August 2008 Newsletter

Vote early!  For federal elections, you may vote at your County's Election Board on Friday, Saturday (morning), or Monday just before the Tuesday election day.  No reason is required.  For other absentee voting information, contact your Election Board.

Protest the outrageous anti-gay remarks of State Rep. Sally Kern - and the refusal of the Speaker of the House to denounce her!  Oklahoma is in the national spotlight, but now for an ugly side.  Check the latest updates from the Cimarron Alliance, PFLAG OKC, and Oklahomans for Equality.

LGBT Leadership Summit, sponsored by Cimarron Alliance Foundation:  Info

Hate Crimes:

State Representative Al McAffrey (D-Oklahoma City) has introduced legislation to increase penalties for crimes where LGBT people were sought out as victims.  The bill is up for consideration by the 2008 State Legislature.   The Cimarron Alliance has ongoing information about community events on their website.  Latest news:  Did not get reported out of committee.

From O.G.L.P.C.'s Pink Papers:

Congratulations to two openly gay / lesbian delegates chosen for the Democratic National Convention:  Al McAffrey (Oklahoma City) and Karen Parsons (Yukon)!

Irene Tyson Equality Award winner Bob Lemon:  "Gay people aren't broke and don't need fixing."  (OKC Pride, June 2007)

Congratulations to Oklahoma County Commissioner Jim Roth on his appointment to Corporation Commissioner (statewide office)!  For the 2008 elections, he is a candidate to keep the position - now the only openly gay person in statewide elected office.

O.G.L.P.C. meets the second Monday of each month, 7:00 p.m., at the Neighborhood Alliance office, 1236 NW 36th St (corner of Classen Blvd), Oklahoma City.  You are welcome!

Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus is a non-partisan information and education group chiefly focused on the human and civil rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) persons and the political issues connected to those rights.

What we do:

• Serve as a conduit of information between the political and public opinion leaders and the LGBT communities through press releases, monthly meetings, informative website, and a confidential mailing list of over 4000
• Survey political candidates prior to elections then score and distribute their responses to the LGBT community through direct mailings, press releases, and other media outlets
• Created a speakers bureau which provides free speakers on LGBT issues for groups as well as gay and straight media requests
• Lobby at the state level on issues that pertain to the LGBT community
• Continue to push both local and statewide legislation that would include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes under the hate crimes statutes and ordinances
• Continue to push for funding of an effective Human Rights Commission on both statewide and local levels
• Work with other human and civil rights groups throughout Oklahoma toward our common goal of Equal Rights for all Oklahomans

What we do not do:

• We are not a political action committee and we do not make direct contributions to political candidates.
• We are not an HIV/AIDS service group.
• We do not share or sell our mailing or membership lists.

How do we raise funds?

• Our primary source of funding is from membership dues and contributions.

How do we spend our funds?

• We are a volunteer organization and our funds are spent on the mailing, website, and meeting costs needed to update our members on pertinent political issues.

When and where do we meet?

• O.G.L.P.C. meets the second Monday of each month at 1236 NW 36th St, Oklahoma City (Neighborhood Alliance), at 7:00 p.m.