Panelists

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The Panelists

Bill Rogers is the current board chair of the Cimarron Alliance Foundation. As an attorney, Bill specialized in civil litigation and some civil rights cases. He represented the National Gay Task Force (now the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force) in the Oklahoma teacher case, was founding chairman of Oklahomans for Human Rights, former general counsel and president of ACLU Oklahoma, steering committee member in formation and member board of directors of Cimarron Alliance Group, and founding chairman of the Cimarron Alliance Foundation. Bill also served on the Oklahoma City Human Rights Commission, and was involved in organizing the very first Gay Pride Parade in Oklahoma City.

Paul Thompson is the current male co-chair of the Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus and member of the board of the Oklahoma City chapter of the NAACP.

Pat Reaves was on the original board of directors for Herland Sister Resources and has served on the Herland board for most of the past fifteen years. She began her work as activist in the movement to end violence against women. She was one of the founders of Simply Equal! which led efforts to stop efforts in the State Legislature to initiate an anti-gay amendment to the Oklahoma Constitution. She currently serves as the editor of the Herland Voice and webmaster for Herland Sister Resources.

Keith Smith made history last year as the first openly-Gay delegate from Oklahoma to attend the Democratic National Convention. Keith is one of the founders of, and the current male co-chair of, the Central Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats, a GLBT group that works within the Democratic Party. Keith also founded the Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus. Keith is a professional lobbyist, and has managed several political campaigns and is a very successful fundraiser.

Don Kay was born and raised in Oklahoma and has been active in promoting awareness of and raising funds for HIV/AIDS for the past 12 years. Don was one of the first to assist in starting the Buddy Program of Oklahoma and is currently serving as vice president of OFFAIDS which provides grants to local nonprofit organizations In addition, Don is the chair of Friend of the Winds which, under the umbrella of ASP, raises money for the Winds houses. Don has been living with HIV for 15 years.

Lee Burris is well known in our community as a business owner and female impersonator. He currently owns Ingrid's Kitchen.

Jaqueline Gatewood is the founder of Women of Color, a social and support group for African-American Lesbians at Herland Sister Resources. Jacqueline has been on the board of Herland for over a year, and is also active in OGLPC and Central Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats.

Moderator:

Paula Brown has been on the staff of The Gayly Oklahoman for more than ten years, where she is features editor, community news and health news reporter. Paula was one of the original founders and producers of Oklahoma City's Gay NewsBreak which, during its five-year run, was the first GLBT television news program of its kind in the country. She is married to Kevin Brown, a Transgender Rights activist, has three grown children and five grandchildren.

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