In small advances, in incremental improvements, LGBT equality is gaining ground in Oklahoma
James Nimmo
May 24, 2007
The Oklahoma Democratic Party recently concluded its 2007 state-wide Convention in Oklahoma City. After electing new state officers, the delegates passed a set of resolutions that advance by a generation the attitudes and perspectives of what it means to be a LGBT taxpaying citizen in Oklahoma.
These resolutions are remarkable for Oklahoma in that they were passed at the Convention by overwhelming approval of the delegates. As Michael Christopher points out in his reprise of the 2007 Convention, the previous 2005 Convention was unable to pass any form of progressive resolutions, in fact none at all, deadlocked as it was in successful parliamentary procedures to squelch our nascent progressive movement
As with any large assembly of people there were still some dissemblers who would have preferred an outlook that reflects the 1930s wherein our gay minority was kept under lock-and-key in the closet of shame. The people of the time capsule were quickly put in their place and the resolutions packet was passed just as it was presented from the Resolutions Committee with not a single word changed.
Much credit must be given to former state Senator Cal Hobson, this year's Resolutions Committee chair who kept the committee on track in the deliberations and gave a rousing introduction to the Convention as to what it means to be a Democrat in the 21st century which is to demonstrate fairness and concern for others, repulsing the greed and corruption of the current GOP party.
Our Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats was very involved in the standing committees and on the floor, lobbying and buttonholing for votes, as our co-chair, Steve VanHook tells in his reply to Mr. Christoper's description.
In small advances, in incremental improvements, LGBT equality is gaining ground in Oklahoma.
The resolutions can be viewed at: http://okstonewall.org/forums/index.php?topic=1902.0
Jim Nimmo, Resolutions Committee member
GLBT Planks in an Oklahoma State
Democratic Party Platform
Written May 21st, 2007
By Michael Christopher
Tulsa County
There's some great news that I just can't wait to share. The Oklahoma Democratic Party has finally found some courage on GLBT issues. Not one, but THREE resolutions regarding GLBT rights were passed at the party convention this past weekend. They are:
"Oklahoma Democrats celebrate diversity among people and recognize the inherent dignity and value of each person and believe that no person should live in fear or threat of violence because of any characteristic, affiliation, or sexual orientation."
"We affirm the role of government at all levels in providing education and protection of the basic civil and human rights of every person regardless of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, gender, gender identity, sexual nature or orientation, religion, creed, disability, employment, civil service or political affiliation, any of which may be actual or perceived."
"We support legislation that would allow establishment of civil unions permitting the legal designation of next of kin and affording civil rights accordingly regardless of gender."
Shouts of Support
No, they don't go far enough, and resolutions are mostly symbolic in effect, but this represents a huge step for Oklahoma Democrats. 600 delegates from most of the state's 77 counties read these resolutions and only one of the items raised a concern -- the civil unions resolution. However, when we voted on whether to strike that resolution from the document, you should have heard the resounding shouts of "Nay!"
To understand the significance of this event, you have to know a little about the processes of the party. As just one delegate, I had very little to do with getting these resolutions adopted -- it was accomplished by many people working mostly independently all over Oklahoma. The work started in local voting precincts all over the state, where most party resolutions begin. They are passed to the county conventions where they are approved or rejected, then to the congressional district conventions again to be voted on, and finally on to the state convention. At each step, a Resolutions Committee combines and prunes a long "wish list" of resolutions, many of them very similar, into a Resolutions Committee Report which is then presented to the delegates for adoption or rejection.
