The Ad Astra statue was unveiled atop the Statehouse dome on April 8, 2025, amidst growing concerns about the influence of Christian nationalists in Kansas politics. Laurel Burchfield, the advocacy director for Mainstream Coalition, expressed her dismay at the harm caused to vulnerable Kansans by elected officials who prioritize their narrow religious beliefs over the rights of all citizens. She highlighted efforts to pass legislation targeting transgender individuals, anti-abortion bills, and a law allowing the use of “conversion therapy” on queer children in foster care.
Burchfield warned of the dangerous agenda of Christian nationalists to impose a theocratic government and dismantle democracy at both the federal and state levels. She called for accountability and resistance against efforts to erode church-state separation and impose extremist religious beliefs on the population. Despite facing setbacks in the fight against these measures, Burchfield encouraged Kansans to push back against the oppressive policies being advanced by the supermajority in the state legislature.
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