Gay rights advocates celebrate demise of anti-LGBT bills

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Gay rights advocates in Oklahoma are celebrating the demise of more than two dozen bills in the Oklahoma Legislature this year that they say unfairly discriminate against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or LGBT, community.

Freedom Oklahoma Director Troy Stevenson said Monday that all 27 bills they targeted as discriminating against the constitutional rights of LGBT people failed to advance after a key deadline passed last week.

Stevenson praised gay rights supporters who visited their lawmakers and urged them to vote against the bills. Stevenson also praised "fair-minded" legislators in both parties who opposed the measures.

Broken Bow Republican Sen. Joseph Silk sponsored two bills targeted by the group and says he expects to reintroduce both of his measures again next year.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.

The Gayly- 3/14/2016 @ 2:55 PM CST