Editing Sam Brownback (section)

==Positions==

===Abortion===
Brownback opposes abortion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/wichita-kansas-governor-sam-brownback-equates-abortion-slavery-state-of-the-state-102252|title=Kansas gov equates abortion, slavery|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=January 15, 2014|website=[[Politico]]|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724034947/https://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/wichita-kansas-governor-sam-brownback-equates-abortion-slavery-state-of-the-state-102252|url-status=live}}</ref> He was personally anti-abortion though politically pro-choice during his early career.<ref>"Politics Attracted Brownback Early," ''Kansas City Star'', October 27, 1996.</ref> In 2007, Brownback said that he saw abortion "as the lead moral issue of our day, just like slavery was the lead moral issue 150 years ago."<ref>Pulliam, Sarah. [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/octoberweb-only/142-42.0.html "Q&A: Sam Brownback"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020031735/http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/octoberweb-only/142-42.0.html |date=October 20, 2007 }}, ''Christianity Today'', October 18, 2007.</ref> On May 3, 2007, when asked his opinion of repealing ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'', Brownback said, "It would be a glorious day of human liberty and freedom."<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna18478985 "California Republican debate transcript"], NBC News, May 3, 2007.</ref>

In 2007, Brownback said he "could support a pro-choice nominee" to the presidency because "this is a big coalition party."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna18478985|title=California Republican debate transcript|website=[[NBC News]]|date=May 4, 2007|access-date=January 23, 2018|archive-date=April 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423075403/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/18478985/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Arts===
In May 2011, Brownback eliminated by executive order and then vetoed government funding for the Kansas Arts Commission in response to state defiance of his executive order, making Kansas the first state to de-fund its arts commission.<ref name="latimesblogs.latimes.com">{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/05/kansas-governor-eliminates-states-arts-funding.html|title=Kansas governor eliminates state's arts funding|date=May 31, 2011|access-date=January 23, 2018|archive-date=September 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917083221/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/05/kansas-governor-eliminates-states-arts-funding.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[National Endowment for the Arts]] informed Kansas that without a viable state arts agency, it would not receive a planned $700,000 federal grant.<ref name=foundation>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/02/arts/kansas-and-other-states-cut-arts-funds.html|title=Kansas and Other States Cut Arts Funds|first=Robin|last=Pogrebin|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 1, 2011|access-date=January 23, 2018|archive-date=August 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816223442/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/02/arts/kansas-and-other-states-cut-arts-funds.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Brownback has said he believes private donations should fund arts and culture in the state. He created the Kansas Arts Foundation, an organization dedicated to private fundraising to make up the gap created by state budget cuts.<ref name=foundation/><ref>{{cite web |last=Hudnall |first=David |url=http://www.pitch.com/kansascity/sam-brownbacks-crusade-against-the-kansas-arts-commission/Content?oid=2448163 |title=Sam Brownback's crusade against the Kansas Arts Commission &#124; Interview |publisher=The Pitch |access-date=July 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011060623/http://www.pitch.com/kansascity/sam-brownbacks-crusade-against-the-kansas-arts-commission/Content?oid=2448163 |archive-date=October 11, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Capital punishment===
Brownback said in an interview: "I am not a supporter of a [[death penalty]], other than in cases where we cannot protect the society and have other lives at stake."<ref name=DS>[[n:Sam Brownback on running for President, gay rights, the Middle East and religion|Interview with Senator Sam Brownback]], David Shankbone, ''[[Wikinews]]'', October 11, 2007.</ref> In a speech on the [[Senate Judiciary Committee]], he questioned the current use of the death penalty as potentially incongruent with the notion of a "[[culture of life]]", and suggested it be employed in a more limited fashion.<ref>Sentencing Law and Policy (Blog by Douglas A. Berman): [http://sentencing.typepad.com/sentencing_law_and_policy/2006/02/senator_brownba.html Senator Brownback questions death penalty and culture of life] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061111175019/http://sentencing.typepad.com/sentencing_law_and_policy/2006/02/senator_brownba.html |date=November 11, 2006 }}, February 3, 2006</ref>

===Darfur===
Brownback visited refugee camps in [[Sudan]] in 2004 and returned to write a resolution labeling the [[Darfur conflict]] as [[genocide]], and has been active on attempting to increase U.S. efforts to resolve the situation short of military intervention.<ref>[[The Washington Post]]: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/26/AR2005122600547.html Policy Adrift on Darfur] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726052041/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/26/AR2005122600547.html |date=July 26, 2008 }}, page A25, December 27, 2005.</ref> He is an endorser of the [[Genocide Intervention Network]], which called him a "champion of Darfur" in its Darfur scorecard, primarily for his early advocacy of the [[Darfur Peace and Accountability Act]].<ref>[http://darfurscores.org/champions-of-darfur DarfurScores.org: Champions of Darfur] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108065945/http://darfurscores.org/champions-of-darfur |date=January 8, 2009 }}, operated by the [[Genocide Intervention Network]], site. Retrieved August 21, 2006</ref>

===Economic issues===
[[File:Kansas Governor Sam Brownback addresses during the Kansas Soybean Expo 2014.jpg|thumb|Brownback at the Kansas Soybean Expo 2014]]
As governor he urged a flattening of the income tax to spur economic growth in Kansas. In December 2005, Brownback advocated using Washington, DC, as a laboratory for a [[flat tax]].<ref>[[The New York Sun]]: [http://www.nysun.com/article/23696 D.C. May Be Flat Tax Laboratory] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051202043637/http://www.nysun.com/article/23696 |date=December 2, 2005 }}, November 30, 2005</ref><ref>DCist:
[http://www.dcist.com/archives/2005/12/02/a_flat_tax_for.php A Flat Tax for the District?], December 2, 2005 {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

