GOP Rep Hates Gays More Than Terrorists, Joined by Squad of Bigoted Legislators

Posted by Pam Spaulding, Pam's House Blend at 7:22 AM on March 12, 2008.

(UPDATE: Oh, the hilarity - you know what Kern is now citing as “proof” of the Homosexual Agenda? The drivel of Matt Bam Bam Barber, policy director for Concerned Women for America and The Peter! — hat tip, Alvin.)

(UPDATE 2: I’ve added contact information for the OK City Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau below the fold. These entities have much at stake since this is Sally Kern’s district. Are her views as a public official representative of the business climate that the city wishes to project? They should be on the record.)

Heaven help the LGBT citizens and allies who are in Oklahoma; there’s a lot of work to do in terms of turning the tide of ignorance and hate when an outrageous homophobe like Sally Kern receives a standing ovation in the legislature. Let all the bigots stand up and be counted, I say. Her colleagues should proudly hold a press conference to declare their support of Kern.

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 Legislature, 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.

… 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.

I love this quote from Laura Belmonte, president of the Tulsa group Oklahomans for Equality: 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.”

Let’s look at the homobigoted, fact-free, BS screed captured for all to hear once again:

And that’s the truth. Keep the truth telling coming: Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern (sallykern@okhouse.gov). There’s a petition to remove Kern going as well. How about contacting the governor — politely ask him to to take a stand against Representative Kern's hate filled remarks and publicly condemn them. Rep. Kern’s dehumanizing worldview gives license for those with similar views to harm innocent people.

State Capitol Building

2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 212

Oklahoma City, OK 73105

Telephone:(405) 521-2342

Fax:(405) 521-3353

How about Oklahoma residents filling out the governor’s “Suggestions to Improve Government” form?

And what about Sally Kern’s colleagues on the Education Committee? Do they share her views about what children should be told about their fellow citizens who may be LGBT? It would be good to politely ask what Rep. Tad Jones, the Chair of the committee, thinks of Kern’s comments. Folks could ask the same of Rep. Todd Thomsen, the Vice Chair.

Tagged as: homosexuality, homophobia, oklahoma, kern

Pam Spaulding blogs at Pam's House Blend.