went to lunch with three co-workers and, as the conversation flowed, I found a way to come out to them. This has always worked for me. People either accept it and business continues as usual, or I get the occasional person who becomes standoffish, but then comes around later after I’ve proven myself to be a good person and coworker. Not here. I was repeatedly subjected to Christian “witnessing” and, after having a friendly conversation with my boss about finding a constructive way to address the inappropriateness of certain coworkers pushing their religious views at me simply because I’m gay, I was placed in an impossible work situation three weeks later and fired. Unlike Dallas, Kansas and Wichita don’t offer anti-discrimination protections for gay and lesbian workers.

I love my family and have every right to live and thrive with them in my hometown. However, unlike the few friends who remain here, I refuse play straight or asexual just to make bigots happy. And now the economy is crumbling everywhere I turn, so it will be hard to bounce back. I’m pursuing legal channels to see if I can do something about religious discrimination, though. I'm also considering going into a doctoral program somewhere else.

Please allow me to add to the evolution discussion. Thanks to poor science education – and you’ll notice that most social conservatives are conveniently anti-intellectual – too many of our nation’s citizens don’t understand what “theory” means in a scientific context. Scientists recognize theory as a set of principles designed to explain natural phenomena, supported by scientific observation, and subject to proofs and peer review. With scientific theory, there are known facts that have indeed been proven, but it remains a theory simply because it’s not static. This means there will be more to learn as research continues to build on what is already known. To most Americans, unfortunately, a theory is nothing more than a guessing game that can easily be based on limited information or even misinformation. To them, Darwin’s theory of evolution, or Einstein’s theory of relativity for that matter, hold no more validity than a rural Christian fundamentalist preacher claiming that the end of the world will come eight weeks after the next terrorist attack in Israel. Double ugh. If you were a technology entrepreneur, would you want to start your company in or relocate it to a place where a large percentage of the population thinks science is a joke and believes humans and dinosaurs coexisted 2,000 years ago? No.

[goaliefight]

Originally Posted by buck75061

...the first question I get when networking in Wichita? It’s “Where do you go to church?”

I hear that. Where I work, I have to live in the closet of being atheist. I would most certainly be railroaded if I were to tell people my views.

It seems that you got a raw deal. I hope you do seek legal representation for that. It's just not right for people to single others out. I'm not gay, but I believe that is your choice and you have a right to that.

Read these stores people! This is exactly what Wichita is like. There are a few very small pockets of acceptance, but not many. If you are looking for closed-minded, arrogant, neo-Christain people then Wichita is for you. If you are looking for intelectuals open to new ideas and progress then do not move to Wichita.

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by goaliefight

There are a few very small pockets of acceptance, but not many. If you are looking for closed-minded, arrogant, neo-Christain people then Wichita is for you. If you are looking for intelectuals open to new ideas and progress then do not move to Wichita.

Amen to that, Brother!

(Pun intended )

[buck75061]

It's nice to hear from you, Goaliefight, and comforting to know that there are other freethinkers in this town.

[suzn]

You hit the nail on the head for me. It IS true, allllllllll of it. And I beg anyone to prove him wrong about gay people. There is NOTHING to do here. Heck I cheered the addition of casinos. At least it'd be something new. Don't wanna hear about people getting addicted. We have the lotto already. Prove to me pleaseeeeee what the heck else is there to do besides the bars to meet gay women? And I don't wana hear about dating sites, get real, don't want some chick with a boyfriend tryin to get me in bed with both of em.

[TedH71]

Goaliefight,

You're mistaken about houses being under $90k in bad areas. Untrue. My wife has a 2 bedroom house that she bought for $68k that is near the Schweiter neighborhood in a good area. Never had a problem. She's been here 9 years. I've been here 4 years. My wife's folks and sister live on Tulsa street. Now that is an ok area to live in. Do your research and don't discount the houses under $90k.

[Thomasclub]

wow we are thinking about moving to Kansas. The area we were looking at is Andover. My husband just got a job there with a big company. We are a interracial couple and I am terrified of the non acceptance for my kids!!! They have NEVER had to face any sort of racial confrontation. We live in California and we absolutely love it here. I dont want to move but have to for my husbands job. What to do???? My kids play sports, and we are a very active family. We are also catholic but that has never been an issue here but in other states that we have visited when I walk in (i am black) we are starred at. Just scared at this point. We will be there in 5 weeks!

[pioneer88]

I wouldn't worry too much about being an interracial couple in Kansas. I can't speak as to being a black catholic as I am neither but it seems to me interracial marriages off all types are normal and far from being unacceptable.

[athfo]

Originally Posted by Thomasclub

wow we are thinking about moving to Kansas. The area we were looking at is Andover. My husband just got a job there with a big company. We are a interracial couple and I am terrified of the non acceptance for my kids!!! They have NEVER had to face any sort of racial confrontation. We live in California and we absolutely love it here. I dont want to move but have to for my husbands job. What to do???? My kids play sports, and we are a very active family. We are also catholic but that has never been an issue here but in other states that we have visited when I walk in (i am black) we are starred at. Just scared at this point. We will be there in 5 weeks!

As pioneer said above, I really wouldn't worry about it.