The head of the Family Policy Alliance of Kansas who helped push for passage of the faith-based adoption bill last session is leaving to join new U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri.
Eric Teetsel, the group’s executive director and the son-in-law of former Gov. Sam Brownback, started Thursday as a special assistant to Hawley. The senator’s office could not be reached for comment Friday about Teetsel’s hiring.
Teetsel will help the senator “advance key pro-family policy at the national level as well as serve as a liaison to the faith community on behalf of the senator,” according to a posting on the Family Policy Alliance website.
“While Eric will be missed in Kansas, we are grateful that he will be carrying the banner for the family at the national level,” wrote Paul Weber, the national group’s chief executive and president. “Godspeed Eric!”
In a statement, Teetsel said he was pleased with what the alliance achieved during his time as executive director during the last two years.
“I’m proud of what we accomplished during my time with Family Policy Alliance of Kansas, especially the critical protections for faith-based adoption and foster-care providers that ensure that liberal politicians like Laura Kelly can’t block them from helping kids find their forever family just because she doesn’t like Christian values that motivate their service,” he wrote this week.
“While I am sad to leave so many friends and allies in Kansas, I’m eager to continue the fight for life, family, religious freedom and the heartland values that make America great in my new position with Sen. Hawley.”
Kelly, the Democratic governor-elect, opposed the adoption bill and has already indicated she would look for ways not to enforce the new law.
“If there’s a way to direct the agency to not implement that, then I will do that,” Kelly said shortly after her election.
It was not immediately clear who would replace Teetsel in Kansas.
As the head of the Family Policy Alliance of Kansas, Teetsel had clashed with Equality Kansas and supporters of the LGBT community in recent months over various policy matters, namely the adoption bill.
Teetsel helped push through the faith-based adoption bill, which was intended to ensure that faith-based adoption providers will be allowed to deny placements based on their religious beliefs. Critics argued that it will allow groups to discriminate against LGBT parents.
Tom Witt, executive director of Equality Kansas, questioned the impact of the leadership change. “The Family Policy Alliance has national funders. They will find a new director,” Witt said. “They go through a new director every year or two. They will be back with their same anti-LGBT agenda.”
Last year, Teetsel also proposed a resolution approved by the state Republican Party to “oppose all efforts to validate transgender identity.”
The resolution also “opposed efforts to surgically or hormonally alter an individual’s body to conform with ‘perceived gender identity.’ ”
The resolution added that the party recognized the dignity of anyone who was gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
The resolution, which created national headlines and attracted vigorous criticism, was cited recently by state Sen. Barbara Bollier as a reason for switching parties from Republican to Democrat.
Teetsel later wrote a piece for the Daily Signal — which is run by the Heritage Foundation — defending the resolution after it was approved by the party.
