Sally Kern's bigoted cheering squad of fellow legislators

GLBT Boycott of Oklahoma goods and services...

If this is how the OK legislature wants to play the game, then I think it's time we take a stand.

Check every product you purchase.  If any part of it is made in Oklahoma, don't buy it.  

Now the ENTIRE OK legislature owes an apology to all GLBT Americans.  Until that apology comes, no more GLBT dollars for the new hate-state.

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by: Storm @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 18:22:18 PM CDT

I agree...

Oklahoma should feel the hurt -- in the pocketbook -- if they're going to support bigotry. I doubt there's few, if any, XTians of Kern's ilk who won't wilt when it hits 'em in the pocketbook.  

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by: the.sue @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 18:30:05 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Please check your facts first before calling for a boycott

I don't think "the ENTIRE OK legislature" was involved here.  Read the article.  The standing ovation, as reported by Ms. Kern, was apparently given by "Republican caucus members in a closed meeting."  And, also, given the unfactual stuff Ms. Kern said in her lovely original comments, the standing ovation she reports may or may not have actually happened.

I'm not saying that I doubt that she has some supporters in the Oklahoma legislature and elsewhere.  But I think it's inaccurate and misleading to claim that "the OK legislature" or "the ENTIRE OK legislature" is behind her.

I share your emotion, though, Storm.  Ms. Kern's comments are quite outrageous, and require a response.

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by: KC @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 19:28:34 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The alternative is to do nothing... Just let the boot stomp your face forever...

More than half of the Legislature did stand and applaud her.

I never said the ENTIRE legislature did, what I said was that the ENTIRE OK legislature owes an apology to all GLBT Americans.  Then can do it in the form of a writ, or an act, or however they want to do it.  And, yes, I think it is appropriate for the ENTIRE legislature to apologize for the majority of legislators.

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by: Storm @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 19:50:37 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I agree that the OK legislature should say something,

at the least that Ms. Kern's comments are not representative of the views of the OK legislature in general or all of its individual members.  I hope some OK legislators attempt kind of official resolution of disagreement.

And if it really is true that a majority of OK legislators support Ms. Kern's statements, then I'd be all for a boycott of Oklahoma.

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by: KC @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 21:12:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Boycott of Oklahoma Goods

As A Glbt Okie. I would ask you not boycott. However What i think carries much more impact than a sixty's style boycott and set in.  Would be If you work for One of the top 500 corporations who have GLBT rights and inclusion.

 Would be to go to the Glbt rep of the company and ask if they could seek the chief Ceo or owner to send a letter to the  Oklahoma Legislature how this will possibly influence their future decisions about expanding business into Oklahoma. Seeing how they value their employees, and dont wish to loose valuable assets to companies who don't force there workers to live in a state that devalues their rights. Nothing will speak louder and faster than  Companies saying we will concider this in our future evaluations of expansion in to a  Hate filled state.  Where the Oklahoma Republican grassroots platform for 2007 is nearly as abusive in language as Rep Sally Kerns 4 speech she gave to small groups. (seems people forget she has been going around giving his same "not bashing" speach)The link below is to the 2007 republican grassroots platform btw

http://www.okgop.com/images/OK...  

Pain is Inevitable .
Suffering is Optional  

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by: Ana @ Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 01:06:23 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Kern setting people up for prosecution...

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is looking into death threats against a state lawmaker who delivered an anti-gay tirade.

source: http://www.kten.com/Global/sto...

Had she made the remarks in a civilized country, like Canada, she would be the one subject to prosecution.

And, how long before the first LGBT American is murdered in OK due to her remarks.  My guess is by Friday.  Yep, most likely before the week is out some LGBT person in OK will pay with their life for Sally Kern's diatribe.  But, she'll never be prosecuted for her incitement to violence, that's OK in America.

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by: Storm @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 18:29:28 PM CDT

...and OOOH Get em in them Republican pocketbooks.

You think that would hurt...surely if we could do it.

Meanwhile the Governor Brad Henry says he was disappointed in Kern's comments and says he believes public officials should 'cool the rhetoric.'  Me think the OK Bureau Invest doth protesteth too much.

And there is no way this rhetoric will cool, until all GLBT's have full equal rights throughout the country...  

It's the Hammer of JUSTICE,
It's the Bell of FREEDOM,
It's the Song about LOVE between,
my Brothers and my Sisters
...All over this Land.

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by: Orion45 @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 19:17:45 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Causality?

With all due respect (and with the caveat that I don't want to sound like I'm sticking up for Crazy Sally)... I don't know if it's fair to lay blame at her feet for individual acts of violence.

Homophobic ranting like Kern's certainly contributes to an atmosphere in which violence against LGBT people is more readily accepted, but I don't think it has flat-out causal power.  The lion's share of the blame for hate crimes lies with attackers themselves; they didn't have to buy this crap just because Kern was selling it.  Anyone who's enough of a moron to not only accept Kern's homophobic premise, but also decide that the premise in turn justifies violence, has problems of his own that can't be pinned on someone else's words... and hopeless fools like this are the whole reason we have a criminal justice system.

There are practical considerations as well.  Hyperbole about purveyors of disagreeable ideas having "blood on their hands" is not likely to endear us to the folks we have the greatest chance of winning over (namely, the lumpen mass of fence-sitting non-ideologists).  Such expressions of outrage -- even though perfectly legitimate and understandable in and of themselves -- are likely to be seized upon by right-wing pundits and buzzword-misinterpreted as "politically correct" rants.

While the outrage against Kern's statements is, again, more than understandable, I think their tone of apocalyptic panic and their logical shortcomings speak for themselves.  Comparing an inborn sexual preference (and the consenting behaviors that go with it) to a jones for blowing up innocent people is so ridiculous on its face that it's likely to be accepted only those who are already members of the diseased choir to which Kern is preaching.  She's objectively nutty enough that we don't have to pin on her the blame for other people's volitional criminal acts.  It would be more effective for our community to point out how the substance of her claims is illogical and flat-out WRONG than to speculate on what Kern's words might inspire others to do.

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by: CubPaws2008 @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 20:01:09 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Remember Kern is an agent of the government....

Many people not otherwise disposed may think it is OK since the government is the one sending this message of hate...

And, that future attacker may just state that Kern was the reason for his attacking or murdering a LGBT american, so there is the VERY REAL possibility of CONFIRMED causality coming soon.

P.S.  I have a sexual ORIENTATION, it's not a choice or preference for me.

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by: Storm @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 20:15:28 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Intent (or the lack thereof)

I have to concede that your "official endorsement" angle is a very good point, Storm... that didn't even occur to me, so thanks for bringing it up.

And just to clarify, I don't for a minute suggest that Kern's nasty comments should go without a response; we need to yell like hell whenever someone spouts crap like that.  I probably didn't word my original post well enough to convey what I really meant (my poor syntax and run-on sentences will almost certainly be the death of me).

