Oklahoma’s LGBTQ organizations to host a panel in Guthrie

by Victoria Backle
Staff Writer

An advocacy training event sponsored by some of Oklahoma’s biggest LGBTQ organizations is going to be held in Guthrie, Oklahoma on January 28. PFLAG, Freedom Oklahoma and Oklahomans for Equality have partnered together to sponsor a panel for those interested in equality for LGBTQ citizens.

“This event’s genesis happened post-election, when I just couldn’t quit thinking and worrying about how we are going to keep in the fight against injustice,” said Kay Holladay, Regional Director of PFLAG National. “I believe now more than ever before, we must join forces with other folks who have this shared commitment.”

Panelists for the event will include Toby Jenkins, Executive Director of Oklahomans for Equality, Troy Stevenson, Executive Director of Freedom Oklahoma, Cindy Cason with MOM (Mothers of Many) and Dustin Green. Each panelist will have ten minutes to speak and the panel will be followed by a question and answer segment.

The goal of the event is to provide information to members and allies of Oklahoma’s LGBTQ community, informing them of upcoming legislation that may affect the community, and to provide effective advocacy strategies (as well as ineffective strategies) to influence Oklahoma legislators.

Panelists will also be discussing the mechanics of legislation in Oklahoma – the process in which laws change within the state and how it can impact minorities. Getting the community and its allies involved is the number one way to stop hateful legislation in its tracks.

The speakers will also be focused on teaching how to “tell our story” and the strategies that can be applied to any advocacy work. The strategies include discussing policies at the local level (city council, school boards), state level (legislature) and even the national level (Congress). An important process going forward in 2017, when all voices are needing to be heard in an uncertain time.

The upcoming years may be turbulent ones, especially in red states such as Oklahoma, and these organizations are doing everything they can to provide resources and support for LGBTQ Oklahomans. They chose a central location within the state of Oklahoma so that anyone who is interested will have convenient access to the event. The training event will be open to the public and questions are encouraged.

The event will be held January 28 at Highland Hall, 1102 E. Warner Ave. in Guthrie, from 1-4 p.m. It is free of charge but seating is limited. Seating reservations can be made through Freedom Oklahoma’s website www.freedomoklahoma.org.

Copyright The Gayly - 1/11/2017 @ 12:19 p.m. CST. All rights reserved.