Kern draws transgender rival

OKLAHOMA CITY — A controversiallawmaker known for her comments against homosexuality likely will face the state's first known openly transgender candidate in this fall's general election.

Oklahoma City attorney Brittany Novotny, a Democrat, filed Tuesday to run for the seat held by Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City.

Novotny, 30, said the campaign is not about her gender identity.

"For six years, we've had someone who has not represented her district, has been ineffective on problems, and is bad for business," she said.

Novotny said Kern is pushing her personal agenda instead of focusing on issues that are important to House District 84, and because of that, the state and Kern's Oklahoma City district have suffered.

"She focuses on things that aren't critical issues to the district, like education," Novotny said, adding that that leaves many constituents feeling disconnected.

In 2008, Kern made national headlines when she said that homosexuality is a greater threat to the United States than terrorism.

In a 2009 ceremony at the state Capitol, she sponsored a signing of a morality proclamation that declared that the country's economic decline was a result of a decline in moral values.

Kern, 63, said she does not plan to mention Novotny's gender identity in the campaign.

"There is so much we disagree on policywise that that is enough for us to debate on," she said.

Novotny said she wants people to understand that she is a heterosexual female who was raised as a male. She legally and surgically transitioned into a female three years ago.

Kern said Novotny's attacks on her about not paying enough attention to education are campaign rhetoric.

"I sit on the education committee, and I have helped pass many bills that have helped schools," she said.

"She is just an outsider looking in."

Novotny said she sent a letter to Kern last month asking her to debate policy and campaign issues.

Kern said she would be willing to debate Novotny only once — during an annual community forum in northwest Oklahoma City this fall.

"I feel that is a neutral place to talk about the issues and that we can have many people come hear about topics they want us to talk about," she said.

Kern said the top issues in the campaign will be keeping taxes low while bringing more jobs to the state.

Ricky Maranon 581-6475
ricky.maranon@tulsaworld.com


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Kern draws transgender rival

But both say the campaign will be about policy, not gender identity.

OKLAHOMA CITY — A controversiallawmaker known for her comments against homosexuality likely will face the state's first known openly transgender candidate in this fall's general election.

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