GRAVES
JOINS ANTI-MARRIAGE GRAVY TRAIN
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Mike W. Ray, Media Division Director
January 8, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: State Rep. Bill Graves
Capitol: (405) 557-7348
Oklahoma City: (405) 235-5811
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A pair of measures to ban same-sex
civil unions in Oklahoma as well as gay marriages
will be introduced in the Legislature this year by a
staunch opponent of homosexual behavior.
State Rep. Bill Graves intends to file a bill that
would amend state law, and a companion resolution
that would propose an amendment to the Oklahoma
Constitution.
The bill would provide that a marriage or a civil
union performed in another state between people of
the same gender "will not be recognized as valid
and binding in this state..."
The legislation would also clarify that a marriage or
civil union between a couple of the same gender
"is not authorized or recognized" in
Oklahoma. "Gay" marriages have been
prohibited in this state since 1997.
In addition, Graves' bill would declare that a
marriage or civil union between persons of the same
gender "shall be considered repugnant to the
public policy" of this state.
The bill defines a "civil union" to mean
"a relationship between persons of the same
gender which is not a legal marriage but gives the
same rights, benefits and responsibilities as a
marriage..."
"According to the Holy Bible, homosexuality is
an abomination in God's eyes," declared Graves,
R-Oklahoma City. "Nothing the liberals say
otherwise can change that."
A joint resolution Graves intends to file would call
for a statewide vote on a constitutional amendment to
prohibit same-sex marriages or civil unions in
Oklahoma, and to disregard such ceremonies performed
in other states.
Graves, an attorney, pointed out that such a
prohibition imprinted in the Constitution would carry
even more weight than a statute. A statute can be
changed by a majority vote among the 149 members of
the state Legislature, but the Constitution can be
amended only by a statewide vote of the people, he
explained.
Graves acknowledged that his proposal was prompted at
least in part by a Nov. 18 ruling of the
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court that the
Massachusetts Constitution guarantees homosexual
couples in the Bay State the right to marry.
At least one other House member, Rep. Mike O'Neal, R-Enid,
also wants a constitutional ban against gay marriages.
In his "Defense of Marriage Act," O'Neal
proposes a referendum on a constitutional amendment
that would expressly define a marriage as the union
of a man and a woman.
The issue of marriage between members of the same sex
has been taken up by state courts other than
Massachusetts' and by the federal government.
In 1996, Congress passed and then-President Clinton
signed the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined
marriage as a "union between one man and one
woman" and allowed states to ignore any same-sex
marriage from another state. Today, Oklahoma is one
of 37 states that prohibit recognition of marriages
between gay couples.
The National Conference of State Legislatures reports
that Alaska, California, Nebraska and Nevada have
amended their state constitutions to ban gay marriage.
In addition, legislation proposing ballot initiatives
that would ban gay marriages were introduced last
year in Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi and New
Mexico.
The Graves and O'Neal measures will be filed for
consideration during the Second Regular Session of
the 49th Oklahoma Legislature, which convenes Feb. 2.
A
TALE OF TWO PARTIES
The following is a letter from Jim
Nimmo, who wants the world to know that he is a
Democrat and proud of it!
A Tale
of Two Parties
(With an Appreciation of Charles Dickens)
(Oklahoma City) For those of us concerned abut the
direction our country is going, the 2004 winter
primaries and November election will be water shed
events like no other in living memory.
Will the voters of this country--the most powerful,
richest, and influential the world has ever seen--allow
their elected officials to take us down a primrose
pate of deception for many while it constructs a
gated toll bridge of oligarchy for the few?
Will the constitutional promise of equality for all,
with the sharing of this country's many resources, be
allowed to fully ripen under the sunshine of openess,
or will humankind's's noblest strivings be ground to
dust by the greed of a dynastic family modeled after
the Caesars of ancient Rome?
Let's read about two families, two governors, two
parties, and two futures.
IT WAS THE AGE OF FOOLISHNESS, IT WAS THE AGE OF
WISDOM
Many of us know about Mary Cheney, though we can't
say we've actually heard her voice as she hasn't
given any interviews in the media since before her
father, big Dick Cheney, was appointed the vice-presidential
candidate at the 2000 GOPer Convention. At that time
it was said by the GOP that Mary Cheney would be an
"important part of the Bush/Cheney election team."
She helped all right--by staying away, out of the
spotlight, away from microphones, away from
reporters's notebooks!
Wouldn't you think GOPer officials would welcome a
magnet for the gay GOPer vote? Why don't gay GOPers
make more noise abut their own very well placed totem
for gay Republican votes? Has she emulated her father
by going to a closet of unknown location? Gay GOPers
should make a banner saying: "FREE MARY CHENEY!"
Some family values, huh? Sounds to me as if the gay
GOPers are ashamed of their political affiliation, or
have no influence with their party, or perhaps, too
many of them just don't care about their self-worth.
All they have is the closet and its powerless
invisibility. This is the choice Mary Cheney has made.
Here's the name of another lesbian daughter: Chrissy--as
in Chrissy Gephardt, the out, proud, and active
daughter of another Dick--Dick Gephardt, who's
running for the Democratic nomination for president.
