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Anti-gay remarks blasted
Jerre Fine (right), a former linguist for the Air Force, speaks Thursday during a press conference criticizing recent comments by state Rep. Sally Kern. David Bernstein (left) and Jim Langdon are seated. JAMES PLUMLEE / Tulsa World
By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer
Published:
3/14/2008 1:17 AM
Last Modified: 3/14/2008 2:47 PM
Watch video of Thursday’s press conference.
www.tulsaworld.com/videos
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
::
Local gay organization denounces Kern's comments against homosexuality
::
Ellen calls Sally Kern
::
Kern's son denies reports he is gay
Vote in a poll:
Would you sign the petition to have Sally Kern removed from office?
Community leaders on Thursday denounced state Rep. Sally Kern's recent comments about homosexuality and asked legislators to respond by passing hate crimes legislation that encompasses sexual orientation and gender identity.
Nancy McDonald, 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 saying she thinks homosexuality is "the biggest threat that our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam."
Justice Waidner, executive director of Oklahomans for Equality, which organized the press conference, said, "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."
Kern's anti-gay comments, made in January in front of a group of Republicans, have received national attention since they were posted on the video-sharing Web site YouTube on March 7. Kern, who said she has received hundreds of phone calls and more than 7,000 e-mails in response, has since said the comments were taken out of context and that she was speaking about individuals and not groups.
Citing recent acts of violence against gay and transgender people, Waidner said comments such as Kern's have dangerous effects.
"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 hypocrisy."
In 2006, Kern sponsored a bill to deny public money to libraries that did not segregate books that were determined to have gay themes.
A representative of the Islamic Society of Tulsa criticized Kern's statement about Islam and said Oklahoma Muslims positively contribute to the state.
"Rep. Kern's divisive comments are counterproductive and distract our Legislature and all Oklahomans from far more important issues that this state and nation must focus on," said Sheryl Siddiqui, the society's director of community relations.
Jerre Fine, a former Air Force linguist who has studied the culture of Islam, called Kern's remarks absurd and ignorant.
Fine, who is gay, said she was particularly offended as a person who has served the country by fighting terrorism.
"We need protection not only from outside sources looking to destroy America; we need protection from within by people like Sally Kern," Fine said.
The video of Kern had been viewed more than 800,000 times on YouTube by Thursday afternoon. In it, Kern, a former teacher, says children in public schools are being indoctrinated by a "homosexual agenda" and that gay-straight alliances at schools are "ruining lives."
On Monday, Kern said Re publican caucus members gave her a standing ovation after she read to them some of the e-mails she received. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the e-mails and phone calls to assess whether they contain threats of violence.
Kern's statements have put all Oklahomans in a bad light, said Jim Langdon, board president of the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice.
"Her statement perpetuates the wrongful stereotype that Oklahoma is a backward state," he said. "Every proud Oklahoman deserves to be disgusted at her ridiculous rant."
Kern's comments also do not represent Christian thinking, said the Rev. Jim Mishler, executive director of the Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry.
"We take exception to her claiming the Christian territory for her viewpoints," he said.
Shannon Muchmore 581-8378
shannon.muchmore@tulsaworld.com
By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer
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Report Comment
Fifty Dollar Fine
, (3/14/2008 1:24:51 AM)
"Anti-gay remarks blasted"
Good.
Why is this person allowed to remain in office?
Report Comment
proud oklahoman
, (3/14/2008 1:44:14 AM)
this story has gone on long enough.
kern should resign immediately !!! And put an end to this nighmare!
Report Comment
WrongSmallSally
, (3/14/2008 1:52:35 AM)
It's Republicans like this woman who are the greatest threat to the country. Ah...Oklahoma and it's shrill conservatives.
Report Comment
concerned
, (3/14/2008 1:54:44 AM)
The citizens and leaders of Tulas are working very hard to rejuvenate our wonderful city.
Then along comes an irresponsible legislator (kern) who is destroying our
states image in one fell swoop.
Its time to clean the House and sweep kern out on her ass.
Report Comment
Frederick
, (3/14/2008 2:13:57 AM)
Perhaps it's time for a national boycott of Oklahoma.
Report Comment
mr
, bartlesville (3/14/2008 2:19:16 AM)
It's about time we get someone with some moral values ,Sally Kern doesn't have apologize to anyone,the people of Oklahoma should be very proud of her ,we need to past laws against homosexual perverted life styles and make Oklahoma even a better state to live in!!!!! Who wants to work or live with perverts ? The answer is only perverts !!
Report Comment
R.D.
, Tulsa (3/14/2008 2:39:58 AM)
All the gays in Oklahoma have paid more taxes in one year than all the churches in Oklahoma have paid since statehood. She doesn't mind getting paid by them does she? The religious right is always ready to criticize but they never foot the bill for anything. I am sick of these freeloaders. They are a much bigger threat to our country than gay people are. Our military doesn't even have the supplies they need to fight this war. Well at least the gays are doing their part. What the hell has her Baptist minister husnband's church done to help buy equipment?
NOT PAY TAXES IS WHAT IT HAS DONE!