As for the orientation thing -- I certainly didn't intend any "choice" or "preference" implication (as a member of the queer community myself, I'm well aware that orientation is a built-in characteristic, which is why I made sure to use the word "inborn" earlier in the sentence in question).  Nevertheless, it's easy to understand how such an intent could be inferred -- the whole right-wing "choice" meme has been a long-standing political sore point for us as LGBTs... so I apologize for any offense you might have taken.  :)

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by: CubPaws2008 @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 22:17:34 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I totally agree

I have to agree with CubPaws.

Using hyperbole by our side only makes the issue one of free speech, which it is not.

I also don't think that her comments will automatically lead to violence against lgbts. For me the real issue is a representative who will repeat bad information about a group of constituents. Look at what she claims are her sources.

No one would cite the Protocols of the Elders of Zion to make Anti-Semitic comments and be thought of as a serious legislator.

But for some reason, legislators who cite propaganda and bad studies about lgbts can receive a mass of support. That is the thing we need to be talking about. Kern is not the root of the problem. The root is the folks exploiting her religious belief against homosexuality.

It is easy to get angry when something like this happens. But as hard as it is, we cannot get so angry that we don't think.

When we do that, we only play into the opposition's hands.

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by: Alvin McEwen @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 20:32:46 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

U.S. Gov't says, "Kill Terrorists"....

Oklahoma Gov't says, "Gays worse than terrorists!"

The marching orders are pretty damned clear.

And, coming from the government, this gives PERMISSION to people.

Look what happed after Jim Naugle, also a government officer, went off on his rant.  At least 1 dead and one injured.

There is incontrovertible evidence that these rants do increase violence, and a scientific correlation can be made.

HATE KILLS.  Hate is what motivates people to kill.

To state otherwise is to bury your head in the sand.

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by: Storm @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 20:50:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Speech

I think you're right on the "free speech" angle, Author.  Treating Kern's speech as a "punishable" offense (rather than something we respond to with strong speech of our own) merely makes a right-wing martyr out of her, and allows opponents of LGBT rights to miscast us as tyrants.

Also, if Kern views us as equivalent to terrorists, then she probably also thinks that speaking in favor of LGBT rights is tantamount to "causing" terror, and would readily censor us given even half a chance to do so.  In other words, by stating that her speech "causes" other people's violent acts, we're inadvertently endorsing her own logic, and thus setting a very dangerous precedent regarding our own freedom of speech.  (If all it takes to silence speech is an assertion that said speech is "dangerous", then we're in trouble too, because ANYONE can make bald, unjustified assertions -- case in point, Kern herself!)

We might have very different opinions about these sub-issues, but at least we all agree that Kern is a hateful lunatic who deserves our fervent opposition.  I just happen to think the most effective form of opposition is attacking the validity of what she said, rather than her right to say it.  Just one person's opinion  :)  At the end of the day, let's not forget that ultimately, we're in this together -- our real opponents are the bigots, and not one another!

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by: CubPaws2008 @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 22:07:08 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

"Free speech" argument is drivel

Please explain who is attacking her right to say anything.

Oklahomans for Equality have it exactly right: Kern "is not saying anything markedly different than she has over the last several years. The only difference is that she is getting national exposure."

The issue is that her "free speech" is being distributed far and wide, and people are now evaluating what she said and what kind of person she is.

"Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain" -- Iowa state motto

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by: Sportin' Life @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 08:18:22 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Look at the arguements the religious wackos make...

..when it comes to Hate Crimes legislation.  They claim they will have to shut up because what they say may inspire so crazed individual to go beat the shit out of a LGBT person.   They already know what their speech does, and they are proud of it.  

 David Duke has alot of blood on his hands, same with many other leaders of the KKK.  They knew what they were inspiring others to do.

 These religious nutts like Kern know what they are saying.  And should be held accountable for the hate they spread towards other members of society.

If I make sense? it was quite by accident.

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by: HappyCat @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 20:35:11 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Causal Relationships

Sally Kern, in her email to me, was quite adament that she does not engage in hate speech.  She will never see herself as responsible for any queer bashing or murder.

But then again, Adolph Hitler never laid hands on a single Jew.  Do you imagine that went in his favor at the Judgement?

Speakers of hate don't have blood on their hands?  It is all hyperbole?  Give me a break and barricade the doors!


The fight for full LGBT Equality is NOT over.  Be strong and be ready to really fight!  And read my blog in your spare time! http://ravenhurst-ravenhurst.b...

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by: Dagon @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 21:54:42 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Random Rambling

Hitler never directly laid hands on a single Jew, but he did do more than spout rhetoric.  He made the plans and gave the orders -- which is enough definite, affirmative conduct to lay the responsibility for the Holocaust at his feet.

I'm not trying to excuse Kern, or deny the hateful character of her speech -- far from it.  I'm just wary of throwing the WHOLE responsibility for hate crimes at her.  We need to hold her responsible for her actual conduct, which at this point is limited to speech.  That speech creates a climate where discrimination is perceived as acceptable, and we need to stop that... but I think we best do that by taking apart the garbage she spews, rather than holding her responsible for other people's behaviors.

I'm wary of going too far up ANY attenuated chain of causality, for two reasons -- one, it sets a dangerous precedent of holding too many people responsible for individual misbehavior (would it really be Seagram's fault if I chose to drive drunk?), and two, it redistributes responsibility, thus partially absolving other bad actors who deserve no absolution whatsoever.  (Kern, like all of us, has a constitutional right to free speech, but there is absolutely NO right to physically attack people -- in other words, attackers deserve NO excuse, and we shouldn't accidentally give them one).

A clinically sane adult who commits an act of anti-gay violence is making a very definite, free-will act of his or her own, and needs to be held fully responsible for it -- both criminally and morally.  To push ALL of the blame for it onto another person is to deny that each of us is the author of her own actions.  And doesn't the Religious Right lean on exactly this denial of personal agency when it argues that same-sex marriages will destroy opposite-sex ones?  (I.e., in their rush to prevent same-sex marriage, aren't they denying the basic truth that the health of ANY marriage depends only on the personal commitment of the two people involved?)  I just want to make sure we don't fall into the same logical and philosophical traps that have ensnared our enemies.

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by: CubPaws2008 @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 22:38:11 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Again, If you read how they have lied about

  what The Matthew Sheppard Act will and will not do.

 Of course the person that did the beating or murder will be the one held accountable.  But the actions of the perps that commit these crimes against LGBT people have been inspired by the content of the religious right's speech.

 The problem is all these people that stand in the way of the Hate Crimes passing try to make Bull Shit reason why they are against them.   You don't see them speaking out against them.  