Chrissy is out there traveling the country for her
father, giving interviews, making speeches, appearing
in the the media, stumping for her father. If your
father were running for elected office, would you
help in a public way to get votes for him? The
Gephardt's have even joined PFLAG, Parents &
Friends of Lesbians & Gay. Which family's values
would you choose--the darkness of the closet or the
light of day?
Mary Cheney helps her father by staying out of sight
as if she were a disgrace to her family. Chrissy
Gephardt strengthens her father's campaign by being
in the public eye, advocating for gay/lesbian
equality and our full participation in the social and
political life of this country.
IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES
Need another example of the worst and best our future
has to offer? Look at Gee Dubya Bush and Howard Dean,
both former governors, running for president. Gee
Dubya signed an official proclamation in October of
2003 which I say declares war on committed gay/lesbian
partnerships and equal rights. Bush's dictum
challenges our gay/lesbian proven ability to be
responsible partners and parents. In addition, the
future with pResident Bush in a second term holds a
threat to existing domestic partnership laws in the
form of a proposed constitutional Federal Marriage
Amendment (FMA) which would outlaw any legal
recognition of gay/lesbian partnerships and domestic
partner benefits. Laws currently in force would be
nullified and any prospective laws would be
impossible.
America has been down this road before with the
infamous and hateful state attempt to legislate
homohobia known as Colorado Amendment #2, found to be
unconstitutional by the United State Supreme Court,
which ruled that a group of people cannot be made
strangers to the laws of society. In contrast to a
law, however, a constitutional amendment is beyond
the legal review of any court, and once ratified,
cannot be rescinded except by another amendment.
Howard Dean, on the other hand, signed a Vermont bill
which was the first in the nation to legalize state
civil unions and he did it knowing he might loose re-election
as governor. The Vermont Supreme Court ruled that the
state constitution required the legislature to offer
the parity of opposite-sex relationships to same-sex
relationships. Governor Dean could have stalled the
civil union bill by referring it to a committee,
thereby saving his re-election campaign a threat from
the Religious Reich. Governor Dean didn't back down--he
signed the bill and won re-election.
Which are you going to choose--the shame of GOPer Gee
Dubya Bush, or the triumph of Howard Dean?
WE HAD NOTHING BEFORE US, WE HAD EVERYTHING BEFORE US
GOPer Congressional leaders Tom Delay, Trent Lott,
Bill Frist, and Rick Santorum, to name only four,
continually malign and impugn gay/lesbian citizens by
referring to us as diseased and immoral creatures of
corruption. If you feel this is an accurate
description of yourself and your loved ones, then
stop reading now, go back to your closet, and please,
lock the door, putting the key in your most private
body cavity.
Democratic presidential candidates Dennis Kucinich,
Carol Mosely-Braun and Al Sharpton are out there with
ringing, supportive endorsements for gay/lesbian
equality. Other candidates Joe Lieberman, John
Edwards, and Wesley Clark aren't afraid of saying the
"g" and "l" words linked with
"equality" on the campaign trail.
Which political party are you going to choose? The
GOPers who hide, or the Demos who reveal?
IT WAS THE SEASON OF DARKNESS, IT WAS THE SEASON OF
LIGHT
The threats to civility and equality have never been
plainer or more real than those posed by the GOP and
their malevolent standard bearer George Bush. The
promise of light and progress has never been more
bright than with the Democratic Party.
Are you going to shrivel like a preserved fruit with
Mary Cheney in her GOPer cold storage closet?
Are you going to help fight for the openness and the
rights that belong to all of us as citizens of the
United States?
Our country can have a winter of despair, or a spring
of growth. The choice is yours for the voting. Your
key out of the closet is your ballot marked for
Democratic Party candidates.
Be recalled to life in 2004 with the Democratic Party.
Acknowledgments: Bob Nichols, Oklahoma City
activist; Oklahoma Democratic Party, Jay Parmley,
chair.
copyright © 2004 James Nimmo. All rights reserved.
Permission for reposting is allowed provided the
complete text and attribution are kept intact. James
Nimmo lives in Oklahoma City where he is treasurer of
the two Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats chapters and co-moderator
of its website, www.oklahomastonewall.org; chair of Precinct #452;
and moderator of the discussion list of Oklahoma Gay
& Lesbian Political Caucus (OGLPC) at www.oglpc.org. Mr. Nimmo is a delegate
to the Democratic State Party conventions where he
served on the county and district resolutions
committees. He is committed to equality for all
people regardless of the accidents of origin, birth,
or gender. The author may be contacted at: jamesnimmo@oklahomastonewall.com
STATEWIDE
GLBT SUMMIT - LATEST INFO
PLEASE CIRCULATE
LAST REMINDER!
Oklahoma Freedom and Equality Summit Meeting January
9-10, 2004 - Stroud, OK
Dear Friends,
This email is a follow-up to the invitation mailed in
December inviting you to join a growing number of
organizations and faith groups who support equal
civil marriage rights and oppose the “so-called”
Federal Marriage Amendment” in an Oklahoma
statewide coalition. The interest, support and
response for this coalition have been fantastic!
