The following is an email from Jim Nimmo
(Posted 6-18-02)

Dear City Council and Mayor:

I believe you have received a request from Pride Network, Inc, signed by Edward C. Kromer, co-chair, for a proclamation from the City to honor the Gay Pride Parade on June 23, and to declare June as Gay Pride Month in Oklahoma City.

While the distinguished City Council and Mayor debate this request with all due deliberation, dither on the question of utility poles as a public forum, and pay tax revenues to the Gaylord Media Empire as protection money to ensure your continuation in office, perhaps you would like to know that to become a major city, which means hurtling forward out of the 1950's, the leadership of Oklahoma City will have to follow the example of Cleveland, Ohio; one among many, let me say; as outlined in the press release from Cleveland Stonewall Democrats posted below.

Sincerely,

James Nimmo, treasurer,
Central Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats
2406 NW 59th street
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
843-3651



Cleveland Stonewall Democrats P.O. Box 91453 Cleveland, OH 44101-3453
www.clevelandstonewalldemocrats.org

Cleveland Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Pride P.O. Box 91031
Cleveland, OH
44101-3031
www.clevelandpride.org


Media Advisory

Contact: Patrick Shepherd, 216.647.7437
president@clevelandstonewalldemocrats.org

Contact: Brynna Fish, 216-407-5543
Bfish6557@aol.com

CLEVELAND MAYOR JANE L. CAMPBELL TAKES UNPRECEDENTED STEPS TO COMMEMORATE PRIDE MONTH
Two firsts: Mayor to appear at Cleveland Pride, Flag to fly at Cleveland City Hall

HISTORIC APPEARANCE

Cleveland, Ohio -- Thursday, June 13, 2002 -- Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell plans to commemorate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month by taking the following two actions:
* She will become the first Mayor in the history of the City of Cleveland to attend and speak at Cleveland Lesbian-Gay-Bi-Trans Pride, celebrating it's 14th year, and
* She will ensure that the Pride "rainbow" Flag is flown Pride weekend, June 15th, at Cleveland City Hall for the first time in Cleveland's history.

Mayor Campbell will be joined by the following elected officials on the Cleveland Pride Parade Rally stag, Saturday, June 15th, from 1:00 - 2:00 PM, Euclid Ave. at E. 18th St: Barney Frank, U.S. Representative (MA-4); Jimmy Dimora, Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Chair and Cuyahoga County Commissioner; and Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman.

The Cleveland Pride Parade will step off at 2 p.m. in front of the Rally stage, then proceed down Euclid Ave to East 9 Street, turn north (right) on to East 9 Street, then continue to Voinovich Bicentennial Park on the East 9 Street Pier.

The following dignitaries are expected to be among those who are planning to march in the Cleveland Pride Parade with the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats: Dan Brady, Ohio Senate member and Assistant Minority Leader; Denis Dunn, Lakewood City Council member; Peter Lawson Jones, Cuyahoga County Commissioner; Jay Westbrook, Cleveland City Council member; and Matt Zone, Cleveland City Council member.

PRIDE FLAG

Mayor Campbell will also make history by commemorating LGBT Pride Month by flying the rainbow Pride flag on the grounds of Cleveland City Hall for the first time. The rainbow has become the most popular and universally recognized symbol for the LGBT community since its inception in 1978.