===Evolution===
Brownback has stated that he is a devout believer in a higher power and rejects [[macroevolution]] as an exclusive explanation for the development over time of new species from older ones.<ref>{{cite web |author=Peter Wagenet and Kevin Wang – Zeit Studios |url=http://www.uncommondescent.com/intelligent-design/sam-brownback-on-evolution/ |title=Sam Brownback on Evolution |publisher=Uncommon Descent |date=May 31, 2007 |access-date=August 23, 2010 |archive-date=April 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100427144755/http://www.uncommondescent.com/intelligent-design/sam-brownback-on-evolution/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Brownback favors giving teachers the freedom to use [[intelligent design]] to critique evolutionary theory as part of the [[Teach the Controversy]] approach:

{{blockquote|There's intelligence involved in the overall of creation ... I don't think we're really at the point of teaching this in the classroom. I think what we passed in the U.S. Senate in 2002 the Santorum Amendment is really what we should be doing, and that is that you teach the controversy, you teach what is fact is fact, and what is theory is theory, and you move from that proceedings, rather than from teaching some sort of different thought. And this, I really think that's the area we should concentrate on at the present time, is teaching the controversy.<ref>[http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0508/23/lkl.01.html Intelligent Design in American Classrooms?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822073608/https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/lkl/date/2005-08-23/segment/01 |date=August 22, 2023 }} CNN Larry King Live, August 23, 2005.</ref>|Senator Sam Brownback|''Larry King Live'', CNN, August 23, 2005}}

Brownback spoke out against the denial of tenure at [[Iowa State University]] to astronomer [[Guillermo Gonzalez (astronomer)|Guillermo Gonzalez]], a proponent of [[intelligent design]], saying "such an assault on academic freedom does not bode well for the advancement of true science."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brownback.com/|title=Brownback Alarmed by Tenure Denial in Iowa|date=May 21, 2007|website=Brownback for President|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070523193354/http://www.brownback.com/|archive-date=May 23, 2007|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

===Health care===
Brownback opposes government-funded elective abortions in accordance with the [[Hyde Amendment]]. He has been a strong supporter of legislation to establish a national childhood cancer database and an increase in funding for autism research.<ref name="ontheissues.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/sam_brownback.htm |title=Sam Brownback on the Issues |publisher=Ontheissues.org |access-date=August 23, 2010 |archive-date=June 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613225159/http://ontheissues.org/Senate/Sam_Brownback.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>{{better source needed|date=August 2023}} Brownback supports negotiating bulk discounts on Medicare drug benefits to reduce prices. In 2007, Senators Brownback and [[Sherrod Brown]] ([[U.S. Democratic Party|D]]-[[Ohio|OH]]) sponsored an amendment to the [[Food and Drug Administration]] Amendments Act of 2007. The amendment created a prize as an incentive for companies to invest in new drugs and vaccines for neglected tropical diseases. It awards a transferable "[[Priority Review Voucher]]" to any company that obtains approval for a treatment for a neglected tropical disease.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Senators Introduce Legislation To Encourage R&D Aimed At Neglected Pediatric Diseases |url=https://www.kff.org/news-summary/u-s-senators-introduce-legislation-to-encourage-rd-aimed-at-neglected-pediatric-diseases/ |website=KFF}}</ref> The prize was initially proposed by [[Duke University]] faculty Henry Grabowski, Jeffrey Moe, and David Ridley in their 2006 ''Health Affairs'' paper: "Developing Drugs for Developing Countries."<ref>{{Cite journal |url=http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/abstract/25/2/313 |title=Developing Drugs For Developing Countries – Ridley et al. 25 (2): 313 – Health Affairs |date=2006 |doi=10.1377/hlthaff.25.2.313 |pmid=16522573 |access-date=April 25, 2008 |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822073612/https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/abs/10.1377/hlthaff.25.2.313 |url-status=live |last1=Ridley |first1=D. B. |last2=Grabowski |first2=H. G. |last3=Moe |first3=J. L. |journal=Health Affairs |volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=313–324 |hdl=10161/7017 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

Brownback has supported a bill that would introduce [[Transparency (market)|price transparency]] to the U.S. [[health care]] industry,<ref>PR Newswire: [http://www.hiremedical.com/c/medical/newsdetailx/10132.htm Senators and Hospital Groups Support New GPO Transparency Initiative] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061109093320/http://www.hiremedical.com/c/medical/newsdetailx/10132.htm |date=November 9, 2006 }}, July 12, 2005</ref> as well as a bill which would require the disclosure of [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] payment rate information.<ref>U.S. Senator Sam Brownback press release: [http://brownback.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=253714 Brownback Introduces Medicare Payment Rate Disclosure Act] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060428022941/http://brownback.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=253714 |date=April 28, 2006 }}, April 7, 2006</ref>

On December 16, 2006, Brownback gave an interview to the ''[[Christian Post]]'', stating: "We can get to this goal of eliminating deaths by [[cancer]] in ten years."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.christianpost.com/article/20061216/24283_Brownback_Addresses_Christian_Radio_Members,_Touts_FDA_Move.htm |title=Brownback Addresses Christian Radio Members, Touts FDA Move |work=Christian Post |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070620230129/http://www.christianpost.com/article/20061216/24283_Brownback_Addresses_Christian_Radio_Members,_Touts_FDA_Move.htm |date=December 16, 2006 |archive-date=June 20, 2007 |access-date=May 10, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Immigration===

