BACKLASH

Rep. Sally Kern: She’s received more than 5,000 e-mails, most of them critical.

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Video: Listen to Sally Kern's controversial speech.

Complete coverage: Oklahoma legislator's anti-gay comments stir hostile reaction :: OSBI reading Kern e-mails :: Local gay organization denounces Kern's comments against homosexuality :: Anti-gay remarks blasted :: Kern's son denies reports he is gay

Vote in a poll: Would you sign the petition to have Sally Kern removed from office?

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Under fire for calling homosexuality a greater threat than terrorism, the lawmaker receives a standing ovation.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A state lawmaker who declared that homosexuality is a greater threat to the United States than terrorism said Monday that she received a standing ovation from

her fellow Republican legislators Monday.

Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, said she has been barraged with more than 5,000 e-mails since she made national headlines over the weekend. Most of the communications were critical, and several contained language that Kern said she has never heard before.

The lawmaker related some of the e-mails to Republican caucus members in a closed meeting Monday. She later said the group gave her a standing ovation.

Rep. Al McAffrey, the only openly gay member of the state Legisla ture, said he resents Kern's assertion that homosexuality is worse than terrorism.

"Gays are law-abiding; they pay taxes. Some have children," he said, noting that he is a father and grandfather.

Kern said she has made these comments about four times to various Republican groups and that apparently someone secretly recorded her comments at a meeting in January.

An audio presentation of her comments first appeared on a Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund Web site; then on YouTube. The YouTube file had received nearly 400,000 hits by Monday evening.

Kern said many of those who sent her electronic messages would deny her right to free speech.

"To put this simply: As a Christian I believe homosexuality is not moral," she said. "Obviously, you have the right as an American to choose that lifestyle, but I also have the right to express my views, and my fellow Oklahomans have the right to debate these issues."

A former teacher, Kern asserted that the government wants to get young children into school at a very early age so it can indoctrinate them.

Kern said that at age 2, 3, 4 or 5, "little girls want to play with little girls, little boys with boys, because their hormones haven't kicked in just yet."

But Kern said teaching about homosexuality at this stage "is a very deceptive and deceitful way to influence children" that homosexuality is acceptable behavior.

Laura Belmonte, president of the Tulsa group Oklahomans for Equality, said 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."

"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.

Justice Waidner, executive director of Oklahomans for Equality, said in a press release that "OkEq firmly supports Rep. Kern's constitutional right to express her views, but vociferously objects to the actions she takes to prevent LGBT Oklahomans from attaining justice and 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," she said.

The group called upon the rest of the Legislature to condemn Kern's comments and to pass a state hate crimes law that includes sexual orientation and gender identity.

Mick Hinton (405) 528-2465
mick.hinton@tulsaworld.com