HOUSE
TO VOTE ON ANTI-GLBT RESOLUTION
It was announced at the Marriage Equality
Rally today that the Oklahoma House of
Representatives was scheduled to vote this afternoon
on House Resolution 1028, authored by Rebecca
Hamilton, D-Oklahoma City. This resolution urges
Congress to create committees to study the proposed
Federal Marriage Amendment and states that Oklahomans
believe that marriage is between one man and one
woman.
The Marriage Equality Rally, organized by Jim Craig
of the Interfaith Diversity and Equality Association
- the same group responsible for the protest of the
"Love Won Out" Conference last year, was
attended by upwards of 200 people at the noon hour
today, across the street from the State Capitol
building. Representatives of several GLBT
& GLBT supportive groups were there.
Across the street on the south steps of the State
Capitol, state representatives Thad Balkman and Lance
Cargill were rallying to "protect traditional
marriage". Approximately 300 "pro-family"
supporters from various Religious Right groups were
estimated to be in attendance.
JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE APPROVES ANTI-GLBT RESOLUTION
The following is a press release from
OFEC:
Oklahoma Freedom and Equality Coalition
response to Judiciary Committee vote on HR 1028
(On Monday, February 9,) the Judiciary
Committee of the Oklahoma State House voted to pass
out of committee House Resolution 1028 authored by
Rebecca Hamilton, D-Oklahoma City. This resolution
urges Congress to consider the Federal Marriage
Amendment and states that Oklahoma believes that
marriage is between one man and one woman.
Many bills and resolutions were introduced this year
in the Oklahoma Legislature that condemn Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered persons. This
legislation would deny any and all basic human rights
to these persons. While this resolution does not
contain the hateful language of House Resolution 1027
authored by Thad Balkman, R-Norman, and Lance
Cargill, R-Harrah, it is equally objectionable
because it supports discrimination. The purpose of
these bills and resolutions is to tell gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgendered persons that they are not
welcome in Oklahoma.
Such a view hurts Oklahoma's economic development.
Oklahoma competes against Indiana for new businesses.
The Indiana Legislature has already decided not to
hear "anti-gay" legislation. Legislators,
who support tort reform and worker's compensation
reform to promote business in Oklahoma, defy logic by
supporting the Cargill/Balkman resolution.
The Oklahoma Freedom and Equality Coalition (OFEC)
represents individuals and organizations, which
believe that everyone has the right to social and
economic security. Two persons who love one another
and are committed to their relationship should be
permitted to receive the same rights and
responsibilities without discrimination.
Many well-intentioned Oklahomans do not understand
that two persons who have lived together for 40 years
in a domestic relationship may be denied access to
each other if one of them is in the hospital.
Currently in Oklahoma a "parent" can walk
away from a child after ten years without any
liability for child support, leaving that child with
the birth mother or adoptive parent. Currently in the
United States, a same gender surviving partner will
not receive survivor's benefits under Social
Security, government employee retirement programs and
almost all pension plans. This has devastating
financial impact on the partner who gave up
employment to care for the couple's home.
OFEC will continue to educate Oklahomans about the
lack of fairness experienced everyday by many of
their fellow taxpayers. OFEC will use all of its
resources to oppose this resolution, as well as other
bills and resolutions introduced which would deny the
possibility of fairness.
WEDNESDAY
IS DEADLINE FOR DONATIONS FOR MARRIAGE AD
Susan Cogan at the Norman Unitarian Church has put together an ad which
they would like to place in the Norman Transcript.
The half-page ad will cost $825. According to Susan:
"This is beyond the means of our tiny church and
we are asking for donations to help pay for it."
If you would like to donate to the cost of running
the ad, Mail Checks to:
NUUF
1309 W. Boyd
Norman, OK 73069
Please make out checks to "NUUF" with
"marriage ad" on the memo line. Include a
note indicating whether or not you want your name to
appear on the ad. These donations are tax deductible.
Here is a pdf of the ad: http://www.nuuf.org/ad_for_transcript.pdf
You can reach Susan at susan-brassfield@ou.edu.
PAYPAL
DONATIONS
Speaking of donations, it is now easier than
ever to make a donation through PayPal, because now
you can do so without creating a PayPal
account! So if GayOKC.com has been of any value at
all to you, if having a local resource for GLBT news
and information updated several times a week and
being able to receive email alerts of those updates -
plus breaking news such as the Marriage Equality
rally or the anti-Gay resolutions - has been of any
value to you, won't you make a donation to help keep
GayOKC.com going? If you have a credit or debit card,
just click the DONATE button in the left-hand column
to get started!