==== Senate record ====
Brownback had a Senate voting record that has tended to support higher legal immigration levels<ref>{{cite web|url=http://grades.betterimmigration.com/testgrades.php3?District=KS&VIPID=317|title=Immigration-Reduction Grades - NumbersUSA - For Lower Immigration Levels|website=grades.betterimmigration.com|access-date=January 23, 2018|archive-date=January 7, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107050946/http://grades.betterimmigration.com/testgrades.php3?District=KS&VIPID=317|url-status=dead}}</ref> and strong refugee protection. Brownback was cosponsor of a 2005 bill of [[Ted Kennedy]] and [[John McCain]]'s which would have created a legal path to citizenship for millions of [[illegal immigration|illegal immigrants]] already present.<ref name="immbill2005">{{cite web |title =Democrats are flocking to McCain's immigration bill |url =http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/democrats-are-flocking-to-mccains-immigration-bill-2005-08-17.html |access-date =June 21, 2007 |archive-date =August 25, 2007 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070825202707/http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/democrats-are-flocking-to-mccains-immigration-bill-2005-08-17.html |url-status =dead }}</ref> On June 26, 2007, Brownback voted in favor of S. 1639, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:s.01639:|title=Search Results – Thomas (Library of Congress)|access-date=January 23, 2018|archive-date=October 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018153249/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:s.01639:|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00228|title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 110th Congress - 1st Session|website=www.senate.gov|access-date=January 23, 2018|archive-date=October 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018060924/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00228|url-status=live}}</ref> Brownback supports increasing numbers of legal immigrants, building a fence on Mexican border, and the reform bill "if enforced."
While he initially supported giving guest workers a path to citizenship, Brownback eventually voted "Nay" on June 28, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00235|title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 110th Congress - 1st Session|website=www.senate.gov|access-date=January 23, 2018|archive-date=December 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230043655/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00235|url-status=live}}</ref> Brownback has said that he supports immigration reform because the [[Bible]] says to welcome the stranger.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/28/on-the-road-a-week-with-values-voters/ |work=[[The New York Times]] |title=On the Road: A Week With 'Values' Voters |first=Michael |last=Luo |date=October 28, 2007 |access-date=May 23, 2010 |archive-date=November 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119110347/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/28/on-the-road-a-week-with-values-voters/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Record as governor ====
On April 25, 2016, Brownback issued executive orders barring state agencies from facilitating [[Refugees of the Syrian civil war|refugee resettlement from Syria]] and other majority-Muslim countries, in concert with the federal [[Office of Refugee Resettlement]] (ORR). He maintained they presented security risks, and his decision entirely removed Kansas from the program. The ORR served notice that it would instead work directly with local refugee resettlement organizations. Kansas was the first state to withdraw from the federal refugee resettlement program.<ref name="newsweek" />

As a result of Brownback's action, Kansas lost about $2.2 million annually that had been provided to support resettlement agencies. The state had been working with three such agencies, among them Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, in making appropriate placements. In the seven months preceding his order, 354 refugees were resettled in Kansas, with 13 Syrians placed in the Wichita or Kansas City areas in the previous 16 months. Representative [[Jim Ward (Kansas politician)|Jim Ward]] from Wichita called Brownback's announcement "a distraction", intended solely for political purposes, as Kansas faced a $290 million budget deficit.<ref>[http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article73945807.html Gov. Sam Brownback withdraws Kansas from federal refugee resettlement program] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729013339/http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article73945807.html |date=July 29, 2017 }}, ''[[Kansas City Star]]'', Edward M. Eveld, April 26, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2017.</ref>

===Iraq===
[[File:Brownback IRaq.png|thumb|Brownback posing with U.S. Marines in [[Iraq]]]]
Brownback supported a political surge coupled with the military surge of 2007 in [[Iraq]] and opposed the Democratic Party's strategy of timed withdrawal:

{{blockquote|It does mean that there must be bipartisan agreement for our military commitment on Iraq. We cannot fight a war with the support of only one political party. And it does mean that the parties in Iraq – Sunni, Shi'a and Kurds – must get to a political agreement, to a political equilibrium. I think most people agree that a cut and run strategy does not serve our interest at all, nor those of the world, nor those of the region, nor those of the Iraqi people. So I invite my colleagues, all around, particularly on the other side of the aisle, to indicate what level of commitment they can support.<ref>[http://brownback.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=267618 Senator Sam Brownback office, ''Brownback on Iraq and Troop Surge, Calls for bipartisanship, diplomatic efforts'', January 17, 2007, Washington, D.C.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070131223044/http://brownback.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=267618 |date=January 31, 2007 }}</ref>|
Senator Sam Brownback|
U.S. Senate floor speech, January 16, 2007}}

In May 2007, Brownback stated: "We have not lost war; we can win by pulling together". He voted Yes on authorizing use of military force against Iraq, voted No on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not emergency funding and voted No on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007.<ref name="ontheissues">{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Sam_Brownback.htm|title=Sam Brownback On the Issues|access-date=September 1, 2007|publisher=ontheissues.org|archive-date=August 23, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823103230/http://www.ontheissues.org/Sam_Brownback.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> He has also condemned anti-Muslim bigotry in name of anti-terrorism.<ref name="ontheissues.org"/>

On June 7, 2007, Brownback voted against the [[Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007]] when that bill came up for a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee, on which Brownback sat.<ref>[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]], June 7, 2007.</ref> (The bill was passed out of the committee by a vote of 11 to 8.)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Melber |first1=Ari |title=Senate Begins Real Push on Habeas Corpus |url=http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=203303 |website=www.thenation.com |publisher=[[The Nation]] |access-date=8 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609164444/http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=203303 |archive-date=June 9, 2007 |language=en |date=2007-06-07}}</ref> The bill aims to restore [[habeas corpus]] rights revoked by the [[Military Commissions Act of 2006]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Kellman |first=Laurie |title=Bush Veto Expected for Stem Cell Bill |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=July 18, 2006 |url=http://www.technewsworld.com/story/51852.html |access-date=August 23, 2006 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