Wheels Turning
How do you get GLBT delegates elected from conservative Tulsa County? For that, we have Gary Allison to thank. He and his organization, JustProgress (http://justprogress.org/), have been working to revive the progressive movement within the Democratic party, and to empower new, progressive voices. At the Tulsa County convention, Gary arranged for an amendment to the rues which changed the way delegates to the state convention were elected. It's called Proportional Representation, and it shatters the absolute power long enjoyed by certain old-guard groups within the party. My partner, Marty, and I simply stood up in the middle of the room and announced that we were the GLBT group (called a "subunit" in party jargon), and invited others to join us. Other interest groups did the same. Each group would elect its own state delegates. The number we could elect depended on how many of us were standing up together. We had enough for two GLBTA (for "and allied") state delegates, and we elected Melanie Hamilton and me. Following in Rick Martin's footsteps last year as the first-ever GLBTA Subunit State Delegate, we had doubled our delegation this time. Proportional Representation rocks!
Off to the Races
Leading up to the convention, the Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats circulated a press release reprimanding 2nd District Congressman Dan Boren -- a Democrat -- for his vote against the Matthew Sheppard Hate Crimes Act, which would have added crimes related to sexual orientation and gender identity to the Federal hate crimes law. Barbara Santee circulated information about Boren to her long email list. I sent an open letter to Dan Boren informing him that I would circulate a petition at the convention calling for his censure, and put it out to my list. Mike Workman organized a state party candidates forum and arranged for me to ask our party's leaders where they stand on GLBT rights. Mike had coordinated with Vernon Jones to make a video of the event, and Vernon put it out to his Oklahoma Gay News Network (http://www.okgnn.net/Censure_Boren.html). One of the candidates for state party chairman, Ivan Holmes, answered that what needed to happen to bring GLBT issues into the Oklahoma party platform would be to move the consideration of resolutions forward on the agenda to prevent hanky panky (more on that below).
Things were starting to come together.
Dirty Tricks
Until this year, sexual orientation and gender identity rights resolutions that had made it through county conventions had not been able to make it all the way through the process to be voted in by the state convention. In previous years, the Resolutions Committee Report had been placed at the end of the two-day convention schedule. That made it easy for those who swing a lot of power in the party to get all or some of the resolutions rejected by using a "quorum call" tactic. To make a long story short, the party found its balls this year, moving the resolutions to the front of the schedule when virtually all delegates were present, eliminating the possibility of a quorum call. This meant that the party would not be able to sweep the resolutions under the rug or completely off the table as in previous conventions.
Guts and Passion
The Resolutions Committee was chaired by former state senator Cal Hobson. For those who don't know, Senator Hobson has long been a voice for human rights at the state capitol -- often a lone voice. When he introduced the resolutions, he made an impassioned plea for delegates to consider them in the light of the highest core principle of the party: fairness. I wondered where he was going with this; it became clear when he drew our attention to the Human and Civil Rights section of the resolutions. He told the delegates that there would be some resolutions here that would make some of them uncomfortable. He asked us to remember that we were judging the civil rights of the person sitting right next to us. He was talking about those GLBT resolutions, and he had made his point.
Before the meeting convened on Saturday, I had spent many hours lobbying delegates, hoping to sensitize them to our issues and to put a face on GLBT. I was asking them to sign a petition to censure Dan Boren for his vote against GLBT hate crimes legislation. I was surprised at how many delegates jumped at the chance to punish Boren, and at how passionate they were for GLBT rights. I had indicated to party leaders that I would not see a need to bring this petition to the floor if there were other GLBT resolutions offered. When the Resolutions Committee released its document, and when we were convinced that the resolutions would reach a vote, I withdrew the censure petition.
Yes, politics is a nasty, Democrats included. But I can tell you this: After speaking to hundreds of Democratic delegates, after feeling the warmth of their passion for human rights, and after watching them break away from business-as-usual to reach out and embrace some of the toughest and touchiest principles they have ever been asked to voice, I know which party will do the work I want done. I know which party wants me.
And we must keep holding its feet to the fire.
There are simply too many people who deserve to be thanked, and too many clever moves to be memorialized, for me to even make a start. And others could surely have told the story better than I have. But, one day when our rights are finally secured, it will be worthwhile to remember Saturday, May 19 as the day when one political party in a belligerently anti-gay red state made its support for GLBT equality official.
