Tulsa World: Local gay organization denounces Kern's comments against homosexuality

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Local gay organization denounces Kern's comments against homosexuality

Justice Waidner, executive director of Oklahomans for Equality. SHERRY BROWN/Tulsa World

By SHANNON MUCHMORE, World Staff Writer
Published: 3/13/2008 4:14 PM
Last Modified: 3/14/2008 2:46 PM

Watch a video from the press conference.

Video: Listen to Sally Kern's controversial speech.

Complete coverage: Oklahoma legislator's anti-gay comments stir hostile reaction :: Kern cites support from GOP :: OSBI reading Kern e-mails :: Anti-gay remarks blasted :: Ellen calls Sally Kern :: Kern's son denies reports he is gay

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Community leaders Thursday denounced state Rep. Sally Kern's recent comments against homosexuality

and asked legislators to respond by passing hate crimes legislation that encompasses sexual orientation and gender identity.

The president of the Tulsa Chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays also called on Kern, R-Oklahoma City, to make a public apology for her statement that homosexuality is "the biggest threat that our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam."

"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 constitutents," said Justice Waidner, executive director of Oklahomans for Equality, which organized the press conference.

Kern's anti-gay comments, made in January in front of a group of Republicans and posted on the video sharing Web site YouTube on Friday have received national attention. Kern, who said she has received hundreds of phone calls and more than 7,000 e-mails, has since said the comments were taken out of context and she was speaking about individuals and not groups.

Citing recent acts of violence against gay and transgendered people, Waidner said comments such as Kern's have dangerous affects.

"Rep. Kern has repeatedly used her public office to demonize lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Oklahomans and to attempt to deny them the exact same civil liberties she now defends so passionately," Waidner said. "This is the height of hipocrisy." By SHANNON MUCHMORE, World Staff Writer

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