 

If I make sense? it was quite by accident.

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by: HappyCat @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 22:59:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Inspired by

Inspired by, no doubt... but other criminal acts can be "inspired by" speech as well.  A bank robbery, for instance, may be "inspired by" the pervasive images of extreme affluence in our pop culture, but we don't respond by legally blaming MTV's "Cribs" for it.  Ideally, we DO respond with society-wide discourse on the ill effects of obsession with affluence... or the ill effects of homophobia.  We need to stand strong against homophobic speech... but with speech of our own that tells the world, in detail, how and why we oppose people like Kern.

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by: CubPaws2008 @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 23:05:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I agree with you

But I'm not aware of anyone who is talking about passing any sort of laws prohibiting hateful speech.  (Some countries do have them; the US does not have laws of that type.)

I'm also not aware of anyone trying to hold Sally Kerns legally responsible for someone else's act of violence.  She very well may bear moral responsibility, however, and pointing that out is a valid part of the argument.

The idea that our community is seeking any kind of special rights or trying to infringe on the First Amendment is a flat out lie.  Pure propaganda.  It's disconcerting to see the idea taken seriously by someone here on this site.

"Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain" -- Iowa state motto

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by: Sportin' Life @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 13:51:57 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

No right-wing tool

I'm responding to Sportin' Life (just didn't want to make the columns any narrower)...

First, I have not accused anyone of "demanding special rights" -- I've said absolutely nothing on this thread that could even be stretched into that.

Also, I have not specifically accused any particular person of wanting to gut the First Amendment.  I've been speaking in the abstract all along, merely expressing my personal preference for responding to Kern's bigotry with substantive speech of our own (as opposed to legal consequences or moral blame for the acts of others).

My view of how to allocate the moral responsibility for hate crimes (i.e. largely onto individual attackers) may not align with that of others on this blog, but I don't understand how that philosophical difference makes me an exponent of right-wing, anti-LGBT political propaganda.  I detest Kern's bigotry as much as anyone else on this blog, and I don't think it's fair to imply that I've been taken in by opposition propaganda simply because I disagree on a particular sub-issue in the larger discussion.  I tried my damnedest to keep those posts issue-centered and philosophical rather than targeted and personal, but apparently, even that wasn't enough to keep from getting ripped as some kind of closet right-winger.

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by: CubPaws2008 @ Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 00:10:57 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Hate crimes

BTW, HappyCat... In the name of intellectual clarity / separating the issues, I should point out that I DO favor hate-crime penalty enhancements.

Firstly, they're not setting the dangerous precedent their opponents claim.  They aren't a "free-speech" issue, because they're tied only to underlying predicate conduct which is already illegal... and they hardly break any new ground, because the motive of the accused is already considered in numerous places in the criminal justice system (from how serious of a charge is laid to how long a sentence is imposed).

And secondly, evidence can be introduced to prove the motive of a specific defendant in a specific case.  I'm a lot less worried about imposing punishment when we've proven -- through a trial process designed with procedural safeguards to protect fairness and pursue truth -- that the intent behind the attack was homo- or transphobia.

It's this second reason that, for me, differentiates hate-crime penalty enhancements (which I support) from the broader notion of automatically holding individual homophobic speakers philosophically / morally responsible for hate crimes (which I don't).  Punishment needs to be founded only upon strong proof (this is one of the most basic safeguards of our liberty), and I think it's a lot easier to prove that "defendant Joe R. Blo was motivated by general hatred of the group in question" than it is to prove that "defendant Joe R. Blo got his phobic ideas from Sally Kern in particular".

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by: CubPaws2008 @ Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 00:34:08 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Hate Crimes/ Video Games,

  Joe R. Blo can get his or her hate from any place.  Including the holy bible and video games.  

 Both the bible and video games produce two thing at least, thought and entertainment.  I am not going to go the path of blaming the writers of either program.  That is a fruitless arguement as many religious leaders have gone after Sony and other for destroying society. All one has to do is look back to the 80s when the religious right went after the Heavy Metal and Hair bands that produced warning labels of records.  I would like to see a warning lable on the bible.

WARNING, The contents in ths book may lead to the beating or the murder of fellow human beings if taken literally!

 I ask why not?  I listen to Iron Madien, Ozzy Ozbourne, White Snake, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, Van Halen, Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Terry Jacks, Venna Tang, Ted Nuggent, Pink Floyd, Alabama, Marshall Tucker Band, Great White, Boston, The Eagles, Queen, The Outlaws. The list can go on and on if I listed the 500 plus cds I own.

 One of my favotite movies is Foot Loose.  Dancing was the cause of death in that movie according to the Fundies.
Book burning was part of that movie as well.

 The truth is we can find good teaching points in almost anything.  And we should be honest about what we say and teach.  A video game such as Space Invaders which was fun to play was also a teaching tool.  Same with Astroids.  Deffender was also a fun game.  

 All of the above the religious right came out against as going to ruin our society.  

 No, it is a game, nothing to be taken seriously.  Did I go out and shoot people because of a game? Shit no.  I was taught right and wrong.  I learned that some of the Crap my KKK neighbors were doing was real as well.  And they claim the bible says it is right.

 

SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risk to Your Health.

 How should the warning lable read for being born LGBT?

WARNING to Pregnant Woman, Giving Birth to LGBT Children may be Hazardous to Their Lives in Super Religious Towns.

If I make sense? it was quite by accident.

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by: HappyCat @ Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 02:45:05 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

List of Oklahoma businesses... (Many in Oklahoma City, OK)

http://www.okcbusiness.com/

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by: Storm @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 18:42:12 PM CDT

Instead of...

Instead of sending letters to this ignorant and possibly illiterate woman (since she can't read studies or statistical analysis), maybe letters should be sent to these business stating they will get none of our business until the Governor of Oklahoma denounces this woman and her rhetoric and refutes her so-called evidence with true studies and statistics.

Maybe that'll get a few phone calls to the "establishment" and some results.  Besides, any letters we send to her she'll just use to rile up her fellow bigots.

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by: Will St. James @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 19:18:51 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

This is a good point

Someone who would utter things like Ms. Kern uttered is not apt to say, "please educate me," or "please give me feedback on my level of rationality."

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by: KC @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 21:18:19 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Also Good if You Can't Boycott

Not only are boycotts rarely effective, simply because of the numbers needed to have any discernible economic impact, but they can be counter-productive and get people more entrenched in their position.

Because I travel for work, I can't decide where I go or how I spend my (okay, mainly the company's) money. However, I certainly have no problem contacting any hotel or restaurant I might be using while in OK to find out if they agree with Ms. Kern. I can tell you from past experience that no corporation wants to alienate customers, and will reject this kind of language. More importantly, contacting businesses spreads the word of Kern's hate - much more effective.

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by: CPT_Doom @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 23:02:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

If Only ...