===Israel and the Palestinian Territories===
[[File:PC280088.JPG (1507409603).jpg|150px|thumb|Brownback at the December 2007 [[American Israel Public Affairs Committee|AIPAC]] Policy Conference]]
In October 2007, Brownback announced his support for [[Elon Peace Plan|a plan]] designed by [[Benny Elon]], then-chairman of [[Israel]]'s far-right-wing [[National Union (Israel)|National Union]]/[[National Religious Party]] (NU/NRP) alliance.<ref name="forward.com">{{cite web |last=Brostoff |first=Marissa |url=http://www.forward.com/articles/11794/ |title=Far Right Israelis Get Boost From Senator – The Jewish Daily Forward |publisher=Forward.com |date=October 10, 2007 |access-date=August 23, 2010 |archive-date=July 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722130506/http://www.forward.com/articles/11794/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Elon's positions included dismantling the [[Palestinian National Authority]] and [[Hamas]] and rejecting a [[two-state solution]]. The plan calls for the complete annexation of the [[West Bank]] by Israel, and the deportation of its massive majority Arab population to a new Palestinian state to be created within present-day Jordan, against that latter country's historic opposition.<ref name="forward.com" />

===LGBT issues===
In 1996, as a member of the House of Representatives, Brownback voted for the [[Defense of Marriage Act]], which defined marriage for purposes of federal law as the union between a man and a woman.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/104-1996/h316|title=H.R. 3396 (104th): Defense of Marriage Act -- House Vote #316 -- Jul 12, 1996|website=GovTrack.us|access-date=January 24, 2018|archive-date=October 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021140443/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/104-1996/h316|url-status=live}}</ref> Brownback has stated that he believes [[homosexuality]] to be immoral as a violation of both Catholic doctrine<ref name="WP-Pace">{{cite news |last=Hananel |first=Sam |title=Brownback Supports Pace's Remark on Gays |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=March 5, 2007 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/15/AR2007031501113.html |access-date=March 1, 2011 |archive-date=February 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207102152/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/15/AR2007031501113.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[natural law]].<ref name="RS-Sharlet">{{cite news |last=Sharlet |first=Jeff |author-link=Jeff Sharlet (writer) |title=God's Senator |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |location=New York |date=January 25, 2006 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/9178374/gods_senator/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207014424/http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/9178374/gods_senator/ |archive-date=February 7, 2006 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 1, 2011}}</ref> He has voted against [[LGBT rights by country or territory|gay rights]], receiving zeros in four of the last five scorecards as a U.S. senator from the [[Human Rights Campaign]].<ref name="HRC-107">{{cite web |title=Congressional Scorecard for the 107th Congress |year=2002 |url=http://www.hrc.org/documents/2002scorecard.pdf |publisher=Human Rights Campaign, Inc |page=8 |access-date=March 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115064115/http://www.hrc.org/documents/2002scorecard.pdf |archive-date=November 15, 2010 }}</ref><ref name="HRC-108">{{cite web |title=Congressional Scorecard for the 108th Congress |year=2004 |url=http://www.hrc.org/documents/2004ScoreCard.pdf |publisher=Human Rights Campaign, Inc |page=16 |access-date=March 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115064101/http://www.hrc.org/documents/2004ScoreCard.pdf |archive-date=November 15, 2010 }}</ref><ref name="HRC-109">{{cite web|title=Congressional Scorecard for the 109th Congress |year=2006 |url=http://www.hrc.org/documents/HRCscorecard2006.pdf |publisher=Human Rights Campaign, Inc |page=15 |access-date=March 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115064050/http://www.hrc.org/documents/HRCscorecard2006.pdf |archive-date=November 15, 2010 }}</ref><ref name="HRC-110">{{cite web |title=Congressional Scorecard for the 110th Congress |year=2008 |url=http://www.hrc.org/documents/Congress_Scorecard-110th.pdf |publisher=Human Rights Campaign, Inc |page=20 |access-date=March 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123191130/https://www.hrc.org/documents/Congress_Scorecard-110th.pdf |archive-date=November 23, 2010 }}</ref><ref name="HRC-111">{{cite web |title=Congressional Scorecard for the 111th Congress |date=February 23, 2011 |url=http://www.hrc.org/documents/111thCongressional_Scorecard.pdf |publisher=Human Rights Campaign, Inc |page=20 |access-date=March 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227111602/https://www.hrc.org/documents/111thCongressional_Scorecard.pdf |archive-date=February 27, 2011 }}</ref> He opposes both [[same-sex marriage]] and same-sex [[civil union]]s.<ref name="RS-Sharlet"/> He opposes adding sexual orientation and [[gender identity]] to federal [[hate crime]] laws.<ref name="RS-Sharlet"/><ref name="LJW-hatecrime">{{cite news |last=Rothschild |first=Scott |title=Brownback, Roberts, Moran, Tiahrt cite hate crimes provision in voting against military funding bill |newspaper=The Lawrence Journal-World |date=October 26, 2009 |url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/oct/26/brownback-roberts-moran-tiahrt-cite-hate-crimes-pr/ |access-date=March 1, 2011 |archive-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806094651/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/oct/26/brownback-roberts-moran-tiahrt-cite-hate-crimes-pr/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He has declined to state a position on [[LGBT adoption in the United States|homosexual adoption]],<ref name="ABC-gayadoption">{{cite news |last=Stephanopoulos |first=George |author-link=George Stephanopoulos |title=Brownback Joins Crowded Presidential Race |work=This Week |date=January 22, 2007 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2811101 |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |access-date=March 4, 2011 |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628211511/http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2811101 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="AmericaBlog-gayadoption">{{cite news |last=Aravosis |first=John |author-link=John Aravosis |title=Conservative GOP prez candidate, Sam Brownback, refuses to take position on gay adoption |work=AMERICAblog |date=January 21, 2007 |url=http://www.americablog.com/2007/01/conservative-gop-prez-candidate-sam.html |access-date=March 4, 2011 |archive-date=July 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707130747/http://www.americablog.com/2007/01/conservative-gop-prez-candidate-sam.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> although a candidate for chair of the [[Kansas Republican Party]] claims he was blackballed by political operatives affiliated with Brownback for not opposing homosexual adoption.