Michael Christopher
Tulsa County GLBTA Subunit Delegate
RESPONSE
By Steve VanHook
Oklahoma City
Co-Chair, Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats and
Board Member of National Stonewall Democrats
Excellent report, Michael! Thank you.
Because I was also on the state convention Arrangements Committee, and thinking the election of four affirmative action delegates to the state Central Committee would consume the afternoon, I left the convention and returned to the hotel after new party officers were elected. I still had a lot to finalize for the Saturday night banquet.
Man, was I delighted to learn later that Jeff Marsel (of CD5) had succeeded with a motion to suspend the agenda and move directly to Resolutions. Even happier to learn all of our human rights resolutions had passed resoundingly!
I can't let this Resolutions report go without mentioning that FOUR members of Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats served on the Resolutions Committee that so eloquently embraced human rights: my hard working co-chair, Karen Parsons; our treasurer, James Nimmo; Mrs. Carol Ruth, an unsuccessful but still tireless candidate for the state House last year, from Yukon; and last but certainly not least, Senator Cal Hobson.
All in all, about 30 delegates are current members of Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats. Our secretary, Victor Gorin, who writes and works for Tulsa-based Ozark Star magazine, served on the Credentials Committee, along with Stonewall ally and Jim Roth's campaign manager, Brent Wilcox. In short, LGBT people and many close allies were visible and effective everywhere you looked at this year's convention.
I also want to recognize and applaud the courageous and bold and extremely productive efforts of another Oklahoma Stonewall Member and National Stonewall Board Member. Linda Gray Murphy of OKC not only ran a very visible and nearly successful campaign for Treasurer of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, but she also lead the highly effective and successful Keith Smith Progressive Caucus in Oklahoma County and at the State Convention. She is a tireless lobbyist and activist on behalf of LGBT and other progressive issues at our State Capitol and on the national level.
We must not overlook the highly symbolic and perfectly timed appointment last week by Governor Brad Henry of our openly gay County Commissioner Jim Roth to the state Corporation Commission. Jim was ushered into the Convention and introduced by Lt. Governor Jari Askins, and he was welcomed with a tremendous standing ovation. The message to homophobes was loud and clear: you aren't welcome in today's Oklahoma Democratic Party! Nor should we overlook the powerful acceptance speech by openly gay state Representative Al McAffrey Saturday night when gay activist Keith Smith was officially inducted into the ODP Hall of Fame. Our Governor, Lt. Governor, State Treasurer and other state officials present joined us in another standing ovation.
Michael, I want you and Melanie Hamilton to know that your and your Eastern Oklahoma friends' roles in circulating petitions to censure Dan Boren, even though withdrawn, did not go unnoticed and was a tremendous help to Stonewall in putting pressure on our Congressman who claims to be a Democrat but always votes like a Republican. It is important to note that while there was some vocal homophobic delegates from the always-conservative Second Congressional District, their homophobes were far fewer in number this year and could see in no uncertain terms that their views were an unmistakable and very unpopular minority. Peer pressure on the homophobes was tremendous throughout this convention and your GLBT brothers and sisters here in the OKC area welcome and deeply appreciate your efforts, your high visibility, and your courage! My convention responsibilities kept me from having time to meet and thank everyone personally, but I hope you all felt welcomed and appreciated.
Through tireless efforts of the late Keith Smith, often supported in many ways by the likes of Bob Lemon, Senator Cal Hobson and former Governor David Walters, among countless others, and dedicated OSD members from both Tulsa and OKC, Stonewall has and continues work to build strong, mutually supportive coalitions with women's rights groups, Native Americans, environmentalists, pro-choice activists, and many others. We have strong supporters within organized Labor who are speaking out to stop the tide of homophobia that had reared its ugly head in recent years---and our coalitions with Labor are growing stronger all the time. At the request of friends in Dallas who have succeeded in creating the nation's first GLBT chapter of LULAC, Oklahoma Stonewall has reached out to the Latin community in recent months with tentative steps toward finding common ground there. The strength in all these coalitions was tremendously evident in positive results and attitudes this past weekend at the Democratic state convention. We are also seeking mutual assistance ideas and projects with the budding chapters of Log Cabin Republicans cropping up here and in the Tulsa area.
