Oklahoma Families to Rally at State Capitol

Oklahoma Families to Rally at State Capitol and Call for Meeting With Representative Sally Kern

WHEN: Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Noon - 1pm

WHERE: The Oklahoma State Capitol 1st Floor Rotunda North Lincoln Boulevard at N.E. 23rd Street Oklahoma City

WHAT: Families, allies and loved ones of GLBT citizens from Oklahoma will gather at the State Capitol on Tuesday in response to Representative Sally Kern's recent statements calling the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community" the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism" and that GLBT people are "just destroying this nation."
Voters from across the state, including members of the Oklahoma City chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), will request to meet with Kern about her remarks. The public is encouraged to join the Oklahoma chapters of PFLAG and support calls for a meeting with Kern.

WHO: Speakers will include Rev. Loyce Newton-Edwards, president of the Oklahoma City PFLAG chapter; chapter vice president Conna Wilkinson; and attorney Richard Ogden, chair of Cimarron Alliance Foundation.

WHY: "Representative Kern's remarks undermine our nation's commitment to 'liberty and justice for all,' and do a great disservice to our families and communities," PFLAG says in a statement to be released at the rally."Every Oklahoman, and every American, deserves a public servant who believes in the dignity of all our children and who refuses to take part in divisive and counter-productive attacks on our families. Words matter, and Representative Kern's statement sent a clear message that she condones second-class citizenship for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Her remarks disrespect our GLBT loved ones, dishonor the service of nearly 10,000 lesbian and gay veterans in Oklahoma and disregard her duty to uphold our country's most noble values. Representative Kern owes her constituents an explanation, and our families an apology."