<ref name="KCC-Sutherland">{{cite news |last=Sutherland |first=Dwight |title=Sutherland: Up On 'Brownback Mountain' or 'I Just Wish I Knew How to Quit You |work=KC Confidential |date=August 16, 2013 |url=http://www.kcconfidential.com/2013/08/16/sutherland-up-on-brownback-mountain-or-i-just-wish-i-knew-how-to-quit-you/ |access-date=August 20, 2013 |archive-date=December 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202233447/http://www.kcconfidential.com/2013/08/16/sutherland-up-on-brownback-mountain-or-i-just-wish-i-knew-how-to-quit-you/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Brownback supported "[[don't ask, don't tell]],"<ref name="WEBlog-DADT">{{cite news |last=Holman |first=Rhonda |title=Kansans in Congress clinging to 'don't ask, don't tell' |series=WE Blog |date=December 5, 2010 |url=http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2010/12/kansans-in-congress-clinging-to-dont-ask-dont-tell/ |work=The Wichita Eagle |access-date=March 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713134409/http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2010/12/kansans-in-congress-clinging-to-dont-ask-dont-tell/ |archive-date=July 13, 2011 }}</ref> the U.S. government's ban on openly homosexual people in the military. Brownback has associated with organizations such as the [[Family Research Council]]<ref name="FRC-SPLC">{{cite web|title=FRC, Members of Congress, Governors, and Conservative Leaders Release Open Letter Calling for Civil Debate, End to Character Assassination|url=http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=PR10L07|publisher=Family Research Council|date=December 15, 2010|access-date=June 9, 2011|archive-date=August 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822073610/https://www.frc.org/advanced-search|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=RWW-FRC-SPLC>{{cite web|title=Dozens of GOP Leaders Declare Solidarity With Those Who Want To See Homosexuality Outlawed|url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/dozens-gop-leaders-declare-solidarity-those-who-want-see-homosexuality-outlawed|work=Right Wing Watch|publisher=People for the American Way|date=December 15, 2010|access-date=June 9, 2011|archive-date=July 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725175451/http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/dozens-gop-leaders-declare-solidarity-those-who-want-see-homosexuality-outlawed|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[American Family Association]].<ref name=TCJ-Response>{{cite news|title=Brownback responds to Perry's call to pray|url=http://cjonline.com/news/2011-06-07/brownback-responds-perrys-call-pray|access-date=June 9, 2011|newspaper=Topeka Capital-Journal|date=June 7, 2011|agency=[[Associated Press]]|archive-date=June 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609153057/http://cjonline.com/news/2011-06-07/brownback-responds-perrys-call-pray|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=NYT-Response>{{cite news|last=Fernandez|first=Manny|title=Texas Governor Draws Criticism on Prayer Event|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/12/us/politics/12prayer.html|access-date=June 12, 2011|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 11, 2011|author2=Eckholm, Erik|page=A31|archive-date=June 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614214318/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/12/us/politics/12prayer.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2003, Brownback worked with [[Alliance for Marriage]] and [[Traditional Values Coalition]] to introduce a Senate bill containing the [[Federal Marriage Amendment]], a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that would federally prohibit same-sex marriage in the United States.<ref name="NYT-FMA">{{cite news |last=Seelye |first=Katharine Q. |title=Conservatives Mobilize Against Ruling on Gay Marriage |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 20, 2003 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/20/national/20CONS.html |access-date=July 15, 2013 |archive-date=January 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124064543/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/20/national/20CONS.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Salon-FMA">{{cite news |last=Grieve |first=Tim |title=Lining up to fight 'the forces of evil' |newspaper=[[Salon.com|Salon]] |date=November 19, 2003 |url=http://www.salon.com/2003/11/20/marriage_20/ |access-date=July 15, 2013 |archive-date=July 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715032749/http://www.salon.com/2003/11/20/marriage_20/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="WT-FMA">{{cite news |last=McCaslin |first=John |title=Inside the Beltway: Redefining Bliss |newspaper=The Washington Times |date=November 26, 2003 |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2003/nov/26/20031126-110943-6790r/ |access-date=July 15, 2013 |archive-date=June 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610193405/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2003/nov/26/20031126-110943-6790r/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Brownback-FMA">{{cite press release |last=Brownback |first=Sam |title=Brownback Statement on Federal Marriage Amendment |date=September 17, 2003 |url=http://brownback.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=211715 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031019014820/http://brownback.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=211715 |archive-date=October 19, 2003 |access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref> The bill was a response to ''[[Goodridge v. Department of Public Health]]'', the Massachusetts state court decision finding that same-sex couples had the right to marry in Massachusetts.<ref name="NYT-FMA" /><ref name="Salon-FMA" /><ref name="WT-FMA" /> In reaction to the ''Goodridge'' decision, Brownback stated that same-sex marriage threatened the health of American families and culture.<ref name="LJW-FMA">{{cite news |last=Hanna |first=John |title=Kline, Brownback vow to fight same-sex marriage |newspaper=The Lawrence Journal-World |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=November 19, 2003 |url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2003/nov/19/kline_brownback_vow/ |access-date=July 15, 2013 |archive-date=June 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611035633/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2003/nov/19/kline_brownback_vow/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2006, Brownback blocked the confirmation of federal judicial nominee [[Janet T. Neff]] because she had attended a same-sex commitment ceremony.<ref name="NYT-Neff">{{cite news|last=Lewis|first=Neil A.|title=Senator Removes His Block on Federal Court Nominee|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/19/washington/19judge.html|access-date=October 1, 2011|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 19, 2006|archive-date=December 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222220258/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/19/washington/19judge.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="WSJ-Neff">{{cite news|last=Lattman|first=Peter|title=Amid Criticism, Brownback Lifts Block on Judicial Nominee|series=The Wall Street Journal Law Blog|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/law/2006/12/19/amid-criticism-brownback-lifts-block-on-judicial-nominee/|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=October 1, 2011|date=December 19, 2006|archive-date=March 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324133732/http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2006/12/19/amid-criticism-brownback-lifts-block-on-judicial-nominee/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="WP-Neff">{{cite news|last=Dvorak|first=Todd|title=Brownback Wants to Re-Question Nominee|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/19/AR2006121900645.html|access-date=October 1, 2011|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=December 19, 2006|archive-date=October 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018153249/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/19/AR2006121900645.html|url-status=live}}</ref> At first, he agreed to lift the block only if Neff would recuse herself from all cases involving same-sex unions. Brownback later dropped his opposition.<ref name="NYT-Neff"/><ref name="WSJ-Neff"/><ref name="WP-Neff"/> Neff was nominated to the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan by President [[George W. Bush]] on March 19, 2007, to a seat vacated [[David McKeague]] and was confirmed by a vote of 83-4 by the [[United States Senate|Senate]] on July 9, 2007. She received her commission on August 6, 2007.<ref name=Neff>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-judge/senate-rejects-brownbacks-concerns-about-judge-idUSN0931175220070709 Senate rejects Brownback's concerns about judge] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223042513/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-judge/senate-rejects-brownbacks-concerns-about-judge-idUSN0931175220070709 |date=December 23, 2017 }}, ''[[Reuters]]'', July 9, 2007. Retrieved December 22, 2017.</ref>

