HATE CRIMES BILL DEFEATED
A bill
that would have added sexual orientation to
Oklahoma's Hate Crimes statute - SB701 - was brought
to the Senate floor for a vote again today, but
despite a valiant effort on the part of GLBT
activists and supporters, the bill failed to pass by
only 1 vote. A vote had been taken
on Monday which failed to get the 25 votes needed for
passage. After a concerted lobbying
effort, supporters felt they had at the required 25
votes and persuaded the Senate leadership to bring
the bill back to the floor, but when the actual vote
was taken, apparently one of the Senators had changed
their mind and they were still one vote short,
leaving the bill effectively dead for this session.
Supporters vow, however, to try again next year.
ROTH TO KEYNOTE CONVENTION
Oklahoma County District 1 Commissioner Jim
Roth will be the keynote speaker at the Oklahoma
County Democratic Party Convention on Saturday, April
5 at the Plumber
and Pipefitters Union Hall, 4335 SW 44.
OGLPC ELECTS OFFICERS
The Oklahoma Gay
and Lesbian Political Caucus elected
officers for the next year at their meeting on Monday.
They are: Paul
Thompson, male co-chair; Angela Flynt, female co-chair;
John Calhoun, treasurer; Victor Gorin, secretary.
WOMACK MOVES TO COPA
Will Womack, formerly general manager of
Windy City Bistro and clubliquid, is now tending bar
at The Copa.
TURNER BLOG UPDATE
OKDiversity webmaster
Tim Turner has posted his thoughts on the lottery and
possible implications for the GLBT community on his blog.
CITY COUNCIL ELECTION
Elections for OKC City Council in wards 2, 6
& 8 will be held Tuesday, March 18. The
candidates are:
Ward 2
(now held by Amy Brooks, who has chosen not
to run again)
Sam Bowman
S. Jean Clark
Susan Johnston
Chris Kauffman
Jim Sellers
Ward 5's
homophobic incumbent Jerry Foshee is
unnopposed and will serve another term (shame
on the residents of Ward 5 for not fielding
someone to run against him!)
Ward 6
Ann Simank (incumbent)
David A. Yeagley
Ward 8
Bob Bemo
Guy Liebmann (incumbent)
Susan Johnston spoke
at the meetings of both OGLPC and Stonewall
Democrats last month. Jim Sellers
spoke at this month's OGLPC meeting and he and Sam
Bowman are scheduled to speak at this
month's Stonewall Democrats meeting (Wednesday, March
12, 7PM, Oklahoma Democratic Party Headquarters, 4100
N Lincoln Boulevard. Bowman was also scheduled to
speak at the OGLPC meeting but canceled). Bowman,
Johnston and Sellers are all running in ward 2. As
far as I know this represents an unprecedented effort
to reach GLBT voters in a single political race here
in OKC. GayOKC.com intern Michael Coffman is working
on a report which should be online later this week.
OGLPC RATES CANDIDATES
The Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian Political
Caucus has issued a voter guide to
the upcoming City Council elections. OGLPC surveyed
cadidates in Norman, Edmond and Stillwater as well as
OKC. Only candidates from Norman and OKC responded.
The ratings are now online at OGLPC's
website.
DEMOCRATS HOLD PRECINCT
MEETINGS
The Oklahoma Democratic Party has issued an
official call for precinct metings. ODP by-laws
require that the 2003 precinct meetings be held at 7PM,
Thursday, March 13. Precinct locations are
online at the ODP website.
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