Oklahoma Stonewall has about 50 dues-paying, supportive members who live in the Tulsa area, and nearly 150 in and around OKC. We desperately need GLBTA Democrats who will step forward and take responsibility for maintaining our Tulsa chapter. We need dedicated people who will volunteer to serve as officers and organizers and activists, who will help pull in new members from other groups and take on supportive, coalition-building roles within the Democratic Party in the eastern parts of our still-growing, still-learning state. Our National Stonewall office in Washington stands ready to help with chapter-building "toolkits" and other resources, along with myself and other people here in OKC standing ready to help in any way we can.
I invite anyone reading this who is interested in helping strengthen our Stonewall chapter in Tulsa, or to create new chapters in other parts of Oklahoma to email me at this address or phone me at 405-922-7450. You can join Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats, pay your dues, and catch up on LGBT current events by visiting our website: www.okstonewall.org.
I know that by now it must be hard to believe, but when I started writing this "thank you" response to Michael's convention report, it was not my intention to so shamelessly promote Stonewall. I've tried to emphasize that LGBT successes this past weekend in OKC were not ours alone, but that success was generated through cooperation and unity with many individuals and many groups striving for the advancement of human rights throughout Oklahoma. I applaud everyone's heroic efforts during and leading up to this past Democratic weekend. We're still evolving and growing, but Democrats truly ARE the big tent Party of inclusiveness, and I would be remiss not to call attention to Stonewall's role, hopefully without hogging the spotlight too much. We would be humbled and honored to welcome everyone on Michael's email list into our Stonewall family.
Thank you and Solidarity to ALL,
Steve VanHook, OKC
Co-Chair, Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats and
Board Member of National Stonewall Democrats
www.okstonewall.org
These resolutions are remarkable for Oklahoma in that they were passed at the Convention by overwhelming approval of the delegates. As Michael Christopher points out in his reprise of the 2007 Convention, the previous 2005 Convention was unable to pass any form of progressive resolutions, in fact none at all, deadlocked as it was in successful parliamentary procedures to squelch our nascent progressive movement
As with any large assembly of people there were still some dissemblers who would have preferred an outlook that reflects the 1930s wherein our gay minority was kept under lock-and-key in the closet of shame. The people of the time capsule were quickly put in their place and the resolutions packet was passed just as it was presented from the Resolutions Committee with not a single word changed.
Much credit must be given to former state Senator Cal Hobson, this year's Resolutions Committee chair who kept the committee on track in the deliberations and gave a rousing introduction to the Convention as to what it means to be a Democrat in the 21st century which is to demonstrate fairness and concern for others, repulsing the greed and corruption of the current GOP party.
Our Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats was very involved in the standing committees and on the floor, lobbying and buttonholing for votes, as our co-chair, Steve VanHook tells in his reply to Mr. Christoper's description.
In small advances, in incremental improvements, LGBT equality is gaining ground in Oklahoma.
The resolutions can be viewed at: http://okstonewall.org/forums/index.php?topic=1902.0
Jim Nimmo, Resolutions Committee member
GLBT Planks in an Oklahoma State
Democratic Party Platform
Written May 21st, 2007
By Michael Christopher
Tulsa County
There's some great news that I just can't wait to share. The Oklahoma Democratic Party has finally found some courage on GLBT issues. Not one, but THREE resolutions regarding GLBT rights were passed at the party convention this past weekend. They are:
"Oklahoma Democrats celebrate diversity among people and recognize the inherent dignity and value of each person and believe that no person should live in fear or threat of violence because of any characteristic, affiliation, or sexual orientation."
