2003:
THE YEAR IN REVIEW NOW ONLINE!
It's all here, taken from the front
page of GayOKC.com! From Jim Roth's swearing-in to
the Oklahoma campaigns of the Democratic presidential
candidates and the GLBT activists who are making them
happen, and all the events that made 2003 a historic
year in our community and hold enormous promise and
potential for good and ill in 2004: including the
City Council's removal of all restrictions on the
banner program, GLBT impact on the City Council
races, The Laramie Project, hate crimes
bills, the PNI "Peace Train", PFLAG OKC,
the Oklahoma Republican Party platform, Rick
Santorum, Stonewall Democrats, Soulforce in Oklahoma
at the Oklahoma Methodists conference, Rev. Gene
Robinson, Howard Dean, Lawrence v Texas,
Fred Phelps pickets Billy Graham, the Cathedral of
Hope disaffiliating from MCC, the Democratic
presidential forum in Stillwater, reorganization of
the Cimarron Alliance Group, the Norman
Transcript printing a same-gender union
announcement, OKC Public Schools superintendent Bob
Moore's letter to Joe Quigley stating in writing that
it is against district policy to discriminate against
GLBT students, the first ever GLBT History Month
display at NW classen High School, Kirk Humphrey's
resignation as mayor so he can run for the Senate,
the "Love Won Out" conference, the
Massachusetts Supreme Court decision regarding Gay
marriage and the response from Oklahoma legislators,
Brad Carson's support for the Federal Marriage
Amendment and the Central Oklahoma Stonewall
Democrats' decision not to support his campaign for
re-election, Jacqueline Gatewood's "Diversity
House" project and the announcement of a
statewide coalition of GLBT organizations in Oklahoma!
Part One:
January - June
Part Two:
July - September
Part Three:
October - December
WHAT'S
IN STORE FOR 2004?
Will this be a year of evolution or
revolution? Will 2004 in OKC be more or less historic
than 2003? Find out when GayOKC.com presents The
State of Our Community 2004, Monday, January
26, 6:30PM at Epworth United Methodist Church!
Reception begins at 5:30. Meet the people who made
the news happen in OKC's GLBT Community in 2003, find
out what they think and what they're doing in 2004!
What are the issues our community is dealing with
& what are the resources we have available to us?
Our community is bigger than you think it is!
2002
IN REVIEW STILL ONLINE!
www.gayokc.com/yearinreview2002.htm
GATEWOOD
ENDORSES CLARK
Terry Gatewood, currently chair and one of
the founders of the Cimarron Alliance Group, has
posted a letter to DemoOkie.com stating his reasons
for supporting the candidacy of General Wesley Clark
for the Democratic presidential nominee.
www.demookie.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7291
SEAL
ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 85
Democrat Jennifer Seal's campaign "kick-off"
was hosted by Jim Roth. www.gayokc.com/seal010504.htm
THE
KEY TO THE CLOSET DOOR IS YOUR BALLOT
Dear Editors:
The upcoming nationwide Spring primaries and November
election will be the most critical voting
opportunities that gays/lesbians and our straight
supporters have ever had in history. The 2003 court
decisions concerning sodomy and same-sex laws have
galvanized people on both sides of these civil issues.
All of us will be affected in ways which can bring
equality and day light to our lives or will bring
back the closet door. Each person reading this
possesses the key to the closet door in the form of a
ballot marked at your polling place for progressive
candidates who will support gay/lesbian equality.
Yes, we're all in this together. The problem is that
too many gays/lesbians go their merry way without a
single thought as to how important it is to elect
people who are supportive of gay/lesbian equality.
Gay life is more than cruising the bars, and watching
stereotypical Stepn' Fetchit TV shows like Queer
Eye, Ellen, Will & Grace,
etc.
It involves getting with the program and talking to
friends, family, and co-workers about equality in a
non-accusative way in order to point out the
fallacies of the fundies and the politicians of any
party who use homophobia as a weapon to ensure their
re-election.
Gays/lesbians can get involved with a campaign and
help with phone banking, letter stuffing, sign making--in
short, all those things which can help promote the
candidate, but for which there is not enough money to
pay anyone to do, which makes you and your time
literally priceless.
