Oklahoma Democrats fight for LGBT community

(Oklahoma City, OK) In recent months, the Oklahoma Republican Party has managed to monopolize the focus of the media on their demonization of the LGBT (lesbian, gay,bisexual, and transgender) community. The Oklahoma GOP has taken full advantage of the fact that religion is a protected class, while sexual identity is not.

They have spent countless hours and hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on legislation that will allow them to formally maintain for themselves the very rights and privileges they would otherwise deny to the LGBT community.

Representative Emily Virgin (D-Norman) managed to stop one piece of discriminatory legislation by proposing that if a business were to choose to discriminate against others that they should be responsible for openly communicating their intent to discriminate to all potential customers.

This move garnered widespread, even international coverage and praise for her bold attempt to shed light on the realities of today. Ultimately, HB 1371 by Rep. Chuck Strohm (R-Bixby) failed to get a floor vote after overwhelming criticism from voters and media.

Many businesses, especially in corporate America, are already adopting anti-discrimination policies to protect their LGBT workforce. Even in Oklahoma, companies like Devon Energy, Chesapeake Energy and ONEOK - companies strongly supported by Republicans, often above the rights of individual Oklahomans - already have policies in place prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Representative Jason Dunnington (D-Oklahoma City) authored HB 1345 to prohibit workplace discrimination in this manner. However, after a commitment of the committee chairman to place the bill on the House Economic Development, Commerce, and Real Estate Committee, his bill was promptly removed. Put simply, Republicans don't want their constituents to know just how they would vote on a pro-business, pro-LGBT piece of legislation such as this.

"Until the Democratic party in Oklahoma gains more seats in the legislature these issues will continue to be filed away. I truly believe that we will not see good legislation like Rep. Dunnington's passed until Democrats have reclaimed the majority. I hope to see that very soon," said Wallace Collins, Chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party. "We need more legislators like Reps. Virgin and Dunnington and fewer like Senator Joseph Silk (R-Broken Bow) and Reps. Sally Kern (R-Oklahoma City) and Chuck Strohm."

About the Oklahoma Democratic Party

The mission of the Oklahoma Democratic Party is to represent the working people of Oklahoma and the best way to do that is to elect Democrats to all areas of government. Oklahoma Democrats are progressive and sensible. We are optimistic about the future, and we are determined to see Oklahoma's traditional values upheld. More information about the Oklahoma Democratic Party can be found at www.okdemocrats.org or by calling (405) 427-3366.

The Gayly – April 7, 2015 @ 11:40am.