I wish I weren't disabled.  The single most effective action that is achievable is through organized labor; specifically the AFL-CIO and the Flight Attendants Union.

If you go to the link above, check out the number of national airlines that fly into Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City.  Quite a few.  Yet the legislature gives a standing ovation to one who considers glbtq a more serious threat than terrorism.  Were I a flight attendant (or a pilot in the Pilots Union or a baggage handler in the Machinists Union) I would have serious reservations about flying into Oklahoma City or the state of Oklahoma.  Concerns about my own safety and the safety of my aircraft and its passengers.

I would probably be concerned enough to REFUSE to land in Oklahoma.  And the national airlines would likely get national support for re-routing their aircraft around Oklahoma during ... shall we say the middle of November until the middle of January ... or any other time of one's choosing.

If only I were not disabled I would likely call Pride At Work at the AFL-CIO in Washington DC and tell them to get off their butts and make it happen.  I think it IS achievable.

Just a thought I had today readng the list of companies on the website.


The fight for full LGBT Equality is NOT over.  Be strong and be ready to really fight!  And read my blog in your spare time! http://ravenhurst-ravenhurst.b...

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by: Dagon @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 19:41:52 PM CDT

...I like that.

Don't know anyone in airlines, though. I note one of the new Obama LGBT supporters is actually a StateRepresentative in Missouri... isn't that close? How interesting.

It's the Hammer of JUSTICE,
It's the Bell of FREEDOM,
It's the Song about LOVE between,
my Brothers and my Sisters
...All over this Land.

---

by: Orion45 @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 22:15:33 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Stonewall to the Nth Degree

I have been following the Sally Kern story since the beginning.  I am one of the few who got an email response from Rep. Kern.  I have been reading the News 9 comments as they expanded over the weekend and into today. As they grew ever more hate-filled and vicious. Little shocked me as much as the Republican caucus ovation ... that only Rep. Kern herself reported, I add.

I am glad that Gov. Henry is trying to throw a little cold water on the fire ... "disappointed" in her remarks and calling on officials to tone down their remarks ... though I fear such will do little good with Sally and the Rev. Kern.

But it feels to me like a giant boil has been lanced in the USA.  Gallons ... nay, rivers of poisonous pus are being released for all to see.  My mother in Delaware can hardly believe what she is reading and hearing.  Good.  It is time she and the rest of my family hear what I know is being said every day, especially on Sunday.

On the other hand, we all know someone(s) will pay soon for Kern's "free" speech with blood.  And the blood will be on Sally's hands.  So sad.  So sad.

I really sense that this time something special, something scary is happening.  The mad dogs are being unleashed.  On the Net you can hear them straining on their leashes.  Male and female, you can hear them wanting violence against us.

AND you can read on blogs and at News 9 of glbtq people wanting violence against bigots.  I fear if some of these people, on both sides, were physically together, blood would spout to the heavens in fountains of hate.  I sense it in the comments, the words, the hatred so pure and clean.  Like pus from a newly lanced boil.

Will this blow over and be forgotten next week?  I really don't know.  It does not feel that way.  It feels like a real shift in the culture war ... a war declared on us.  And this time, I don't think blogs and Internet battles will be enough.  Boycotts either.  This time I think we are going to have to do something different.  It's going to take our lives on the line again.

How?  I don't know.  I just sense a sea change.  Time will tell.  It's exciting ... but also scary.  Stonewall to the Nth degree.


The fight for full LGBT Equality is NOT over.  Be strong and be ready to really fight!  And read my blog in your spare time! http://ravenhurst-ravenhurst.b...

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by: Dagon @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 19:57:50 PM CDT

....too bad.

We can't just sense a 'see change', or is that cents a 'C' change.

It's the Hammer of JUSTICE,
It's the Bell of FREEDOM,
It's the Song about LOVE between,
my Brothers and my Sisters
...All over this Land.

---

by: Orion45 @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 22:12:59 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Muslim Community DEMANDS Kern apologize...

http://video.google.com/videop...

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by: Storm @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 20:09:09 PM CDT

OT: Gay man investigating CIA rendition flights in UK found dead...

Breaking:

Gay-friendly British copper Michael Todd found dead at bottom of cliff. While certainly suicide could be a possibility - the cop reportedly had personal problems - some wonder if there's something more sinister going on. Todd was, after all, investigating claims that the CIA operated "extraordinary rendition" flights within the UK. [Daily Mail]

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by: Storm @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 21:03:54 PM CDT

Kern against LGBT free speech -- It's ONLY for her!

"I find it particularly interesting that she (Kern) is invoking freedom of speech for these remarks," Belmonte said, noting that Kern sponsored a bill a few years ago to restrict access to library books that might contain gay or les bian themes or information.

source: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news...

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by: Storm @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 21:07:55 PM CDT

Exactly-- Free Speech is a red herring

I have been digging through a lot of the comments about this story in the local OK press. I am so sick of reading about how this is a free speech issue.
Sally Kern's salary is payed by taxpayers including Gay and Lesbian taxpayers. And she voiced her opinion that gays are worse than terrorists at a meeting related to her job. If she had said something anti-Christian would they be applauding and defending her free speech? Hell no.
But what I really learned from reading all those comments is that those people don't want free speech, they want free speech without consequences.
Already they have jumped on the familiar tactic of calling everyone who disagrees with her a censoring Nazi and everything else. Accusations of banning, etc.
It is her right to say whatever she wants. And it is our right to respond, particularly in the case of a government official, and suggest that she be removed from office. That's our right of free speech as well.

____________________

Donate to Carmen's Place

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by: jackalope @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 06:21:30 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Red herring... but they can throw fish at us too!

"If she had said something anti-Christian would they be applauding and defending her free speech? Hell no."

You're damn right, they wouldn't.  This is a terrible inconsistency on the part of her right-wing supporters, and it goes directly to support your argument that the "free speech" angle is a tactical / cynical red herring.  It's also dead-on to point out how ridiculous it is for Kern's supporters to argue that our counter-speech is "censorship".

Unfortunately, just because the free speech issue is being misused as a red herring doesn't mean the issue itself is unimportant.  Thought experiment: let's postulate a hypothetical pro-LGBT Oklahoma state senator by the name of Jane Smith.  Many of our raving fundie opponents argue believe that basic human rights for LGBTs are somehow "anti-Christian" (the belief is ridiculous, but they really DO believe it).  What if they were to turn our own logic against us, and suggest that Senator Doe should be removed from office because she's (in their view) anti-Christian, and "Jane Doe's salary is paid by taxpayers, including Christian taxpayers"?