"We affirm the role of government at all levels in providing education and protection of the basic civil and human rights of every person regardless of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, gender, gender identity, sexual nature or orientation, religion, creed, disability, employment, civil service or political affiliation, any of which may be actual or perceived."
"We support legislation that would allow establishment of civil unions permitting the legal designation of next of kin and affording civil rights accordingly regardless of gender."
Shouts of Support
No, they don't go far enough, and resolutions are mostly symbolic in effect, but this represents a huge step for Oklahoma Democrats. 600 delegates from most of the state's 77 counties read these resolutions and only one of the items raised a concern -- the civil unions resolution. However, when we voted on whether to strike that resolution from the document, you should have heard the resounding shouts of "Nay!"
To understand the significance of this event, you have to know a little about the processes of the party. As just one delegate, I had very little to do with getting these resolutions adopted -- it was accomplished by many people working mostly independently all over Oklahoma. The work started in local voting precincts all over the state, where most party resolutions begin. They are passed to the county conventions where they are approved or rejected, then to the congressional district conventions again to be voted on, and finally on to the state convention. At each step, a Resolutions Committee combines and prunes a long "wish list" of resolutions, many of them very similar, into a Resolutions Committee Report which is then presented to the delegates for adoption or rejection.
Wheels Turning
How do you get GLBT delegates elected from conservative Tulsa County? For that, we have Gary Allison to thank. He and his organization, JustProgress (http://justprogress.org/), have been working to revive the progressive movement within the Democratic party, and to empower new, progressive voices. At the Tulsa County convention, Gary arranged for an amendment to the rues which changed the way delegates to the state convention were elected. It's called Proportional Representation, and it shatters the absolute power long enjoyed by certain old-guard groups within the party. My partner, Marty, and I simply stood up in the middle of the room and announced that we were the GLBT group (called a "subunit" in party jargon), and invited others to join us. Other interest groups did the same. Each group would elect its own state delegates. The number we could elect depended on how many of us were standing up together. We had enough for two GLBTA (for "and allied") state delegates, and we elected Melanie Hamilton and me. Following in Rick Martin's footsteps last year as the first-ever GLBTA Subunit State Delegate, we had doubled our delegation this time. Proportional Representation rocks!
Off to the Races
Leading up to the convention, the Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats circulated a press release reprimanding 2nd District Congressman Dan Boren -- a Democrat -- for his vote against the Matthew Sheppard Hate Crimes Act, which would have added crimes related to sexual orientation and gender identity to the Federal hate crimes law. Barbara Santee circulated information about Boren to her long email list. I sent an open letter to Dan Boren informing him that I would circulate a petition at the convention calling for his censure, and put it out to my list. Mike Workman organized a state party candidates forum and arranged for me to ask our party's leaders where they stand on GLBT rights. Mike had coordinated with Vernon Jones to make a video of the event, and Vernon put it out to his Oklahoma Gay News Network (http://www.okgnn.net/Censure_Boren.html). One of the candidates for state party chairman, Ivan Holmes, answered that what needed to happen to bring GLBT issues into the Oklahoma party platform would be to move the consideration of resolutions forward on the agenda to prevent hanky panky (more on that below).
Things were starting to come together.
Dirty Tricks
Until this year, sexual orientation and gender identity rights resolutions that had made it through county conventions had not been able to make it all the way through the process to be voted in by the state convention. In previous years, the Resolutions Committee Report had been placed at the end of the two-day convention schedule. That made it easy for those who swing a lot of power in the party to get all or some of the resolutions rejected by using a "quorum call" tactic. To make a long story short, the party found its balls this year, moving the resolutions to the front of the schedule when virtually all delegates were present, eliminating the possibility of a quorum call. This meant that the party would not be able to sweep the resolutions under the rug or completely off the table as in previous conventions.