Report Comment
don
, tahlequah (3/14/2008 5:25:53 AM)
not much can be said about this group of people without a lawsuit taking place. this is your choice to be gay. why should we have to tiptoe around you. kudos to sally kern and she should sue them for what they are saying about her. can we make you step down from being gay? gays are not the only ones who pay taxes. it's your choice not ours how you live your life.
Report Comment
Deborah
, Tulsa, Ok (3/14/2008 6:35:03 AM)
Don in tahlequah, no one choose to be gay! Who in their right mind would choose to be homosexual knowing full well they will be discriminated against? You need to educate yourself.
Report Comment
Dover
, (3/14/2008 6:44:58 AM)
If people want to be gay wierdos then so be it. But If someone wants to say something negative and slanderous about it then so be it. Freedom of speech is in our constitution. Freedom of gay wierdo's is not. We do need to get morals in this country back. This is just wrong. It is even in the Bible. I dont want a couple of gays around me it is offensive to me! It is just sicko stuff. Hold your ground Sally, you should be a noted hero
Report Comment
wmcol
, Tulsa (3/14/2008 6:55:35 AM)
Deborah, are you saying gays have no control over their behaviour and therefore should be excused from it, unlike heterosexuals?
Report Comment
mike
, tulsa (3/14/2008 6:56:26 AM)
dover, its wacko idiots like you and "Sally" that worship your precious "bible book" that need to be removed from the public and private forum period. Go back to your trailer.........geeze rednecks and homophobes they need each other!
Report Comment
RC
, jenks (3/14/2008 6:58:03 AM)
Come on people. this is so simple look at the animals even they know its wrong, how many Bulls do you see courting each other in the pasture, zero or how many male Lions do you see lying down together in the Serengeti, Zero they have females around them, what would happen to our population if we all were Homosexual. We would be extinct. We were not created or designed that way.
Report Comment
What Happened?
, (3/14/2008 7:05:20 AM)
What happened to free speech? You see Christians getting slammed all the time and no one cares. But voice your opinion about gays and gird your loins!!!!
Report Comment
Tim Roberts
, Tulsa (3/14/2008 7:15:23 AM)
what would Jesus do?
To tell the thousand of children who have lost a parent to terrorism, the tens of thousands of parents who have lost a child to terrorism and the war on terrorism - that their loss was less significant than how 2 people fall in love is a horrible horrible act.
She should be ashamed of this politically opportunistic talk, and when she is burning in hell, I hope she realizes that you in no way did she act the way Jesus would.
Report Comment
JOHN KLINE
, TULSA (3/14/2008 7:15:41 AM)
I think Kern was just trying to make a name for herself. That she did--unfortunately it cannot be used in public.
Report Comment
john miller
, (3/14/2008 7:18:19 AM)
This lady should be given a "hugh" raise, and a "big" promotion. Stand by your guns Sally Kern, don't give in to these perverts.
Report Comment
Lawrence
, Tulsa (3/14/2008 7:25:32 AM)
Sexual orientation is not a choice.
Report Comment
Lawrence
, Tulsa (3/14/2008 7:27:29 AM)
This isn't a free speech issue. Voicing disagreement with someone is not violating their freedom of speech.
Report Comment
JWB
, Laguna Woods, CA (3/14/2008 7:35:17 AM)
Was an "Anti-gay remarks supported" article ever considered? Will one be published later?
Report Comment
Dover
, (3/14/2008 7:36:22 AM)
14. 3/14/2008 6:56:26 AM, mike, tulsa
You must be one of those gay weirdos. It is a sick disease and people use they cant help it as an excuse for not being able to be in a successful relationship with the opposite sex, thats all!
Report Comment
To JWB
, Tulsa (3/14/2008 7:41:06 AM)
25. 3/14/2008 7:35:17 AM, JWB, Laguna Woods, CA
Was an "Anti-gay remarks supported" article ever considered? Will one be published later?
No, JWB, I'm sure TW sees no need to report both sides of the story.
Report Comment
E T
, tulsa (3/14/2008 7:44:37 AM)
People choose to be gay. Just ask Ann Heche. It is a sick immoral lifestyle that these people choose to flaunt in front of everyone. Sally Kern has a right to say what she said under the first amendment. What is bad is these gays think if you don't agree with them and their immoral life style, they want to kill you, like it is ok to kill you. there is more hate spewing from gay people than there is from anyone else. the gays think you have to run around in front of everyone showing everyone that you are gay. they are causing the bashing by the way they act in front of people. Lesbians dressing like men look ridiculous just like men that dress like women look ridiculous. there is nothing about the gay lifestyle that is normal.
Report Comment
Chad
, Broken Arrow (3/14/2008 7:47:50 AM)
GO SALLY! I SUPPORT YOU 100%
We need more strong willed lawmakers like Sally Kern. I applaud her for saying what needs to be said....and sticking with it.
Report Comment
J
, Tulsa (3/14/2008 7:51:03 AM)
#7 consider this anyone who attends a church of any kind and is employed pays income tax. Secondly I choose to believe the teachings in the Bible and I hardly think of myself as a freeloader. I have served my country, I hold down a full time job and pay taxes, I am a volunteer firefighter, I coach youth sports, and I finacially support a number of charities. Bashing the religious community makes you just like those that critize you.
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