The fact of the matter is, there will always be government officials with whom we disagree.  Removing them mid-term just because they say something nasty or controversial doesn't serve the interests of any of us; our opponents will just do the same to the elected officials we favor, and the whole process will break down.  Political wars need to be fought on political terrain... and this includes convincing Oklahomans to vote her the hell out at the next election; offering a positive pro-LGBT message of our own; and strongly criticizing Kern for her bigoted statements (not to mention her intellectually dishonest treatment of opposition as "censorship").

---

by: CubPaws2008 @ Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 01:00:10 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Standing ovation came from the Republican caucus, not the legislature

And there's a big difference, sad to say.  

---

by: lloydletta2 @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 22:35:18 PM CDT

The OK Legislature and Rep. Kern Need to hear from YOU

Yes, I agree the legislature should apologize to the LGBT community.
Yes, the legislature and the state's leaders should denounce Sally Kerns comments.
Yes, Sally Kern should PERSONALLY hear from all the people who oppose her backward way of thinking.

Blogging is great, but let's not drop the ball and fail to HOLD THESE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE BY SENDING LETTERS AND EMAILS DIRECTLY TO THEM.

The time will be well spent.  Google the state governor and legislative leaders and send them a polite email and/or letter requesting that they publicly condemn the hateful public remarks of Sally Kern.  Polite and professional letters will have an impact.  That is not to say that the letters cannot express OUTRAGE.

Thanks.

---

by: TakeAction @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 22:59:38 PM CDT

CHECK OUT AWESOME RESPONSE TO SALLY KERN ON YOUTUBE

Check out this smart and very well put together response to Sally Kern on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

It is called "The Ballad of Sally Kern" if the above link address does not work.

Fantastic!

---

by: TakeAction @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 23:36:16 PM CDT

Brilliant.

Dr Seuss would be proud.

---

by: Emproph @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 04:54:38 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I agree

It's brilliant.

---

by: KC @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 09:47:33 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

BRILLIANT

OK OK I know I am emotionally involved in this issue.  It really helping me grieve the loss of my husband.  Can't tell yall how it all works together but it is.

This YouTube piece is the ABSOLUTE BEST response to Sally Kern yet.  Better than anything I or anyone here has written.  It captures everything ... everything ...

It brought tears to my eyes.

See it and distribute it widely.  I have often thought that gays fight best with humor and satire.  This YouTube piece is better at that than anything I have seen ... yet it transcends such.

But look and see for yourself.  After all, I admit, I am emotionally involved, a grieving person, and kinda crazy these days.

The fight for full LGBT Equality is NOT over.  Be strong and be ready to really fight!  And read my blog in your spare time! http://ravenhurst-ravenhurst.b...

---

by: Dagon @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:03:46 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

the OKC entities need to make a public comment

I've updated the post to add more contacts -- information for members of the OK City Chamber of Commerce and the Convention & Visitors Bureau.

These entities have much at stake since this is Sally Kern's district. Are her views as a public official representative of the business climate that the city wishes to project? They should be on the record.
 

---

by: Pam Spaulding @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 04:11:22 AM CDT

Causation - Causal/Legal and Moral/Human/Karmic

There a very real difference between causal / legal responsibility and moral / human / karmic responsibility.

Yall are absolutely correct.  Sally Kern and her ilk are NOT responsible in a CAUSAL - LEGAL manner for any hate crime of any sort against GLBTQ person anytime, anywhere.  I will so testify under oath.

However, morally, humanly, and karmicly, Sally Kern and her ilk are PARTIALLY responsible for every hate crime everywhere in the USA, especially those closest to them.  Just as I hope Sally Kern and her il are correct ("recruit") are correct and I am morally, humanly, and karmicly PARTIALY responsible for making it easier for some some gay, lesbian, or transexual person to accept themselves and live openly.

Such moral causation by Sally Kern IS interesting to me.  However it does not change the central issue at hand.  How best to address the issue.  I have written Kern and the Governor and my family and friends.  Today it is time to spread the issue further.

The fight for full LGBT Equality is NOT over.  Be strong and be ready to really fight!  And read my blog in your spare time! http://ravenhurst-ravenhurst.b...

---

by: Dagon @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 09:50:26 AM CDT

Sally Goes Alan Keyes on Her Gay Son...

Source:

http://www.queerty.com/sally-k...

Uh-oh! Could foul-mouthed Sally Kern's secret be out of the bag?

The Oklahoma lawmaker's homophobic remarks have been the talk of the town recently, especially her assertion that gay folk are infiltrating schools to indoctrinate children. And, sensing a critical national spotlight, Kern made a very suspicious change to her official government homepage.

If you compare a March 4th cache and today's version, you'll notice that Kern and/or her staff deleted a biographical sentence mentioning her two adult sons, Jesse and Nathan. Obviously our warning bells went off, so we did a little digging and found something quite queer.

Consider comment seventeen on this Tulsa World article: "How come no-one asks this "supposed" christian woman..about her own GAY son? The one she basically has dis-owned...ahh so christian."

What?! Kern and her Baptist preacher hubbie had a homo? And they disowned him? That's some Alan Keyes shit...

A little more digital detective work dug up numerous postings naming Jesse as the outcast offspring. One even recalls Jesse's time at Oklahoma Baptist University, where he was apparently "the biggest queen on campus":

   I find it hilarious that Salacious Sally is such a bigot. Her son Jesse was the biggest queen on the campus of OBU in the mid-90's. Twice he almost was expelled for making inappropriate advances in the library toilets. When he wasn't cruising the toilets he was in the glee club and a piano major...there's your sign.

Another comment, punches holes through Kern's religious extremism and suggests Jesse's homosexuality pushed Sally Kern over the edge:

   Jesse Kern, Sally's son, was raised in a strict Baptist environment. If your claims are true then you must blame her and her husband for his turning out that way. Most gays aren't out there breaking the law and engaging in public sex acts and solicitation. Jesse chose criminal behavior to act out on his desires.
   ...
   I see in this foolish woman much anger and resentment. Her beliefs are challenged within herself, because if she stands by them then she must accept her part in her son being a homosexual. She isn't strong enough to do that. Instead, she has created a paranoid delusion that there is some vast conspiracy of gays infiltrating schools and governments to turn others gay and force their lifestyles on everyone. Her subconscious has created this great gay evil so she doesn't have to blame herself and she says her son as a victim.

   Had the gays infiltrated Jesse's school and indoctrinated him then? Funny, how he attended Baptist schools. His attendence [sic] at Oklahoma Baptist University was marred by his repeated censure for cruising the school's toilets. Had he been able to live his life openly he would not have had to engage in such actions.

Woof. Those are some allegations! And potentially disastrous for "family friendly" Kern. It also makes you wonder how Kern and her ilk sleep at night - and whether they understand the concept of "hell".

---

by: Storm @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:55:44 AM CDT

Interesting

And very sad for Jesse, to have this witch for a mother.