Guts and Passion
The Resolutions Committee was chaired by former state senator Cal Hobson. For those who don't know, Senator Hobson has long been a voice for human rights at the state capitol -- often a lone voice. When he introduced the resolutions, he made an impassioned plea for delegates to consider them in the light of the highest core principle of the party: fairness. I wondered where he was going with this; it became clear when he drew our attention to the Human and Civil Rights section of the resolutions. He told the delegates that there would be some resolutions here that would make some of them uncomfortable. He asked us to remember that we were judging the civil rights of the person sitting right next to us. He was talking about those GLBT resolutions, and he had made his point.
Before the meeting convened on Saturday, I had spent many hours lobbying delegates, hoping to sensitize them to our issues and to put a face on GLBT. I was asking them to sign a petition to censure Dan Boren for his vote against GLBT hate crimes legislation. I was surprised at how many delegates jumped at the chance to punish Boren, and at how passionate they were for GLBT rights. I had indicated to party leaders that I would not see a need to bring this petition to the floor if there were other GLBT resolutions offered. When the Resolutions Committee released its document, and when we were convinced that the resolutions would reach a vote, I withdrew the censure petition.
Yes, politics is a nasty, Democrats included. But I can tell you this: After speaking to hundreds of Democratic delegates, after feeling the warmth of their passion for human rights, and after watching them break away from business-as-usual to reach out and embrace some of the toughest and touchiest principles they have ever been asked to voice, I know which party will do the work I want done. I know which party wants me.
And we must keep holding its feet to the fire.
There are simply too many people who deserve to be thanked, and too many clever moves to be memorialized, for me to even make a start. And others could surely have told the story better than I have. But, one day when our rights are finally secured, it will be worthwhile to remember Saturday, May 19 as the day when one political party in a belligerently anti-gay red state made its support for GLBT equality official.
Michael Christopher
Tulsa County GLBTA Subunit Delegate
RESPONSE
By Steve VanHook
Oklahoma City
Co-Chair, Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats and
Board Member of National Stonewall Democrats
Excellent report, Michael! Thank you.
Because I was also on the state convention Arrangements Committee, and thinking the election of four affirmative action delegates to the state Central Committee would consume the afternoon, I left the convention and returned to the hotel after new party officers were elected. I still had a lot to finalize for the Saturday night banquet.
Man, was I delighted to learn later that Jeff Marsel (of CD5) had succeeded with a motion to suspend the agenda and move directly to Resolutions. Even happier to learn all of our human rights resolutions had passed resoundingly!
I can't let this Resolutions report go without mentioning that FOUR members of Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats served on the Resolutions Committee that so eloquently embraced human rights: my hard working co-chair, Karen Parsons; our treasurer, James Nimmo; Mrs. Carol Ruth, an unsuccessful but still tireless candidate for the state House last year, from Yukon; and last but certainly not least, Senator Cal Hobson.
All in all, about 30 delegates are current members of Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats. Our secretary, Victor Gorin, who writes and works for Tulsa-based Ozark Star magazine, served on the Credentials Committee, along with Stonewall ally and Jim Roth's campaign manager, Brent Wilcox. In short, LGBT people and many close allies were visible and effective everywhere you looked at this year's convention.
I also want to recognize and applaud the courageous and bold and extremely productive efforts of another Oklahoma Stonewall Member and National Stonewall Board Member. Linda Gray Murphy of OKC not only ran a very visible and nearly successful campaign for Treasurer of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, but she also lead the highly effective and successful Keith Smith Progressive Caucus in Oklahoma County and at the State Convention. She is a tireless lobbyist and activist on behalf of LGBT and other progressive issues at our State Capitol and on the national level.
