RELATED: United Church of Christ Responds To Intolerance By Oklahoma State Representatives

CONTINUING COVERAGE

Religious & Civil Rights Leaders Demand Apology
from Anti-Gay Okla Legislators

February 13, 2009

By Wayne Fuller

During a news conference today, February 13, 2009, religious and civil rights leaders gathered inside the Oklahoma State Capitol to demand that the twenty house members, who voted against the inclusion of a prayer and an introductory statement given by an openly gay minister apologize for their intolerance. 

Tradition has seen anytime a representative asks that a prayer given by the Chaplain of the Day be entered into the House Journal the other lawmakers do not challenge such. However, when Rev. Scott Jones of the United Church of Christ (UCC) Cathedral of Hope in Oklahoma City, OK, mentioned his gay partner Michael Cich in prefacing the prayer Wednesday at the Capitol a controversy grew that saw Rep. John Wright object to the proposal. In addition, 17 lawmakers exited the chambers before the required vote, which saw 19 other representatives, all Republicans, join with Wright.

It is believed many of the 17 exiting left so they would not have to vote on the measure.

Wright’s action failed when a roll call conducted by House Speaker Chris Benge (R-Tulsa) was held and 64 state representatives, including Benge, approved the inclusion of Rev. Jones remarks into the official record.  

Such gatherings dealing with discriminatory acts against LGBTs by elected officials have become a common occurance, as the likes of Rep. Sally Kern, former Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart, District Judge Bill Graves, and others wage a religious holy war against their fellow Oklahomans. Concerns are being raised that the continued efforts by anti-gay figures closely aligned with the Christian Identity hate group Reclaim Oklahoma and the paranoia-fueled anti-government organization the John Birch Society (JBS) are willful attempts to rouse violence against gays and lesbians in the state. 

Eight of the 20 legislators voting against Rev. Jones' prayer have been identified as members of the JBS or Reclaim Oklahoma. Those repesentatives are: John Wright, Sally Kern, Charles Key, Mike Ritze, Mike Reynolds, Gus Blackwell, Randy Terrill, and Pat Ownby. Gossip Boy has also identified four others in that group that may be tied into the rest, but are still putting them through the vetting process.  

Kern, Key and Ritze were all prominent figures at the recent 'Clouds Over America' conference sponsored by Paul Blair's Reclaim Oklahoma and heavily participated in by JBS members. 
 

Since the prayer controversy a number of individuals, churches, and groups have come out in defense of Rev. Jones and to protest his treatment by elected officials in Oklahoma. The Cimarron Alliance Foundation issued a statement showing distain for the lawmakers, who voted no to the prayer.   

At today’s press conference, which was sponsored by the Justice and Witness Commission of the Kansas/Oklahoma Conference of the UCC, Rev. Loyce Newton-Edwards of the Church of Open Arms in OKC, urged House Speaker Benge to issue a formal apology on behalf of the governing body he heads.

Newton-Edwards said, "It would be wonderful if the speaker (of the House) would issue an apology. What happened in the House was just outrageous and ridiculous."

State Rep. Al McAffrey (D-OKC), who sponsored Jones as the Chaplain of the Day, has challenged the nay-voters, while claiming there was nothing at all controversial about the reverend's words.  

As of Friday evening no lawmaker has offered an apology as requested by Rev. Jones’ supporters.