And the ignorant OK GOP caucus, with their lynch mob mentality, give the shunning and ostracization by a parent of her own child a standing ovation.

...

I would say it's very important to demand that OK local news stations cover this aspect of the story.  It's at the heart of the matter, but in general the media are so bigoted and so fearful of bigots that they will brush this under the rug as an "invasion of Kerns' privacy" if we let them.

"Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain" -- Iowa state motto

---

by: Sportin' Life @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 14:00:48 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Seems like a lot of 'phobes

Are blessed with gay kids. Schlafley. Keyes. Etc., etc.

I'm rather agnostic, but if there is a higher being, She's got a pretty wicked sense of humor.

---

by: the.sue @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 19:49:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Maybe they're phobes BECAUSE they have gay kids?

I know my own mother is about 1 step removed from being a homophobe like Sally (maybe 3 steps.  my mom has enough class not to call gays worst than terrorists).  However, before I came out, my mother had no problem with gay people.  I had never heard her say one thing negative about them.  She had/has gay friends.  But when it came to her own daughter coming out as a lesbian, suddenly she was completely anti-gay and vocal about it.

Anyway, I think that homophobic people with gay kids is a sort of poetic justice, but of course, not good for the kids involved.  Parents who come out as homophobic when their kids come out as gay are probably reacting to several things:  (1) what they think people will think of them as parents, (2) the hard life they know their kids will have to live because the predominant attitude is anti-gay, and (3) not being able to walk that prefabricated and normal life they were hoping for.

If the story about her son being gay is true, I do hope the media mentions it.  For Jesse's sake I hope they don't drag it through the mud, but I think it is worth mentioning when trying to understand why a person in a government position like Sally would spill such hateful, homophobic and (most important of all) blatantly incorrect words about gay people.

"To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting." -E.E. Cummings

---

by: popsiclestand @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 20:16:08 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Jesse Aaron Kern, Vile Sally's Unfortunate Offspring

I'm absolutely sick of our brothers and sisters letting someone like that bitch Sally Kern stick it to us, even if she is his mother.  I gleaned this from the thousand or so responses on the Channel 6 website responses to the tape of her now famous hate speech.  He was supposedly exposed cruising the Johns around Shawnee probably about 10 years ago when a student at OBU down there, and I have several addresses for him in OKC as well.  Can you help me with any info in case push comes to shove?  Thanks much.  ps, I ran a search on Jesse using that paid site, Intelius.com, last night.  I'll append it to the end of this message.

 Jesse Aaron Kern

Jesse has graduated from the College of Metaphysics and moved to Des Moines to direct the School of Metaphysics branch there. He is an energetic presence and loves serving humanity. Jesse's main passion is music. He uplifts with his voice and original musical compositions and is currently teaching private music lessons. He has provided primary assitance in crafting our Interfaith Church of Metaphysics' hymnal. Jesse is studying in the second cycle of lessons and plans to pursue a Doctorate in Metaphysics and Doctorate of Divinity.

School of Metaphysics 515-255-5570
3715 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311

The Tulsa World got to the truth.

Sally Kern's son denies reports he is gay

by: Mick Hinton, World Capitol Bureau
3/14/2008 12:00 AM

Video: Listen to Sally Kern's controversial speech.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The son of a state lawmaker who has condemned homosexuality as a worse threat to the U.S. than "terrorists or Islam" said Friday he wants it known that he is "straight and not gay."

Jesse Kern, son of Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, said information purporting that he is gay, which has appeared on several blogs, is damaging to himself and his family.

Kern, 31, said he feels the media has a responsibility to seek out the truth, then report it.

Kern, who said he is affiliated with the Des Moines School of Metaphysics, said that he chooses to be celibate, but he is not homosexual. http://www.som.org/

"First of all, no one's sexuality is anyone's business. It is not even my mother's business," he said. "I practice celibacy to give to my God," he said.

Kern said metaphysics helps teach him such things such as concentration, which has helped him keep focused with all the adverse publicity surrounding his mother's comments.

Kern said his mother's comments apparently were taken out of context. He has not chosen to listen to the audio version that has been disseminated widely throughout the nation.

Kern's views differ from those of his mother, although he applauds her for standing up for what she believes, and thanks his parents for his good upbringing. His father is a Baptist minister in Oklahoma City.

He said the purpose of sex is reproduction, and it is the function of the animal body.

"But we are more than animals, and we can use sex for a tool of deep relationship with another person."

Kern added that what is more important than whether it be a relationship with someone of the same sex, is that there "needs to be honor in any relationship whether it is a straight or gay relationship."

Jesse Aaron Kern
Birth Date: 05/11/1976
Age: 31 Years Old

Addresses:

125 15th St. NW #Apt 604
OKC, OK 73103
Property Report
405-319-9484

908 NW 12 ST
OKC, OK 73106
Property Report

2713 Sterling Ave N
OKC, OK 73062
Property Report
405-942-3504

500 W University St
Shawnee, OK 74801
Property Report

Relatives:
Stephen D Kern
Sally R Kern
Nathan Kern

---

by: mloren @ Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 17:10:17 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

He's given the parents plenty of grief just by being New Age

---

by: NancyP @ Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 18:21:48 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

OSBI: KERN LIED ABOUT DEATH THREATS!!!

OSBI reading Kern e-mails

By MICK HINTON and ANGEL RIGGS World Capitol Bureau
3/12/2008

They reportedly fall short of making actual death threats against the anti-gay lawmaker.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is sorting through nearly 7,000 e-mails that were sent to a state lawmaker after she said homosexuality is a bigger threat to the United States than terrorism.

Comments by Rep. Sally Kern, recorded several weeks ago but placed on the Internet site YouTube only late last week, have caused a national outcry, resulting in more than 500,000 hits on the Web site.

A fellow lawmaker contacted the OSBI on Monday and suggested that agents go through the e-mails, some of which might be threatening, OSBI spokeswoman Jessica Brown said.

Kern said Monday that she had not received death threats. On Tuesday, she said, "It's changed," but she did not elaborate.

Source http://www.tulsaworld.com/news...

---

by: Storm @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 11:03:41 AM CDT

Newspaper editorials

Pam, wanted to let you and your readers know that both of OK's major daily newspapers have published editorials decrying Kern's comments and crusade against gays and lesbians.

Tulsa World
http://demookie.com/forum/topi...

Daily Oklahoman
http://demookie.com/forum/topi...

---

by: peacearena @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 11:24:09 AM CDT

Sally's Husband a KKK leader?

Just a sampling of quotes you can find when you put "steve kern" +kkk into Google:

We know that Steve Kern, Sally's husband is a former KKK leader. We know that KKK leaders are generally the ones in power, who can speak forcibly and stir up the henchmen into burning crosses, lynching blacks, and hanging gays. Kern incites violence. The backwoods types listen and get riled and upset and start believing the homosexuals have invaded their schools and teaching their two year olds how to take one for the team.

