HATE CRIMES BILL DEFEATED A bill
that would have added sexual orientation to
Oklahoma's Hate Crimes statute - SB701 - was brought
to the floor of the state Senate for a vote again on
Wednesday, 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 least 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.
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.
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 spoke at this month's Stonewall
Democrats meeting. 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.
THANKS
FOR VISITING!
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