And there's the secondary possibility you might meet
Mr/Ms. Perfect! Give it a try!
James Nimmo
Oklahoma City, OK
TOWN
HALL MEETING
The Oklahoma Freedom and Equality Coalition
will conduct a town hall meeting at the Church of the
Open Arms, 3131 N Pennsylvania, at 6PM on Thursday,
January 15. The meeting will continue the work
started at the statewide meeting in Stroud (see
posting below) to organize the GLBT Community to
support equal rights and oppose the Federal Marriage
Amendment.
SONJA
& FRIENDS
Rob, I have changed my Friday, January
2, 2004 show to Friday, January 9, 2004. Start
The New Years Off With Sonja And Friends, My
guests will be Alison Scott, KT Stockwell and Mia
Adams. Show Time 8:00 To 9:00 At Partners
I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas
and I hope you have a GREAT New Years. Thank
you for everything, you are the best.
Sonja
OKLAHOMA
GLBT LEADERS ENDORSE DEAN
Over 100 Oklahoma Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and
Transgender Leaders have endorsed Governor Howard
Dean, candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination
for President of the United States.
"Governor Dean has been the only candidate to
back up his speech with action, by signing Vermont's
civil union law - and he stood with us through the
political fallout that came with it, " says
Keith Smith, a National Board Member of the Stonewall
Democrats.
Dean's GLBT supporters plan to reach out to the gay
community throughout the next month, since that
community has been a cornerstone of Dean's campaign
since the early days.
Volunteers will be actively recruiting and
identifying voters for a massive "Get Out The
Vote" push within the GLBT community.
The following GLBT leaders in Oklahoma have publicly
endorsed Governor Dean:
Marty Newman, John Gibbons, Dr. Shirley Hunter, Keith
Smith, Lee Burrus, Rhonda Rudd, Rodney Johnson, G.G.
George, Philippe Beaudette, Joe Quigley, James Nimmo,
Rex Ball, Nick Post, Tony Foss, Steven Edwards, Paul
Bashline, TJ McKinsey, Edward Kromer, Bob Lemon,
Chrys Lemon, Carmen Coronado, Karen Parsons, Pam
Paul, Diane Deason, Corky Green, David Nickell,
Karen Weldin, Clyde Pierce, Dorothy Alexander, Paul
Barby, Jayshree Naidu, Mark Henricksen, Wanda
Chapman, Dee Corley, Sonja Martinez, Preston White,
David Davis, Sherry Maxwell, Kathy McKean, Susann
Bain, Eotree Palmer, Stan Simpson, Jon Harle, Tim
Gillean, Ken Draper, Floyd Martin, David Paddock,
Phillip Cyr, Duane Moore, Joe Freeman, Will Decker,
Sarah Scanlon, Carmen Coronado, Dena Link, Kent Doss,
Terry Dennison, Rick Chappell, Rex Mendenhall, Jon
Tipton, Jason Anderson, Toby Vanrakan, Walter Oaks,
Dallas Williams, K. Brad Douglas, Julian Vasek, Gabe
Coppinger, Christian Pellesehi, Steve Callahan, Buzz
Anderson, David L Clark, Craig Travis, Jason
Krottinger, Douglas Redus, Matthew Opalka, Tamara
Knight, Pam Lowery, Gayla Barker, Lee Morgan, Robert
Winders, Angelo Rodriguez Jr., Raven Delray, Steven
Lofton, Felicia Fontaine, Phil Burke, Jess Brent
Barnes, Robert R. Nixon, Rob Morrison, Martin Berry,
Ed Walker, Gary Davis, Pearl Pearson, Glenn Ladd,
Lewis Cleveland, Jesse McGee, Jr., Ben J. Williams,
Patrick Mahoney, Jeffrey Askins, Jacob S. Nielsen,
Monty Jacobs, Al McAffrey, JT Estrada, James K
Richardson, Jeff Thompson.
PART
TIME OPENING AT ACLU
Part-Time Position opening up at ACLU
Oklahoma -
The ACLU of Oklahoma is soliciting applications for
the part-time position of Administration Assistant.
