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Stevenson: "Our community defeated the worst of the legislation"

Statewide LGBT advocacy organization in OK, Freedom Oklahoma.

Op-Ed by Troy Stevenson
Executive Director, Freedom OKlahoma

It is not often that we get to bring you truly inspirational news, but [it is] a great day!

In January we promised you that we would fight back against the slate of discriminatory anti-LGBT bills to our state. Today [March 12] was deadline day. The bills that did not pass through their originating chamber are no longer up for consideration this year. Thanks to the collective efforts of so many, I can write you tonight to say --- our community defeated the worst of the legislation. Thank to our organizational allies, especially the ACLU of Oklahoma and Oklahomans for Equality.

Most importantly – thank you to all of you who called, wrote, and visited your legislators.

As exciting as these victories are, we are not done yet! Please join us on next Tuesday – March 17 – for our second lobby day of the session, as we work to educate our Senators on the significant implications of HB 1125.
This bill is a last-ditch effort by the opposition to dig at our community. HB 1125 will create an incredibly confusing landscape for couples (gay and straight) wanting to get married.

The following bills are no longer being considered this year:

  • HB 1597 - Businesses can turn the gays away bill (Kern)
  • HB 1598 - Conversion Therapy (Kern)
  • HB 1599 - Preservation of Sovereignty and Marriage Act (Kern)
  • HB 1663 - Marriage Act of Oklahoma (Kern)
  • HB 1845 - Preservation of Marriage Act (Hardin)
  • HB 2215 - Transgender indicator on marriage licenses (Ritze)
  • SB 440 - OK Religious Freedom Restoration Act (Silk)
  • SB 478 - Protection of
  • HB 1371 - Oklahoma Religious Freedom Restoration Act (Strohm)
  • Religious Freedom in the Sanctity of Marriage Act of 2015 (Brooks)
  • SB 581 - Rental Accomodations (Dahm)
  • SB 669 - Declaration of marriage procedures for filing and recording (Dahm)
  • SB 724 - Covenant marriage (Silk)
  • SB 733 - Blood test for marriage licenses (Sykes)
  • SB 805 - Preservation of Sovereignty and Marriage Act (Brecheen)
  • SB 811 - Marriage requirements (Dahm)

Remember: together, we are bigger. Together, we are stronger. Together, we will win!

Troy Stevenson, Executive Director
Freedom Oklahoma
If possible, please consider a monthly gift of $20 - or whatever you can - to continue these efforts

Freedom Oklahoma is Oklahoma's statewide LGBT advocacy organization, and a proud member of the Equality Federation. Freedom Oklahoma is the unified organization resulting from the merger of The Equality Network, a 501 (c) (4) organization that lobbies for pro-equality legislation and public policies; and the Cimarron Alliance Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) organization that engaged in public education in support of the LGBT community.

Published - The Gayly @ 8:25pm CST 3/12/15

Politics