Source: http://www.topix.com/forum/new...

I've been to Olivet where her husband Steve pastors. Talk about a decaying place. Just a bunch of old people lugging oxygen tanks around. Sally got most her campaign funds from those poor old people. It was either that or Hell.

They should've chose Hell rather than lay down with Steve and Sally. Maybe the news people should discuss Steve's KKK membership in Boise Idaho."

Source:
http://bluegrassfool.blogspot....

---

by: Storm @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 11:26:11 AM CDT

NO PUNISHMENT FOR KERN!!!!

http://newsok.com/article/3215...

By Michael McNutt
Capitol Bureau
Rep. Sally Kern will not be punished by the House of Representatives for remarks she made away from the state Capitol in which she called homosexuality the biggest threat to America, House Speaker Chris Benge said Tuesday.

Benge, R-Tulsa, said he has no plans to censure Kern, R-Oklahoma City, for telling a Republican gathering earlier this year that homosexuals are "the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam."

Three organizations have called on Benge to censure Kern or have her apologize for the comments. One possibility would be for a House committee to investigate to determine if punishment was merited.

"We're not putting a committee together, no," Benge said.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, meanwhile, is looking into alleged death threats made through e-mail messages and telephone calls sent to Kern.

The unusually large volume of e-mails sent to Kern and other House members nearly clogged the chamber's e-mail system and server that representatives use to track bills, a spokeswoman said.

The flood of e-mails is the result of an audio clip of Kern's comments being posted on the Internet site YouTube.

The House Internet system did not crash, largely because technical staff made the YouTube site inaccessible on the House servers, said Jennifer Mock, Benge's spokeswoman. The YouTube site was chosen because most representatives were trying to listen to Kern's comments and because its streaming audio and video require a lot of computer space, she said. The site still was unavailable Tuesday.

Three OSBI agents are looking into the possibility that some of the e-mails and telephone calls made to Kern are threatening, agency spokeswoman Jessica Brown said.

Several criminal analysts are going through thousands of e-mails "that are growing by the moment," Brown said.

"Many of them are 'I hope you die,'" Brown said. "That's not a threat to bodily harm. What is a threat to bodily harm is 'I'm going to kill you.'"

Kern said Tuesday night the correspondence has been a strain.

"I'm not going to live my life in fear," she said. "The bottom line is I know in my heart I know what I said and it's being taken out of context."

Her comments totaled less than three minutes on the YouTube site. Kern said she spoke for at least 30 minutes, mostly on how backers are funding candidates who support gay rights.

---

by: Storm @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 11:37:05 AM CDT

my letter

here's my letter to Kern, fwiw

Dear Representative Kern,

Please allow me to introduce myself and tell you a little bit about me.  I am a 45 year old science writer.  I was raised in Michigan by my mom, who was a nurse, and dad, who was a Baptist minister.  I have an older brother who is married and has a son, now in college.  I am married to Marie, who was raised in The Netherlands by her stay-at-home mom and chemist dad.  She has a brother and sister, each of whom are married.  Between them they have 6 children.  So together, we have 7 wonderful nieces and nephews.

Although our family is scattered over 3 continents, we are quite close.  We are all especially looking forward to our family gatherings this summer, when we will celebrate my dad's 75th birthday, his sister's (my aunt's) 80th birthday, and my mother-in-law's 85th birthday!  As you can see, Rep. Kern, I am blessed with being part of a loving, caring family.  They don't care that Marie and I are gay, they only care that we have each found someone wonderful to spend our lives with.

At first, I couldn't understand why a Christian woman such as yourself would judge and speak so cruelly about people she has never even met.  And then it occurred to me that perhaps, to your knowledge, you have never met any gay people who have been allowed to live normal lives.  So here I have introduced myself and my family to you so that you can begin to know that we're just like everyone else.  We don't spend our days plotting to destroy the nation.  We spend them working and visiting friends and family.

With sincere wishes that you will in future judge no one but yourself,
Lurleen

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

Lurleen on Twitter.

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by: Lurleen @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 12:27:41 PM CDT

your letter

 Lurleen, that's a beautiful letter. And it's so absolutely true, who else but a serious bigot wouldn't believe it?

 You work, look after and love your family. Nuff said!

---

by: Regan DuCasse @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 20:26:10 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Sally Kern: Bestiality OK as long as it is heterosexual...

At one point, he played parts of an interview he did with Rep. Sally Kern, the Oklahoma legislator who is behind the push to ban tolerance promoting books from the state's libraries. Here's a piece from that interview (MP3 file):

   Signorille: Now what about Snow White? That teaches sexuality doesn't it. She kisses the prince and at one point the prince isn't even human; he's a frog.

   Rep. Kern: The difference there is that that is still in the heterosexual lifestyle.

See what I mean? Signorille doesn't understand that it's the homosexuality rather than the bestiality we're against. Thank God Rep. Kern set him straight.

That's why I'm asking you, again, to publish a book on this subject. America must be made to understand our love for animals so that they, too, may begin to cherish this important traditional Heartland value as much as we do.

Source: http://patriotboy.blogspot.com/

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by: Storm @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 12:31:12 PM CDT

the ideal resolution

would be for a popular, well-respected, closeted resident of her district to simultaneously come out and enter the race against Sally -- ideally with her own gay son standing next to him/her.  She is a politician -- attack her politically and defeat her -- or at least force Oklahoma City to reveal its homophobia and then double the strength of the boycott.

A further step, get members -- ideally straight ones -- of the OKC business community with him, arguing that her comments have hurt the city's reputation.

(A reminder, one reason why Atlanta was one of the first Southern cities to accept racial integration was that the business community took the lead and argued that the city couldn't afford the disgrace that a Birmingham had been.)

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by: Prup aka Jim Benton @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 22:34:40 PM CDT

November Campaign

Yep a 11/08 campaign for district 84 in the state house would be sheer delight to participate in.  I do hope our brothers and sisters in OK are having fun with it ... and getting to serious work on it.

The fight for full LGBT Equality is NOT over.  Be strong and be ready to really fight!  And read my blog in your spare time! http://ravenhurst-ravenhurst.b...

---

by: Dagon @ Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 00:38:39 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

An Oklahoman's Views............