We must not overlook the highly symbolic and perfectly timed appointment last week by Governor Brad Henry of our openly gay County Commissioner Jim Roth to the state Corporation Commission. Jim was ushered into the Convention and introduced by Lt. Governor Jari Askins, and he was welcomed with a tremendous standing ovation. The message to homophobes was loud and clear: you aren't welcome in today's Oklahoma Democratic Party! Nor should we overlook the powerful acceptance speech by openly gay state Representative Al McAffrey Saturday night when gay activist Keith Smith was officially inducted into the ODP Hall of Fame. Our Governor, Lt. Governor, State Treasurer and other state officials present joined us in another standing ovation.
Michael, I want you and Melanie Hamilton to know that your and your Eastern Oklahoma friends' roles in circulating petitions to censure Dan Boren, even though withdrawn, did not go unnoticed and was a tremendous help to Stonewall in putting pressure on our Congressman who claims to be a Democrat but always votes like a Republican. It is important to note that while there was some vocal homophobic delegates from the always-conservative Second Congressional District, their homophobes were far fewer in number this year and could see in no uncertain terms that their views were an unmistakable and very unpopular minority. Peer pressure on the homophobes was tremendous throughout this convention and your GLBT brothers and sisters here in the OKC area welcome and deeply appreciate your efforts, your high visibility, and your courage! My convention responsibilities kept me from having time to meet and thank everyone personally, but I hope you all felt welcomed and appreciated.
Through tireless efforts of the late Keith Smith, often supported in many ways by the likes of Bob Lemon, Senator Cal Hobson and former Governor David Walters, among countless others, and dedicated OSD members from both Tulsa and OKC, Stonewall has and continues work to build strong, mutually supportive coalitions with women's rights groups, Native Americans, environmentalists, pro-choice activists, and many others. We have strong supporters within organized Labor who are speaking out to stop the tide of homophobia that had reared its ugly head in recent years---and our coalitions with Labor are growing stronger all the time. At the request of friends in Dallas who have succeeded in creating the nation's first GLBT chapter of LULAC, Oklahoma Stonewall has reached out to the Latin community in recent months with tentative steps toward finding common ground there. The strength in all these coalitions was tremendously evident in positive results and attitudes this past weekend at the Democratic state convention. We are also seeking mutual assistance ideas and projects with the budding chapters of Log Cabin Republicans cropping up here and in the Tulsa area.
Oklahoma Stonewall has about 50 dues-paying, supportive members who live in the Tulsa area, and nearly 150 in and around OKC. We desperately need GLBTA Democrats who will step forward and take responsibility for maintaining our Tulsa chapter. We need dedicated people who will volunteer to serve as officers and organizers and activists, who will help pull in new members from other groups and take on supportive, coalition-building roles within the Democratic Party in the eastern parts of our still-growing, still-learning state. Our National Stonewall office in Washington stands ready to help with chapter-building "toolkits" and other resources, along with myself and other people here in OKC standing ready to help in any way we can.
I invite anyone reading this who is interested in helping strengthen our Stonewall chapter in Tulsa, or to create new chapters in other parts of Oklahoma to email me at this address or phone me at 405-922-7450. You can join Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats, pay your dues, and catch up on LGBT current events by visiting our website: www.okstonewall.org.
I know that by now it must be hard to believe, but when I started writing this "thank you" response to Michael's convention report, it was not my intention to so shamelessly promote Stonewall. I've tried to emphasize that LGBT successes this past weekend in OKC were not ours alone, but that success was generated through cooperation and unity with many individuals and many groups striving for the advancement of human rights throughout Oklahoma. I applaud everyone's heroic efforts during and leading up to this past Democratic weekend. We're still evolving and growing, but Democrats truly ARE the big tent Party of inclusiveness, and I would be remiss not to call attention to Stonewall's role, hopefully without hogging the spotlight too much. We would be humbled and honored to welcome everyone on Michael's email list into our Stonewall family.
Thank you and Solidarity to ALL,
Steve VanHook, OKC
Co-Chair, Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats and
Board Member of National Stonewall Democrats
www.okstonewall.org
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