In April 2011, Brownback began work on a Kansas government program to promote marriage, in part through grants to faith-based and secular social service organizations.<ref name=TCJ-HMI>{{cite news|last=Carpenter|first=Tim|title=Brownback program promotes marriage|url=http://cjonline.com/news/2011-07-02/brownback-program-promotes-marriage|access-date=July 3, 2011|newspaper=The Topeka Capital-Journal|date=July 2, 2011|archive-date=July 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706035248/http://cjonline.com/news/2011-07-02/brownback-program-promotes-marriage|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=LJW-HMI>{{cite news|last=Rothschild|first=Scott|title=Gov. Brownback, SRS secretary discussing marriage initiatives|url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/apr/07/gov-brownback-srs-secretary-discussing-marriage-in/|access-date=July 3, 2011|newspaper=The Lawrence Journal-World|date=April 7, 2011|archive-date=April 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414113155/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/apr/07/gov-brownback-srs-secretary-discussing-marriage-in/|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2011, the administration revised contract expectations for social work organizations to promote married mother-father families.<ref name=SJ-HMI1>{{cite news|title=SRS history replete with major changes|url=http://www.salina.com/news/story/seniors062111|access-date=October 24, 2011|newspaper=The Salina Journal|date=June 21, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403071454/http://www.salina.com/news/story/seniors062111|archive-date=April 3, 2012}}</ref><ref name=SJ-HMI2>{{cite news|last=Fiedler|first=Gordon D.|title=Kansas SRS secretary visits Salina|url=http://www.saljournal.com/news/story/Siedlecki-tour|access-date=October 24, 2011|newspaper=The Salina Journal|date=June 22, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501141642/http://www.saljournal.com/news/story/Siedlecki-tour|archive-date=May 1, 2012}}</ref> It explained the change as benefiting children.<ref name=SJ-HMI1/><ref name=SJ-HMI2/>

In January 2012, Brownback did not include Kansas's [[Sodomy laws in the United States|sodomy law]] in a list of unenforced and outdated laws that the legislature should repeal.<ref name=TCJ-Repeal>{{cite news|last=Carpenter|first=Tim|title=State 'repealer' lists 51 objections|url=http://cjonline.com/news/2012-01-20/state-repealer-lists-51-objections|access-date=February 19, 2012|newspaper=The Topeka Capital-Journal|date=January 20, 2012|archive-date=February 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217055637/http://cjonline.com/news/2012-01-20/state-repealer-lists-51-objections|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=LJW-Repeal>{{cite news |last=Rothschild |first=Scott |title=51 measures proposed for repeal, but not law criminalizing gay sex |url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/jan/20/51-measures-proposed-repeal-not-law-criminalizing-/ |access-date=February 19, 2012 |newspaper=The Lawrence Journal-World |date=January 20, 2012 |archive-date=January 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124023846/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/jan/20/51-measures-proposed-repeal-not-law-criminalizing-/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=WE-Repeal>{{cite news|title=Kansas governor plans to seek repeal of some regulations, laws|url=http://www.kansas.com/2012/01/20/2182945/kansas-governor-plans-to-seek.html|access-date=February 19, 2012|newspaper=The Wichita Eagle|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=January 20, 2012|archive-date=February 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222164041/http://www.kansas.com/2012/01/20/2182945/kansas-governor-plans-to-seek.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=NYT-Repeal>{{cite news|last=Sulzberger|first=A. G.|title=Kansas Law on Sodomy Stays on Books Despite a Cull|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/21/us/sodomy-law-remains-official-in-kansas.html|access-date=January 20, 2012|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 14, 2012|archive-date=January 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122074721/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/21/us/sodomy-law-remains-official-in-kansas.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Gay rights advocates had asked his administration to recommend its repeal because the law has been unenforceable since the Supreme Court's ''[[Lawrence v. Texas]]'' decision in 2003.<ref name=TCJ-Repeal/><ref name=LJW-Repeal/><ref name=WE-Repeal/><ref name=NYT-Repeal/><ref name=LJW-Repeal-Ask>{{cite news|last=Rothschild|first=Scott|title=Kansas Equality Coalition seeks repeal of homosexual sex law|url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/nov/27/kansas-equality-coalition-seeks-repeal-homosexual-/|access-date=February 19, 2012|newspaper=The Lawrence Journal-World|date=November 27, 2011|archive-date=January 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130111719/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/nov/27/kansas-equality-coalition-seeks-repeal-homosexual-/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2012, the Brownback administration supported a religious freedom bill that would have stopped cities, school districts, universities, and executive agencies from having nondiscrimination laws or policies that covered sexual orientation or gender identity.<ref name=TCJ-HB2260>{{cite news|last=Carpenter|first=Tim|title=Religious freedom bill evokes contrary views|url=http://cjonline.com/news/2012-02-14/religious-freedom-bill-evokes-contrary-views|access-date=February 19, 2012|newspaper=The Topeka Capital-Journal|date=February 14, 2012|archive-date=February 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218032859/http://cjonline.com/news/2012-02-14/religious-freedom-bill-evokes-contrary-views|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=LJW-HB2260>{{cite news|last=Rothschild|first=Scott|title=Brownback administration supports bill that critics say could invalidate Lawrence anti-discrimination ordinance|url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/feb/14/brownback-administration-supports-bill-critics-say/|access-date=February 19, 2012|newspaper=The Lawrence Journal-World|date=February 14, 2012|archive-date=February 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218030954/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/feb/14/brownback-administration-supports-bill-critics-say/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=WE-HB2260>{{cite news|last=Brownlee|first=Phillip|title=Religious-liberty bill really about discrimination|url=http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2012/02/religious-liberty-bill-really-about-discrimination/|work=WE Blog|access-date=February 19, 2012|publisher=The Wichita Eagle|date=February 13, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723032342/http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2012/02/religious-liberty-bill-really-about-discrimination/|archive-date=July 23, 2012}}</ref>

