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 this
month's Central Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats meeting.
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
GATEWOOD
TO BE RECOGNIZED BY STONEWALL DEMOCRATS
Central Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats is
proud to announce that the recipient of the 2004 Mary
Lou Lemon Humanitarian Award is Ms. Jacqueline
Gatewood. Named for the late proudly Democratic
matriarch of the Bob Lemon family, this award
demonstrates a strong level of commitment by the
recipient to the politically and economically
challenged of our American society.
Ms. Gatewood is past board member of Herland Sister
Resources, past co-chair of Oklahoma Gay &
Lesbian Political Caucus, founder of Womyn of Color,
and mother of two fine children, Ross and Jennifer.
Another of Ms. Gatewood's projects is Diversity
House, a facility to be opened soon that will provide
a home-like atmosphere for displaced youth of gay/lesbian/questioning
orientation.
The award will be presented publicly on Saturday,
February 21, at the Activist Award Dinner sponsored
by the Oklahoma State Democratic Party following its
State Delegate Convention.
For more information contact James Nimmo, treasurer,
Central Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats, www.oklahomastonewall.org
MANDEVILLE
RESIGNS
Dear Friends and Members of Cathedral of
Hope-Oklahoma City:
In September 2002, I relocated to Oklahoma City to
become the Pastor of Cathedral of Hope-Oklahoma City.
I was a recent graduate of seminary and this was my
first pastorate. I am honored that you chose me to be
your Pastor and spiritual leader. I believe we have
done amazing work together in arguably one of the
most conservative cities in America and, together, we
have made Oklahoma City a better place for LGBT
people. I am thankful for the incredible experiences
that I gained as the Pastor of such a wonderful,
vibrant congregation.
My friends, after a period of discernment, I feel my
time here has come to an end. It is with a mixture of
sadness and excitement that I submit my resignation
to you. My last Sunday will be February 29, 2004. I
am sad because I love you and I will miss you, and at
the same time, I am very excited about the next stage
of my ministry. I believe God will direct me to the
next place that I am to serve and that God will
continue to bless the ministry of Cathedral of Hope--Oklahoma
City.
At this time, I do not have another job. Lisa and I
plan to move back to California where our family and
friends are. Our prayer is that God will open up
avenues of employment for Lisa and another ministry
job for me. God has never failed me, or any of us, so
I feel confident that it will be just a matter of
time before new paths to ministry are revealed.
I want you to know that I have no regrets about
moving to Oklahoma City and becoming your Pastor. It
has been a tremendous blessing to be part of your
lives and to have you become part of mine. Each one
of you has brought me joy in ways that you will
probably never know. I have baptized you, prayed with
you, visited you in the hospital and at home. I have
laughed with you, cried with you, and stood vigil
with you. I have met your families, your
grandchildren, your lovers. You opened your hearts to
me and my family. You have touched my life in
profound ways and I will always bear in my heart the
mark of Oklahoma City.
Our time together has truly been sacred. I am a
better person and a better Pastor because of you. You
taught me many lessons and you had the patience to
allow me to make mistakes and to learn.
I believe in you as individuals and as a church. I am
very proud of who you are in the world and who we
have been together. My prayer is that you will
continue to follow the Spirit's call in your life.
That you will continue to be the beloved community
that we created together. That you will know beyond a
shadow of a doubt that God still has work for you to
do in Oklahoma City, and God will ensure that you
have everything you need to do that work.
I will forever be grateful to Cathedral of Hope--Oklahoma
City. I wish you the best in your future endeavors
and my prayers will be always be with you.
With love and gratitude,
Rev. Tessie Mandeville
HOUSE
PASSES ANTI-GLBT RESOLUTION
According to a report at
NewsOK.com,
the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed House
Resolution 1028, authored by Rebecca Hamilton, D-Oklahoma
City. The resolution calls on 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 report
quotes representative Hamilton as saying, "We
are faced with people who are trying to change the
law by judicial fiat."
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
Tuesday, 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 - claiming that "radical activists and
liberal judges" are trying to redefine marriage
- were rallying to "protect traditional marriage".
Approximately 300 "pro-family" supporters
from various Religious Right groups were estimated to
be in attendance.
IMPORTANT
NOTICE CONCERNING EMAIL
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connection. Please remember this when sending email
to GayOKC.com. If you are submitting a news item,
press release, or event announcement, please do so in
a plain-text email. NO GRAPHICS, PLEASE. (This does
not apply to ad creatives, for which arrangements
must be made in advance.)
THE
STATE OF OUR COMMUNITY 2004
My thanks to Rob Farris at The Gayly
Oklahoman for his comprehensive report on the
proceedings at The State of Our Community 2004,
hosted by GayOKC.com on January 26th. Unfortunately,
I was too busy running the event to be able to catch
everything that was said by the speakers so I could
write a report myself - although I do want to make
one correction, and that is that it was Chris
Balderas who spoke on behalf of YGLA that night, not
Chris Munoz, who was unable to attend.
Events in January always run the risk of being
affected by the weather, and that proved true this
year. The icy winter wind and threat of snow reduced
attendance to about half of what it was last year.
Even so, I think it is remarkable that so many of our
community's leaders turned out for this event. Among
the many remarkable reports of the past year's impact
on our community, two speakers stand out in my mind.
Joe Quigley's energetic presentation was a marked
contrast to the portrait of despair he presented last
year. Animated, vibrant and passionate, he acted out
many of the situations he has been dealing with at NW
Classen High School and the impact of the letter from
the Superintendent spelling out the inclusion of GLBT
students in the district's non-discrimination policy.
Paula Sophia took a national news story that is
having world-wide repercussions - the ordination of
Gene Robinson as the Episcopal Church's first Gay
bishop - and found a way to not just relate it to
Oklahoma, but to make it personal, explaining the
impact on the Episcopal Church - of which Paula is an
ordained minister - so that it was not just something
that was happening to Gene Robinson in New Hampshire,
it was also something that was happening to Paula
Sophia here in Oklahoma City.
My thanks once again to the Cimarron Alliance
Foundation, Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian Political
Caucus, Central Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats and
GourmetCakes.net for their support! Click here to
read Rob's report
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.
PAYPAL
DONATIONS
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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 OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE FROM KEITH SMITH
Dear Activists:
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
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
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
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 