MORE
ON THE RALLY AND THE LEGISLATURE FROM KEITH SMITH
Dear Activists:
The Anti-Choice community, The Home Schoolers, and
the Anti-Gay community have banded together for a big
rally on Tuesday Feb 17th at the capitol. See the
Republican Email which was sent out below. I hope the
Pro-Choice community and Marriage Equality Community
will band together to out lobby them. Please come to
the capitol to walk the halls and lobby legislators.
Wear Pro-Choice buttons and Marriage Equality Buttons.
They are coming after us with the worst they have
......we must come back at them with the best we have.........
Marriage Equality Alert
Please contact the following legislators and ask them
to not support any anti-gay marriage initiative. In
light of the recent scandalous allegations about
sexual impropriety by married Republican Legislator
and author of anti-gay marriage legislation,
Representative Mike O'Neal it appears the legislature
lacks the moral authority to be passing any anti gay
marriage legislation. This alert targets Republican
Leaders and authors of anti-gay marriage legislation.
Please help now. When you contact them by email or
phone make sure that you give them your name address
and phone number.
Representative Todd Hiett hiettto@lsb.state.ok.us 405-521-2711
Representative Susan Winchester winchestersu@lsb.state.ok.us 405-521-2711
Representative Thad Balkman balkman@lsb.state.ok.us 405-521-2711
Representative Kevin Calvey calveyke@lsb.state.ok.us 405-521-2711
Representative Lance Cargill cargillla@lsb.state.ok.us 405-521-2711
Representative Terry Harrison harrisonte@lsb.state.ok.us 405-521-2711
Representative Rebecca Hamilton hamiltonre@lsb.state.ok.us 405-521-2711
Representative Mike O'Neal onealmi@lsb.state.ok.us 405-521-2711
Representative Purcy Walker walkerpu@lsb.state.ok.us 405-521-2711
Representative John Wright wrightjo@lsb.state.ok.us 405-521-2711
Representative Chris Benge bengech@lsb.state.ok.us 405-521-2711
Representative Bill Graves gravesbi@lsb.state.ok.us 405-521-2711
Senator Daisy Lawler lawler@lsb.state.ok.us 405-524-0126
Senator James Williamson williamson@lsb.state.ok.us 405-524-0126
Keith Smith
5536 N. Villa
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73112
home 405-840-2219
office 405-488-1462
cell 405-760-6801
fax 405-424-7410
email: Keith@Oklahomalobbyist.com
web site: www.Oklahomalobbyist.com
Our
Opponents' email alert......
February
12, 2004
The pro-abortion majority in the State House of
Representatives is up to their old tricks again.
Rep. Fred Stanley, Chairman of the House Public
Health Committee, had agreed to allow his
committee to hear the Informed Consent bill (House
Bill 2534), which was authored by Representative
Purcey Walker, on February 11. However, Speaker
Adair, along with Representatives Rice and
Hilliard, are attempting to block the bill. We
need you, and other pro-life citizens like
yourself, to take a stand.
We will be going to the State Capitol on Tuesday,
February 17th to lobby for this bill. We want to
invite you to come and make your desire known as
well. We must band together and make a statement
to the pro-abortion leadership; they must know
that Oklahoma will not stand by while they
continue to allow women to be lied to about the
true effects of abortion.
If it is at all possible, we ask you to take time
to come to the Capitol on Tuesday. We will be in
the lobby of the State House Chamber on the 4th
floor from 10:00 AM until 10:30 AM and again from
1:30 PM until 2:00PM if you need help finding
your representative. We will have fact sheets
that you will be able to give to the Speaker and
other Representatives.
On that same day, there will be a pro-family
rally on the south steps of the Capitol Building.
Speakers are to include Cam Edwards from KTOK,
Michael DelGiorno from KFAQ, and former
Congressmen Tom Coburn and JC Watts. This rally
is intended to show the legislators that
Oklahomans want an amendment to the State
Constitution to protect traditional marriage. The
rally will begin at noon.
If you are unable to come to Oklahoma City,
please do take the time to call Speaker Adair,
Representatives Hilliard and Rice, and your State
Representative. Also, please pray earnestly that
this bill will be heard.
ANDREA
RATKOVIC'S MALLORCA JOURNAL
New update posted!
Norman-based out lesbian athlete Andrea Ratkovic
is currently at a training camp in Spain preparing to
try out for the Olympic cycling team and has offered
to write about her experience for GayOKC.com.
www.gayokc.com/ratkovicjournal.htm
HAVE
A HEART
Tramps' Have-A-Heart Benefit, Sunday,
February 22nd at 6:30 PM at Tramps. This is Tramps
one big annual benefit show and auction, raising
money for Loaves and Fishes program to provide hot
meals for people living with HIV. This benefit has
gone on for almost 20 years, and was the pet project
of the late Larry Crosby, longtime owner of the club.