In 2013, after oral arguments in ''[[United States v. Windsor]]'', the U.S. Supreme Court case striking down part of the [[Defense of Marriage Act]], Brownback publicly reaffirmed his opposition to same-sex marriage.<ref name="CJ-Windsor">{{cite news |last=Hanna |first=John |title=Brownback reaffirms opposition to gay marriage |newspaper=The Topeka Capital-Journal |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=March 29, 2013 |url=http://cjonline.com/news/2013-03-29/brownback-reaffirms-opposition-gay-marriage |access-date=July 15, 2013 |archive-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020102037/http://cjonline.com/news/2013-03-29/brownback-reaffirms-opposition-gay-marriage |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court denied petitions to review several federal appellate decisions overturning state bans on same-sex marriage.<ref name="SCOTUS-Kitchen-NYT">{{cite news|last=Liptak|first=Adam|title=Supreme Court Hands Gay Marriage a Tacit Victory|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/07/us/denying-review-justices-clear-way-for-gay-marriage-in-5-states.html|access-date=October 6, 2014|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 6, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006193126/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/07/us/denying-review-justices-clear-way-for-gay-marriage-in-5-states.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SCOTUS-Kitchen-WP">{{cite news |last=Barnes |first=Robert |title=Supreme Court declines to review same-sex marriage cases |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/supreme-court-declines-to-review-same-sex-marriage-cases/2014/10/06/ee822848-4d5e-11e4-babe-e91da079cb8a_story.html |access-date=October 6, 2014 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=October 6, 2014 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006144937/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/supreme-court-declines-to-review-same-sex-marriage-cases/2014/10/06/ee822848-4d5e-11e4-babe-e91da079cb8a_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The court's actions favored repeal of Kansas's ban on same-sex marriage because two of the appeals (''[[Kitchen v. Herbert]]'' and ''[[Bishop v. Oklahoma]]'') originated in the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit]], which includes Kansas.<ref name="SCOTUS-Kitchen-NYT"/><ref name="SCOTUS-Kitchen-WP"/> In response, Brownback defended Kansas's same-sex marriage ban as being supported by a majority of Kansas voters and criticized "activist judges" for "overruling" the people of Kansas.<ref name="SCOTUS-Kitchen-TCJ">{{cite news|last=Van Dyke|first=Aly|title=Gay couple denied marriage license in Shawnee County, could become plaintiffs|url=http://cjonline.com/news/2014-10-06/gay-couple-denied-marriage-license-shawnee-county-could-become-plaintiffs|access-date=October 6, 2014|work=The Topeka Capital-Journal|date=October 6, 2014|archive-date=October 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009070139/http://cjonline.com/news/2014-10-06/gay-couple-denied-marriage-license-shawnee-county-could-become-plaintiffs|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SCOTUS-Kitchen-LJW">{{cite news|last=Hancock|first=Peter|title=Rulings give Kansas couples hope for same-sex marriages|url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/oct/06/same-sex-marriage-rulings-may-apply-kansas/|access-date=October 6, 2014|publisher=The Lawrence Journal-World|date=October 6, 2014|archive-date=October 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008050158/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/oct/06/same-sex-marriage-rulings-may-apply-kansas/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SCOTUS-Kitchen-LJW2">{{cite news|last=Hanna|first=John|title=Brownback: Kansas should defend gay marriage ban|url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/oct/07/brownback-kansas-should-defend-gay-marriage-ban/|access-date=October 7, 2014|newspaper=The Lawrence Journal-World|agency=Associated Press|date=October 7, 2014|archive-date=October 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008134733/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/oct/07/brownback-kansas-should-defend-gay-marriage-ban/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On February 10, 2015, Brownback issued an executive order rescinding protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender state workers that was put into place by then-Gov. Kathleen Sebelius eight years previously.<ref name="LGBT-Protections">{{cite news|last=Lowry|first=Bryan|title=Brownback rescinds protected-class status for LGBT state workers in Kansas|url=http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/article9694028.html|access-date=February 10, 2015|newspaper=The Kansas City Star|date=February 10, 2015|archive-date=February 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211004828/http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/article9694028.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The ACLU generally characterized his actions as being "religious freedom to discriminate."<ref name=ACLU />

===Stem cell research===
Brownback supports [[Adult stem cell|adult stem cell research]] and [[Cord blood|cord blood stem cells]]. Brownback appeared with three children adopted from [[in vitro fertilization]] clinics to coincide with a Senate debate over the Cord Blood Stem Cell Act of 2005<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.681.IS: |title=Bill Text – 109th Congress (2005–2006) – THOMAS (Library of Congress) |publisher=Thomas.loc.gov |date=March 17, 2005 |access-date=August 23, 2010 |archive-date=October 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018153249/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.681.IS: |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{better source needed|date=July 2023}} to show his support for the bill and adult stem cell research.

