OkEq Denounces Rep. Sally Kern's Anti-Gay Tirade

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Justice Waidner
Executive Director
Oklahomans for Equality
(918) 409-1821
ED@okeq.org
www.okeq.org

OkEq Denounces Rep. Sally Kern's Anti-Gay Tirade

Tulsa, Okla - March 13, 2008 – Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) deplores Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern's (R-Oklahoma City) recent declaration that homosexuality is "the biggest threat that our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam."

In a triple play of intolerance, Rep. Kern offends lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans, thousands of women and men defending the United States from terrorist attacks, and Muslims worldwide. Yet, she remains completely unapologetic, citing her right to freedom of speech and claiming, "I have never endorsed or supported any hateful action targeting individuals on the other side of this debate and never will."

But Rep. Kern's legislative track record belies her assertions. In 2006, Rep. Kern sponsored a bill denying funding to public libraries that refused to segregate books addressing LGBT themes, thus preventing access to crucial information for numerous LGBT people, especially youth. Kern's opposition to Gay-Straight Alliances similarly denies safe space for LGBT students, many of whom are victims of pervasive and damaging bullying. Rep. Kern has repeatedly used her public office to demonize lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Oklahomans and to attempt to deny them the exact same civil liberties she now defends so passionately. This is the height of hypocrisy.

Although OkEq fully supports freedom of speech, it is important to remember that words of intolerance, bigotry, and homophobia from our elected leaders send very powerful messages — and can have dangerous results. Last October, Steven Domer, a fellow Oklahoman, was brutally murdered for being gay, earning his alleged killer an Aryan Brotherhood "patch." On February 12, Lawrence King, a 15-year-old high school student, was shot in the head by a classmate in an Oxnard, California classroom, simply because he was gay. King died two days later on Valentines Day. February also witnessed the murder of a 17-year-old transgender woman, who was shot and killed in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, her death was one of at least three instances of young trans women who were recently murdered.

Tragedies like these — which are frighteningly common — can be fueled by the latent endorsement of bigotry and homophobia from community leaders.

“Words such as Rep. Kern's only serve to add to this culture of intolerance.  OkEq firmly supports Rep. Kern's constitutional right to express her views, but we believe that she needs to be held accountable for her remarks." declares Justice Waidner, Executive Director of Oklahomans for Equality.  "When elected officials use their power to defame entire categories of people, they abuse the freedom of speech embedded in the First Amendment and violate their responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of their constituents."

OkEq calls upon the many fair-minded members of the Oklahoma legislature to immediately pass a state hate crimes law that encompasses sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, sending a strong message to the nation that Oklahomans will not tolerate bigotry and violence against any of her citizens.

 

Founded by a dedicated group of volunteers in 1980, Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) is Oklahoma's oldest gay rights organization. OkEq seeks equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals and families through advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis R. Neill Community Center.