McKinney, Bruce, 1953-

Bruce A. McKinney was born December 13, 1953 in Coffeyville, Kansas to Gilbert "Dean" McKinney (1926-2007) and Velma Louise Bates (b. 1930), who married November 2, 1950. McKinney graduated from Coffeyville High School, Coffeyville, Kansas in 1971, and went on to attend college at Wichita State University from 1971-1975.

McKinney began his career in activism while a youth by joining the Tulsa Organization for Human Rights, paying for the membership with his paper route money. At college he became involved in WSU's Student Homophile Association. After leaving college in 1975, he continued his activism, working to help found the Metropolitan Community Church of Wichita and the Homophile Association of Sedgwick County. In 1977, the Homophile Association of Sedgwick County proposed an amendment to the city council of Wichita, prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. The ordinance was initially passed, but then overturned after being placed on the ballot in 1978.

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