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A
LETTER FROM PAULA SOPHIA
Karen Weldin of Soulforce in Oklahoma has
forwarded to me a letter addressed "Dear
Community" from Paula Sophia. In this letter,
Paula writes of some recent experiences in her
dealings with her employer, the Oklahoma City Police
Department. Although some of those experiences pre-date
the recent articles about her, Paula has received a
great deal of publicity recently and it is not
guaranteed that the immediate impact of all this
attention from the press will be entirely positive.
Based on comments she made both during and after the
State of Our Community 2004 on Jan 26th, I believe
that Paula was aware of the possibility of negative
fallout and was bracing herself for it. That does not
make it any easier for her to deal with it. Despite
her many achievements, I think Paula is still a
relatively young person who still has some things to
learn about life in general. Some of those lessons
will be enjoyable, some will be easy if not
enjoyable, and some will be neither. Read her letter
and see for yourself.
www.gayokc.com/sophia022204.htm
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OKC
MAYOR ELECTION FEB 24
The candidates for mayor of Oklahoma City in
the election on Tueday are Mick Cornett, Marcus
Hayes, Frosty Peak and Jim Tolbert. The Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian
Political Caucus sent a survey to the candidates
running for Mayor of Oklahoma City. The only
candidate who responded out of the four was Marcus
Hayes. His score indicates that his responses were
very GLBT-supportive. Hard News
Online sent
a questionnaire to the candidates, to which none
chose to reply.
None of the candidates have spoken to any GLBT
groups, although Tolbert was scheduled to speak at
this month's Central Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats
meeting, but canceled. An effort was made to get him
to come to the State of Our Community event as well.
That effort did not succeed. There was, however, a
fundraiser for Tolbert held last week with the
involvement of a number of GLBT leaders, including
Terry Gatewood and Jim Roth.
According to OGLPC's Voter Guide for the election,
many openly-Gay people are working in Tolbert's
campaign. The Guide also notes that Cornett and Peak
have anti-GLBT records, opposing the Gay Pride
banners and a city Human Rights Commission. Cornett
is also known for objecting to an endorsement from
the Cimarron Alliance Group when he ran for city
council.
SMITH,
BATCHELDER ENDORSE TOLBERT
The following is not to be taken as an
endorsement by GayOKC.com. - Rob Abiera
The following is an email from Nathaniel
Batchelder:
Friends,
Jim Tolbert has served on the "Honorary
Board" of the Central Oklahoma Human Rights
Alliance (COHRA) from day one, and never flinched
at the strong positions COHRA took on universal
human and civil rights.
The following recommendation is from Keith Smith,
"ditto'ed" by Lynn Green, and .....
Terry Gatewood
J.B. Schuelein
Emily Shurley (the Episcopal woman who visited
Open Arms several times.)
IT WILL BE CLOSE !!! DO VOTE TUESDAY !!!
Friends -- I am writing a short note, a reminder
in some cases, to encourage your vote for JIM
TOLBERT for Mayor on Tuesday of next week, Feb.
24.
In my view, Jim is not only the best candidate in
the race, the most qualified, experienced and
capable, he is truly exceptional. His decades of
service to the city -- in the arts, business,
health care, transportation, education, economic
development -- put him head and shoulders above
any of the other candidates. If we do not elect
him mayor, we will have missed an opportunity to
choose a leader of whom we can all be proud. This
vote is critical to real and continued progress
in the city.
Please remember to vote on Tuesday. IT IS NOT AT
ALL CERTAIN THAT JIM WILL WIN. The large number
of candidates in the race may force a run-off. In
addition, the state GOP has embraced Jim's chief
opponent, Mick Cornett, and is spending a lot of
their money and resources attacking Jim. This
attack has to be taken seriously.
Also, please make a concerted effort to "spread
the word," either through your own email
lists, over the "water cooler," by
making phone calls, by talking to your neighbors,
even by taking a neighbor or two to vote with you.
If you want to help further -- with a financial
contribution or volunteering -- or simply have
questions, feel free to call me at 525-9949, or
the Tolbert campaign headquarters 843-VOTE (843-8683).
Thanks for your consideration. Vote Tuesday.
Thanks,
Keith
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
OKLAHOMA
DEMOCRATS SELECT OPENLY-GLBT DELEGATES TO NATIONAL
CONVENTION
[Oklahoma City, Feb 21] At today's Oklahoma
State Democratic Party Delegate Selection Convention
held in Oklahoma City, two out-and-proud citizens
were elected by their peers to Oklahoma's State
Delegation for the National Democratic Convention to
be held in Boston, MA, in late July.
Rachel Morse was elected from the Kerry Campaign. Ms
Morse is a member of Central Oklahoma Stonewall
Democrats, board member of the National Stonewall
Democrats, and vice-president of programs for Young
Democrats of America.
Jim Roth, Oklahoma County Commissioner, District 1,
was elected from the Clark Campaign. Mr. Roth was the
first openly gay man elected in Oklahoma to a
prominent office. He was formerly attorney with the
Oklahoma County Clerk's office before his election as
commissioner.
This writer believes these two outstanding examples
of Oklahoma Democrats are the second and third openly
affirming gay/lesbian people elected to Oklahoma's
convention delegation, following the glass-ceiling
breaking precedent of Keith Smith, co-chair of
Central Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats, the first
openly gay man elected to the delegation in 2000.
Slowly, but surely and determinedly, open gays and
lesbians are taking their deserved place in local,
state, and national politics and decision making. Our
rights as citizens of the USA are coming to parity
with the responsibilities we already shoulder.
Taxpaying, responsible gay/lesbian citizens will no
longer take a back seat or a closed door as an
acceptable answer to our continued question of where
is our equality.
Whether it be elected office, same-sex marriage, or
equal protection under the law, the gay/lesbian
equality movement is rolling and will not stop
until it reaches the finish line.
James Nimmo, treasurer
Central Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats
www.oklahomastonewall.org
MCCRAY
FUNDRAISER
Eva Jo Sparks and Keith Smith will be
hosting a fundraiser for our friend and candidate for
Oklahoma House District 58, Becky McCray. Becky is
from Alva and will be running to replace retiring
Republican Representative Elmer Maddux. The event
will be on Wednesday February 25th at the home of Eva
Jo Sparks at 2308 N W 57th in Oklahoma City, from 6
to 8pm, and I am hoping you will be a $100, $250, or
a $500 sponsor. Regular tickets are $50. This race
could become very pivotal in this year's elections
where the Republicans think they will take control of
the House. Please help me prevent that from happening
and help us elect another Woman Democrat to the House.
Please email or call me immediately to tell me you
will be a sponsor......thanks, Keith.
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
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
I do not have unlimited space for receiving
large files by email, nor do I have a broadband
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.
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
ANDREA
RATKOVIC'S MALLORCA JOURNAL
Norman-based out lesbian athlete Andrea
Ratkovic was recently at a training camp in Spain
preparing to try out for the Olympic cycling team and
offered to write about her experience for GayOKC.com.
www.gayokc.com/ratkovicjournal.htm
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
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 
