OKLAHOMA
DEMOCRATIC PARTY ADDS STONEWALL DEMOCRATS TO
CONSTITUTION The following is a press release from
Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats: Oklahoma Stonewall
Democrats (OSD) was officially made a part of the
Democratic State Party Constitution at the Party's
May 17th Convention held in Oklahoma City. The
amendment proposal passed with a unanimous vote of
the Convention delegates and brings to OSD the same
level of recognition as other clubs of the State
Party. This action was another milestone for OSD this
year as two of our members were also elected to the
board of directors of National Stonewall Democrats,
Rachel Morse and Keith Smith.
The vast majority of gays and lesbians in Oklahoma
and nationwide are registered as Democrats, and they
vote in the vast majority for Democrats and
Democratic issues. In OKC and state wide, gay and
lesbian voters have provided the margin in many races
that have made a winning election for Democrats.
These gay and lesbian voters are good citizens of
Oklahoma, and in turn, are friends to other good
citizens of Oklahoma, both gay and non-gay. This
network of productive, conscientious Oklahomans must
be included in the social contract that makes for a
decent society.
As Bayard Rustin, one of Dr. M. L. King's closest
associates said in 1986, "Twenty-five or 30
years ago the barometer of human rights in the United
States was black people. That is no longer true. The
barometer for judging the character of people in
regard to human rights is now those who consider
themselves gay or lesbian."
Stonewall Democrats is the barometer of equality in
Oklahoma.
BARBY RE-ELECTED In other ODP Convention news, openly-Gay
Paul Barby was re-elected state party secretary. Also
re-elected were state chair Jay Parmley, co-chair
Debbe Leftwich and treasurer Debbie Hogue-Downing.
IT'S TIME We have an opportunity.
Last week I wrote to people at School HQ asking they
include the words "sexual orientation" in
the sexual harassment and discrimination statements
in the Student And Parent Handbook. Within an hour a
cautionary email reply was sent out asking nothing be
done before speaking to the legal people.
This resulted in a meeting this week to
just meet and say SOMETHING, to establish a face to
face. To present the concern.
The need to go slow was based on the
total coincidence of timing. Just such policy
statements had been written and sent out by the legal
people at the same time I made my request. When my
principal read the memo to us that explained the
newly revised language. Sexual harassment by its
nature includes everyone, but the non-discrimination
language was so pared down as to include only race,
color, religion or disability, implying that everyone
else, especially GLBT Kids, were on their own.
Long story short: the following is an
email that was sent within school HQ which resulted
in a committee being formed to deal with this:
Dr. Powell-
Although we have put
into place a discrimination policy, as it relates
to sex and disability, and a harassment policy,
we still need a policy on discrimination in
general ( e. g. race, religion, etc.).
Some concerns have
been raised about protections, or lack therof,
for gay students. Do we want to form some
type of a diversity task force to study issues
relating to discrimination and to come back with
recommendations to the Board? If we do, who
do you feel should chair such a committe?"
The
superintendent thought this was a great idea.
The attorney suggested what needs to be done is
learning what has been done elsewhere, and how
mainstream this could be.
However, regardless of the make up of the final
committee, there will be need for information. And,
let's face it, we as a community are a formidable
source of information. We have teachers, parents,
doctors, lawyers, experts in many field that are
applicable to the needs of GLBT kids. We have the
statistics. We have the national contacts who can get
us any information we might want at any given time.
We are a resource, and I would like to go to the
formation committee meeting knowing that with the
whole community working on this, we will have the
opportunity to educate people about US, and help the
GLBT Students.
As soon as I get more
information, I would love to find some way to
organize ourselves as a resource. They need info on
law, or education, or what has happened in other
cities, and when they are attacked by the usual
suspects (the right), we need to be there with the
counterpoints.
The district is going to need OUR community to
help them along and, let's be honest, if we really
want results we might have to help defend them.
Consider getting involved in this.
Joe Quigley
THANKS
FOR VISITING!
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