Already there are twenty-five (25) (Yes, count them
25!) groups who are planning to attend the January
summit meeting in Stroud. (For a list of
organizations and faith groups who have already
responded saying they will attend the meeting, see
the end of this email.)
We hope each of you who are receiving this email will
plan to send representatives of your organization(s)
to the meeting in Stroud. If you have not called or
emailed to let us know you will be attending –
please do so today! Once again the details are as
follows:
WHO: All interested organizations, faith groups and
individuals are invited to attend.
WHAT: A summit meeting to form the Oklahoma Freedom
and Equality Coalition
WHEN: Friday, January 9, 2004 6—10 p.m. (registration
is 6-7) , Saturday, January 10, 2004, 9 am—3 (we'll
get you out of there as soon as we can)
WHERE: at the Best Western Hotel, I-44 and Stroud
Exit, Stroud, Oklahoma.
WHY: It is time for all of us to unite and work
together to achieve freedom and equality for all. The
immediate need is to work together to alert, educate,
and mobilize our communities to work for equal civil
marriage rights for GLBT persons, to stop the “so-called”
Federal Marriage Amendment, and to take a stand
against any anti-gay resolutions in the state of
Oklahoma.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR JANUARY 9-10TH
PARTICIPANTS:
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 interested persons are invited to
attend.) Please bring information and resources about
your organization/faith group and have copies
available for coalition participants. We will have
tables set up for you to display your information.
Friday night is an important introduction to the
summit meeting. We will be asking all participants to
talk about their organization/faith group and the
gifts they bring to the coalition. Please plan to
attend both Friday night and Saturday.
LOGISTICS:
Some people are choosing to spend Friday night at the
Best Western. We have reserved a block of rooms. If
you wish to make a reservation, please call the Best
Western and let them know you are with the Oklahoma
Freedom and Equality Coalition. Best Western Stroud
Motor Lodge, 1200 North 8th Street, Stroud, Oklahoma,
918-968-9515, located at Turner Turnpike, Interstate
44 and Highway 99, Stroud Exit 179. We have a special
rate of $45.00 + tax.
Registration will be Friday evening 6-7 p.m. We will
begin the program promptly at 7 p.m.
There will be a seafood buffet in the Restaurant at
the Best Western from 5-9 p.m. on Friday night. The
cost of the buffet (not including drink) is $7.99.
Our meeting room will be set up so you may go through
the buffet and eat in the meeting room.
You may order breakfast off of the menu in the
restaurant on Saturday morning. We will begin the
program promptly at 9 a.m. Saturday morning.
There will be a lunch buffet on Saturday for $5.99.
Again, individuals are responsible for the cost of
their own buffet.
We will have water, coffee (regular and de-caf), and
soft drinks available in the meeting room during our
meeting Friday evening and all day Saturday. We will
ask for $.75 donations per drink.
This is an extremely important effort to build a
coordinated campaign to effect social and legislative
change in Oklahoma. It is time for us to join in a
statewide campaign that builds on each of our
organization’s mission and goals. If ever there
was a time for us to come together and be united, it
is now!
Be a part of the Oklahoma Freedom and Equality
Coalition—call us today and tell us you will be
there!
See you in Stroud!
Karen Weldin
Soulforce in Oklahoma
(918) 452-2761 or
Karen@soulforceinoklahoma.org
ORGANIZATIONS/FAITH GROUPS WHO HAVE ALREADY RESPONDED
AND PLAN TO ATTEND:
Cathedral of Hope OKC
Central Oklahoma Human Rights Alliance (COHRA)
Church of the Open Arms, OKC
Cimarron Alliance
College Hill Presbyterian Church, Tulsa
Community of Hope UCC, Tulsa
Edmond PFLAG
Fellowship Congregational UCC, Tulsa
First Unitarian Church, OKC
Herland Sister Resources, OKC
Langston University Association of Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual Students, and Friends (LUAGSF), Langston
OCU Gay and Lesbian Law Students Association, OKC
Muskogee PFLAG
Norman PFLAG
Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus
Open Arms Youth Project, Tulsa
Peace House, OKC
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
(Regional)
St. Jerome’s Anglican Church, Tulsa
OSU’s Sexual Orientation Diversity Association (SODA),
Stillwater
Soulforce in Oklahoma
Stonewall Democrats
Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights (TOHR)
Tulsa Interfaith Alliance
Tulsa PFLAG
(There are also numerous individuals who are planning
to attend)
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!
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
2002
IN REVIEW STILL ONLINE!
www.gayokc.com/yearinreview2002.htm
CLARK,
JR IN OKC SUNDAY
Join Wesley Clark, Jr., the new proud papa
and the General's son, at the OKC Clark HQ Open House
this Sunday (Jan 11) 5:00p.m. - 7:00 p.m. 816 N.
Broadway, OKC - 405-270-0882 for details.
We need Volunteers in the OKC & Tulsa Offices!!! www.clark04.com
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
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.