Thank you so very much for helping us cope, through your many responses, to the many Sally Kerns in our midst.  Your ideas of contacting our other elected State officials and also contacting Oklahoma businesses to let them know of your concerns and disgust with Kern's messages of hate and marginalization are excellent tools as those of us who reside here also attempt to let Sally and her supporters know the effects her demagoguery have upon our State and our Nation.  In addition, letting our major businesses know the negative impact upon their bottom line is a sure-fire way to their hearts!  I have either emailed every one of her major contributors from her 2004 and 2006 campaigns, or if they had no email contacts I snail mailed them, requesting that they withhold their support for her in the future.  I am attaching a couple of examples, and also the lists of the top 20 contributors to her past 2 campaigns if you would also like to contact them to express your feelings as well.  Please keep up the good work until we can claim victory in ridding our State and our Nation of one more outlandish bigot.

snail mail example:

Mr. Randall L. Stephenson, Jr.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

AT&T, Inc.

175 East Houston Street

San Antonio, TX 78205

Dear Mr. Stephenson:

I note that your predecessor, SBC Communications, is listed among the top 20 contributors toward the 2004 re-election campaign of Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern. I am writing to request that you withhold such support from her next campaign following her terribly bigoted and marginalizing diatribes which have been broadcast nationally and which are a huge embarrassment to all reasonably intelligent citizens. I am attaching an email I have sent to Ms. Kern, her peers in the Oklahoma House and the Governor in hope that they might mitigate at least a portion of the damage she has inflicted upon our image. Thank you for considering my request.

Best regards,

Loren G.Martin

Representative Kern, Your comments as aired on the website of Channel 6 make me very sad and disheartened. I am sad that I wasted so many years teaching medical students in this State to care about ALL of their patients, even the gay ones whom you obviously consider "trash" in our society, and even worse than terrorists or a cancer in our midst. My approach was (and is) that ALL people deserve to be treated with respect and excellent medical care, regardless of their color, creed, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, and yes, Ms. Kern, even their religious beliefs! In 29 years of teaching medical physiology to several thousand medical students in 6 states, I endeavored to try and bring out the best in all of them regardless of my own personal beliefs and ethics. You see, Ms. Kern, your hurtful comments may garner votes for you at the polls, but they destroy the very reason the rest of us work so hard to make our State and our Nation a wonderful place for all to live free of religious bigotry and judgmental statements like you obviously made in a public forum as a public servant. I also read the unfortunate news of your son's gay orientation and his subsequent banishment to avoid embarrassment to the family. I do hope that you will consider some sort of counseling and/or attending a PFLAG meeting or a similar support group rather than trying to come to grips with reality on your own as this has obviously not been successful in the past. Sincerely yours, Loren G. Martin, Ph.D. Professor emeritus of Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences

eMail example:

President Dan Ramsey
Independent Insurance Agents of Oklahoma

Dear President Ramsey,

I noted that your group was listed in the top 20 contributors to the campaign for Ms. Kern in 2004.  I am writing to ask you to discontinue any support for her in light of her recent bigoted and defamatory remarks which have been nationally broadcast to the detriment of our fine State's reputation.  Her attempts to marginalize and devalue a significant proportion of the citizens of our State and our Nation have done nothing than to help and much to hinder any thoughts toward inclusion in America.  I am taking the liberty of attaching an email I have already sent to Ms. Kern, her peers in the Oklahoma House and the Governor in hopes that they might somehow mitigate the damage she is doing to our State.

Thank you for considering my request.

Best regards,

Loren G. Martin
Big Cabin, OK

Representative Kern........

Top 20 Contributors to Sally Kern, 2004

Top 20 Contributors to Sally Kern, 2006

 

---

by: mloren @ Mon Mar 17, 2008 at 20:29:09 PM CDT

Good for you!

especially invoking your med school teaching...

---

by: NancyP @ Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 18:29:10 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Sally Kern's Donor Base for 2006 (Top 20 Donors)

 Contributor Amount % of Total Sector
REPUBLICAN SENATE VICTORY PAC $2,500 8.36% Ideology/Single Issue
OKLAHOMA INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM ASSOC $2,250 7.52% Energy & Natural Resources
CFSK 06 $1,307 4.37% Party
OKLAHOMA MEDICAL ASSOC $1,000 3.34% Health
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY $1,000 3.34% Energy & Natural Resources
OKLAHOMA ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY/EYE PAC $1,000 3.34% Health
CHICKASAW NATION $800 2.67% Other/Retiree/Civil Servants
OKLAHOMA DENTAL ASSOC/DENPAC $800 2.67% Health
SULLIVAN, NANCY K $698 2.33% Construction
JOHNSTON, J D $512 1.71% Party
TAYLOR GROUP $500 1.67% Lawyers & Lobbyists
PACIFICARE $500 1.67% Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
OKLAHOMA LAND TITLE ASSOC/OKIE TIPAC $500 1.67% Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
PRICE, E $500 1.67% Other/Retiree/Civil Servants
HUMPHREYS, J $500 1.67% Other/Retiree/Civil Servants
OKLAHOMA CONSUMER FINANCE ASSOC/C PAC $450 1.50% Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
ANOATUBBY, BILL $400 1.34% Other/Retiree/Civil Servants
CONOCOPHILLIPS $350 1.17% Energy & Natural Resources
ADVANCE OKLAHOMA TEAM WATTS $300 1.00% Party
OKLAHOMA RESTAURANT ASSOC/ORA PAC $300 1.00% General Business

---

by: mloren @ Mon Mar 17, 2008 at 21:49:00 PM CDT

Sally Kern's Donor Base for 2004 (Top 20 Donors)

 Contributor Amount % of Total Sector
KERN, SALLY $7,508 18.52% Candidate Contributions
OKLAHOMA ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY/EYE PAC $1,500 3.70% Health
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEGACY PAC $1,500 3.70% Party
OKLAHOMA EXECUTIVE PRINTING $1,131 2.79% Communications & Electronics
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY $1,000 2.47% Energy & Natural Resources
OKLAHOMA MEDICAL ASSOC $1,000 2.47% Health
OKLAHOMA AG FUND $1,000 2.47% Agriculture
OKLAHOMA FEDERATION OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN $840 2.07% Party
OKLAHOMA CONSERVATIVE PAC/OCPAC $750 1.85% Ideology/Single Issue
OKLAHOMA CITY REPUBLICAN WOMANS CLUB $700 1.73% Party
OKLAHOMA ASSOC OF REALTORS $700 1.73% Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
FRONTIER COUNTY REPUBLICAN WOMEN $500 1.23% Party
INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENTS OF OKLAHOMA $500 1.23% Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
FIRST FREEDOMS FUND PAC $500 1.23% Ideology/Single Issue
OKLAHOMA CITY FIRE FIGHTERS/IAFF $500 1.23% Labor
OKLAHOMA COUNTY REPUBLICAN WOMENS CLUB $500 1.23% Party
OKLAHOMA REPUBLICAN PARTY $500 1.23% Party
FULTON PIES $400 0.99% General Business
BODINE, CHERYL $388 0.96% General Business
SBC COMMUNICATIONS $300  

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by: mloren @ Mon Mar 17, 2008 at 21:55:24 PM CDT