In the past, and this year as well, we have
incredible auction items donated, including
furniture, trips, etc., some of which goes at very
bargain prices. The customers and staff at Tramps go
all out for this event, and if anyone wants to make a
tax-deductible donation to be auctioned off, they can
contact me via e-mail - itzfloyd@aol.com.
Thanks,
Floyd Martin
Publicity Director,
Have-A-Heart, 2004
BITCH
AND ANIMAL AT PARTNERS
Sat, Apr 10, 7PM
$12 in advance, $15 at door
Tickets now on sale at: 206-5425, Velvet Monkey, www.okclive.com
Bitch and Animal
(Righteous Babe Records) are at it again, after
touring with their favorite little folk singer, Ani
DiFranco.... they are currently on tour and will be
in your neighborhood soon!
www.bitchandanimal.com
www.myshkinsrubywarblers.com
www.cartersampson.com
OKC
MAYOR ELECTION FEB 24
The Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian Political
Caucus sent a survey to the candidates running for
Mayor of Oklahoma City. Jim Tolbert chose NOT TO
RESPOND to the survey. The only candidate who
responded out of the four candidates was Marcus Hayes.
Tolbert also canceled a scheduled appearance at
Wednesday's Stonewall Democrats meeting.
HOMOSEXUALITY
& SCRIPTURE CONFERENCE
A conference on "Homosexuality &
Scripture" will be offered in Oklahoma City by
six churches which teach that lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender persons are equally as sacred as any
other persons. The conference will focus on gender,
identity, and sexuality issues, and will be held
March 5 and 6 at Church of the Open Arms UCC, 3131 N.
Pennsylvania Ave.
Preregistration is encouraged on forms available at
all six sponsoring churches or by contacting Church
of the Open Arms at 525-9555 or by email at
openarmsok@aol.com. Cost per person attending the
conference is $15, including lunch to be served at
noon. Same-day registration will be possible but may
not guarantee workshop choices. Childcare will be
provided if requested by March 1.
Friday, March 5, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., a panel of
religious leaders and scholars will participate in a
community-wide discussion on their respective
understandings of homosexuality and the scriptures of
their tradition. Audience members will have the
chance to submit questions to the panelists. After
the discussion there will be time for fellowship and
socializing.
Saturday, March 6, coffee will be served at 8:45 a.m.
before workshops begin on ten different topics, and
hosted by religious leaders, scholars and others. All
ten workshops will be offered three times, at 9:00 a.m.,
at 10:30 a.m., and again at 1:00 p.m. The conference
will end with a worship service from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m.
Titles of the ten workshops are: "Marriage, What
is the Biblical Model?" "Sexuality in the
Hebrew Scriptures;" "Coming Out Young;"
"Lesbians: Identity and Relationship Issues;"
"Gay Men: Identity and Relationship Issues;"
"Gender Queer - People Who Don't Fit;"
"Sexism and Homophobia;" "Jesus:
Humanity and Divinity:" "Bisexuality;"
and "Clobber Passages: What does the New
Testament Say about Homosexuality?" Early
registrations will receive priority in workshop
selection.
The six sponsoring churches where registration
materials are available include Cathedral of Hope-OKC,
Church of the Open Arms UCC, Epworth United Methodist
Church, First Unitarian Church, Mayflower
Congregational Church, St. Andrews Presbyterian
Church, and Clegg Memorial United Methodist Church.
MORE INFORMATION
Rev. Kathy McCallie,
Church of the Open Arms UCC,
525-9555
openarmsok@aol.com
OFEC
TRACKS ANTI-GLBT BILLS
A list of the anti-GLBT bills that have been
introduced in this session of the Oklahoma
legislature is now online at the website of the
Oklahoma Freedom and Equality Coalition.
www.ofec.org/ActionAlerts.htm
GROWING
& LEARNING WITH SISSY
NEWEST WEBISODE
Growing and Learning with Sissy's Latest
Webisode - Just in time for Valentine's Day, Sissy,
played by David Mays, takes a dare and meets his
first love but how long will it last? Find out in the
webisode titled, Truth or Dare Pt.1: Dare. Aaron
Bennett, a Theatre student from Stillwater's Oklahoma
State University, plays Sissy's First Love.
http://www.tarsplace.com/Webisode_Six.htm
MAY
MUSIC FEST
RAIN Oklahoma and CarePoint present, once
again, the May Music Fest, Saturday, May 8 at the
Farmer's Market. Performers will include Pinkie &
the Snakeshakers, Wendy Woo and Shelly Phelps. More
info is at www.rainoklahoma.org and www.care-point.org.
THANKS
FOR VISITING!
i 