===Other issues===
On June 15, 2006, President George W. Bush signed into law the [[Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005]] sponsored by Brownback, a former broadcaster himself. The new law stiffened the penalties for each violation of the Act. The [[Federal Communications Commission]] will be able to impose fines in the amount of $325,000 for each violation by each station that violates [[decency]] standards. The legislation raised the fine by tenfold.<ref>Combs, Roberta. [http://www.cc.org/content.cfm?id=338 Christian Coalition of America], ''Washington Weekly Review'', June 17, 2006 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207014653/http://www.cc.org/content.cfm?id=338 |date=December 7, 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bill Number S. 193 |work=Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005 (Introduced in Senate) from Congressional THOMAS DB |url=http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bill.xc?billnum=S.193&congress=109 |access-date=April 11, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050916182346/http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bill.xc?billnum=S.193&congress=109 |archive-date=September 16, 2005 }}</ref>{{better source needed|date=July 2023}}

On September 3, 1997, Meredith O'Rourke, an employee of Kansas firm Triad Management Services, was [[Deposition (law)|deposed]] by the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs regarding her activities and observations while providing services for the company relative to fund raising and advertising for Brownback. The deposition claims that Triad circumvented existing campaign finance laws by channeling donations through Triad, and also bypassed the campaign law with Triad running 'issue ads' during Brownback's first campaign for the Senate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rainbowtel.net/~bryants/abbmodep_all_scans.htm|title=Anybody But Brownback: The Triad/O'Rourke Deposition, full text|website=www.rainbowtel.net|access-date=January 23, 2018|archive-date=January 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124071012/http://www.rainbowtel.net/~bryants/abbmodep_all_scans.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/campfin/stories/cf121297.htm |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=January 31, 1999 |access-date=May 23, 2010 |title=Funds Consultant Helped Senator Behind Scenes |archive-date=August 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830013513/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/campfin/stories/cf121297.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Brownback has said he does not believe there is an inherent [[right to privacy]] in the [[U.S. Constitution]]. He has, however, expressed disapproval of [[George W. Bush]]'s assertions on the legality of the [[Nsa wiretapping|NSA wiretapping program]].<ref>[[The Washington Post]]: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/08/AR2006020801989.html David S. Broder: ''Bucking Bush on Spying''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215122515/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/08/AR2006020801989.html |date=December 15, 2018 }}, February 9, 2006</ref>

Brownback introduced into the Senate a resolution (Senate Joint Resolution 4) calling for the United States to apologize for past mistreatment of [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:s.j.res.00004:|title=THOMAS, Library of Congress entry on Senate Joint Resolution 4|access-date=January 23, 2018|archive-date=October 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018153249/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:s.j.res.00004:|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[http://brownback.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=274116 ''Brownback Applauds Committee Passage of Native American Apology Resolution'']. Press release, May 11, 2007 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070530230633/http://brownback.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=274116 |date=May 30, 2007 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.indian.senate.gov/news/pressreleases/pr-10-07-09.cfm ''Brownback, Dorgan Applaud Senate Passage of Native American Apology Resolution''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915123515/http://www.indian.senate.gov/news/pressreleases/pr-10-07-09.cfm |date=September 15, 2012 }} Press release, October 7, 2009</ref>
[[File:Kansas Governor Sam Brownback makes remarks at a ground breaking ceremony at McConnell Air Force Base.jpg|thumb|Governor Sam Brownback makes remarks at a ground breaking ceremony at [[McConnell Air Force Base]].]]

Brownback was responsible for introducing the Senate's version of a bill that would successfully establish the [[National Museum of African American History and Culture]].<ref>[[The Washington Post]]:https://web.archive.org/web/20170216134746/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/for-rep-john-lewis-african-american-museum-was-a-recurring-dream/2016/06/28/fc05c81c-34b6-11e6-95c0-2a6873031302_story.html,</ref>

Brownback has advocated for [[Armenia–United States relations|closer relations]] between the United States and Armenia, citing the need to defend the country from aggression by [[Azerbaijan]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brownback |first=Sam |date=September 25, 2023 |title=120,000 Reasons U.S. Must Act to Save Christians in Armenia |url=https://dcjournal.com/120000-reasons-u-s-must-act-to-save-christians-in-armenia/ |access-date=April 26, 2024 |website=DC Journal |publisher=InsideSources}}</ref> In a 2023 ''[[The Washington Times|Washington Times]]'' opinion piece, the former ambassador called for [[Israel]] to also support Armenia due to the two nations' shared backgrounds as [[Judeo-Christian]] nations populated by ethnic groups that have been the victims of genocides despite [[Armenia–Israel relations|geopolitical tensions]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brownback |first=Sam |date=October 2, 2023 |title=Armenia and Israel, the Middle East's last Judeo-Christian nations |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/oct/2/armenia-and-israel-middle-easts-last-judeo-christi/ |access-date=April 26, 2024 |work=The Washington Times}}</ref> On April 24, 2024, Brownback called for [[Sanctions (law)|sanctions]] against Azerbaijan and that the United States "can’t let a repeat of 1915 happen again on our watch" at an [[Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day]] rally in front of the White House.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ANCA |date=2024-04-25 |title=Amb. Brownback calls on Biden administration to save Armenia from imminent Turkish invasion |url=https://armenianweekly.com/2024/04/25/amb-brownback-calls-on-biden-administration-to-save-armenia-from-imminent-turkish-invasion/ |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=The Armenian Weekly |language=en-US}}</ref>