Duties include:
*pre-screening, logging in and responding to written
complaints
*working with the fulltime staff attorney to be hired
in 2004;
*Monitoring and responding to calls from the public
telephone line;
*Educational work of the ACLU including booths at
events;
*working closely with the Executive Director and
Development Director on projects and events.
Sharp computer and people skills required.
The 20-hour work week will be variable hours not to
exceed 20 hours per week.
A strong commitment to the preservation of Civil
Liberties is a must.
No phone calls please.
Interviews will begin after January 20, 2004.
Please send a writing sample and three recent work
references and three personal references to:
ACLU Oklahoma
Attention: Joann Bell, Executive Director
3000 Paseo
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73103
THE ACLU IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
EMPLOYER AND ENCOURAGES WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR,
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, AND LESBIANS AND GAY MEN
TO APPLY.
STATEWIDE
GLBT COALITION
You are cordially invited to join a growing
number of Oklahoma organizations and faith groups who
support equal civil marriage rights and oppose the
Federal Marriage Amendment in an Oklahoma statewide
coalition.
January 9-10, 2004
On November 18th the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial
Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to
discriminate against same-gender couples in the state
of Massachusetts when granting marriage licenses.
This was great news! The bad news is that we are
seeing an attack by the right wing that is
unprecedented. There is going to be an incredible
amount of pressure on Congress to pass the anti-family
“Federal Marriage Amendment” (FMA). Already
Oklahoma legislators, Rep. Lance Cargill (R, Harrah)
and Rep. Thad Balkman (R, Norman) are set to
introduce a resolution to the Oklahoma Legislature.
It calls on the United States Congress to pass a
constitutional amendment defending traditional
marriage and for the Oklahoma Legislature to be the
first in the country to ratify such an amendment.
There is also talk of a constitutional amendment to
our state constitution. There is tremendous work that
needs to be done to defeat the so-called federal
marriage amendment, the state resolution or amendment
and our fight for equal rights. The Oklahoma Gay and
Lesbian Political Caucus, Soulforce in Oklahoma, and
other organizations are in the process of building a
coalition of GLBT groups and supportive organizations
in an effort to build a coordinated campaign to
effect social and legislative change. It is time for
us to join in a statewide campaign that builds on
each of our organization’s mission and goals. We
are planning a summit in Stroud, Oklahoma on January
9-10 2004. If ever there was a time for us to come
together and be united, it is now! We would like to
invite you to join us in this effort. If your
organization would like to be a part of this
coalition—call us today!
All organizations wishing to be a part of the
coalition should have up to two representatives
empowered to make decisions present at this summit
meeting. All organizations’ members are invited
to attend. Please bring information about your
organization and resources to display and have copies
available for coalition participants.
Oklahoma Freedom and Equality Coalition
Summit Meeting
Friday, January 9, 2004 6-10 p.m.
Saturday, January 10, 2004 9 a.m.—5 p.m.
Best Western Hotel
I-44 and Stroud Exit
Stroud, Oklahoma
Please call or email today and say “yes”
our organization/faith group plans to attend the
Oklahoma Freedom and Equality Coalition Summit
Meeting in Stroud January 9-10, 2004.
Contact:
Rodney Johnson,
Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus
(405) 872-1373 or
politick@red-river.us
Karen Weldin,
Soulforce in Oklahoma
(918) 452-2761 or
Karen@soulforce.org
Organizational representatives who have already
agreed to attend:
OGLPC
Soulforce In Oklahoma
TOHR
PFLAG
Tulsa Interfaith Alliance
Stonewall Democrats
Peace House
Cimarron Alliance
Community of Hope UCC
MEETING
LOCATION:
Best Western Stroud Motor Lodge
1200 North 8th Street
Stroud, Oklahoma 74079
918-968-9515
Located at Turner Turnpike, Interstate 44 and Highway
99 Stroud Exit 179
We are
fighting for our rights and our lives! As MLK said,
“We will not have to repent in this generation
for the hateful words and actions of the bad people,
but for the appalling silence of the good.”
