PrideCenterNews_v2no4(1998-04).pdf
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- PrideCenterNews_v2no4(1998-04).pdf
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Property of the Ce,iter
House Passes Bills Prohibiting Gays
Two recent bills have passed the Oklahoma House which
would make it illegal for "known homosexuals" to teach in public schools or to adopt children. Earlier this month, Bill Graves
added an amendment to a bill that was drafted to prevent
known sexual offenders from teaching in public schools, or doing business with public schools in any way (SB 1394). The
amendment basically changed the wording to say that sexual
offenders or known homosexuals would not be allowed to
teach in public schools. The title had been stripped from this bill,
which had originally passed the State Senate without the
amendment, so the bill had to go back to committee before it
could go to the governor. General consensus is that this bill will
never make it back out of that committee.
Bill Graves, who added the amendment, stated on television
in response to the action that he didn't expect it to come back
out of committee, but that he felt it was necessary because of the
homosexuals and pedophiles who are preying on today's children. It's outrageous that we are still being grouped with pedophiles! The bill passed unanimously by those representatives
present mostly because no one wanted to be on record as having
voted against a bill to keep sexual offenders out of public
schools. This is just another example of election year politics, but
oile thai has c::1huge hr.pact 011 uur day-to day lives.
The second bill (5B1261), which was considered within a
week of the first, was a bill which stated that sexual offenders
would not be allowed to obtain
custody of juveniles under
Oklahoma law. Rep. Tim Pope
added the amendment this
time,
to
also
include
"homosexuals."
The
vote
this
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time was 97-2 (with 2 absten.I
1 tions). However, the title was
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intact on this bill, so now it
goes back to the State Senate.
Apparently, assurances have
been made that the bill will go
back to conference, as Jerry
Smith, state senator from Tulsa
and author of the bill, supposedly doesn't want the amendment included. It now looks
(Continued on page 2) House Bill
Pride Picnic Plans In Full Swing
This year's Pride Picnic is aiready shaping up tu be
the event of the year in Tulsa. Rick Martin, chair of the
Pride Picnic committee has been working diligently for
a couple of months on the event and has a lot of plans
going. One of the biggest changes this year is the move
of the picnic from'Owen Park to Veterans Park at 18th
and Boulder (behind the Mapco building). We've simply
outgrown Owen Park, according to the Tulsa City Parks
and Recreation Department. That's great! Let's make this
year even bigger! The picnic will once again be from
Noon to 5:00 PM, with set-up for booths beginning at
11:00 AM. The second Pride March will begin at 11:30
AM at an as yet undetermined location and will proceed
to Veterans Park. Look for info on where you need to be
for the march to show your pride.
Booth information and pricing has already gone out
to many local and statewide businesses and organizations. If you haven't received anything but would like to
have a booth at this year's picnic, contact us at 743-4297
and we'll send you a letter and application. Just fill it
out, attach payment for the type of booth you want to
have, and send it in. We'IJ get a confirmation letter out
to you as soon as we can.
As has been the case in the past, we are planning to
provide beverages at the picnic. Food is usually your
own responsibility, but there will likely be some food
concessions this year as well. We'IJ get a flyer and/ or a
newsletter out with information on the kind of foods
available before June 20th.
Once again, music will also be provided by D. J. Michael Rainwater's" Party Express/the Edge" and we're
planning some special entertainment to take place
throughout the day. We're lining up some great prizes
to give away that day, culminating with the grand prize
just before 5:00 PM; but you have to be present to win!
So plan on spending the whole day with us. You won't
regret it! We will begin selling chances on the prizes immediately for $1.00 each
The design for this year's picnic t-shirt was voted on
(Continued on page 2)Pride Picnic
the Pride Center News, page 2
Pride Picnic (Continued from page 1)
at the April 14 general membership meeting at the Pride
Center and is now on display at the Pride Center. The
first batch of t-shirts is being ordered and should be
available by May 1. T-shirts will be available at the
Pride Store in the Pride Center; (Store Hours: 6:00-9:00
PM Sunday-Friday, Noon to 9:00 PM Saturday). We'll
also make them available through local organizations
and businesses as much as possible and, of course, at the
picnic, but the Pride Store is your best bet. Get yours
early and wear it often. Show your pride! You'll also get
one complimentary chance at all of the great prizes on
the day of the picnic with your t-shirt purchase.
We are still looking for some good volunteers to help
out with some of the planning and also to help out on
the day of the picnic. We have a variety of tasks that
need to be managed that day which include: helping out
at the Pride Center /TOHR booth, selling chances for the
prizes, selling t-shirts, setting up for the picnic and
cleaning up after the picnic. The Pride Picnic is our
chance to show the rest of Tulsa and the state who we
really are and that we are PROUD! This can be the best
event we've ever had, but we need your help! You don't
have to commit your whole day. Just an hour or two
from everyone who receives this newsletter would give
us enough people to run the entire picnic. Call the Pride
Center at 743-4297 and tell us what you can do to help
out.
Pride Center Needs
•Plumber
to snake out
PRIDE!
drains, check plumbing in
Neal-Padgett Hall, install
utility sink.
•Electrician to check wiring
in the entrance stairway
and one office and install
l'rtllE!
outside light.
•Handyman
for various
projects; need to build an enclosed frame for a painting.
•Professional carpet cleaner to clean carpets in the Pride
Center.
•Domestic goddess to clean the Pride Center on a regular basis.
•Someone to remove a refrigerator from the Pride Center. It does not cool properly.
•People to paint rooms within the Pride Center.
•Volunteers to act as Center Sitters and work at the
Pride Store.
House Bill (Continued from page 1)
like the bill will be killed.
Once again,
our
rights
as gay /lesbian/bisexual/
transgendered people are being compromised. Several local and
national groups including Cimarron Alliance and Human
Rights Campaign (HRC) are watching this issue closely. In fact,
HRC fought the ban on gay school teachers many years ago and
it was found unconstitutional. However, it is up to each one of
us to call our state representative and state senator to let him/
her know that this is not an acceptable type of legislation in a
country where we are all supposed to have equal rights. The
phone number for the state house is 1-800-522-8502; call and ask
for your representative. You can also reach Loyd Benson,
Speaker of the House in this way. The capitol switchboard local
phone number is 581-2011. This should allow you to get
through to your state senator. You can also reach Stratton Taylor (Claremore), President Pro-Tem of the Senate at 405-5215565.
If you do not know your state representative and/ or senator,
you can find out by calling the election board at 596-5780. Give
them your address and they can tell you who your representatives are.
New TOHR Board Members
As was stated in the March
newsletter, Tom Neal has resigned from the board of directors for TOHR. Jonathan Stanley, 2nd Vice-President, has also
____
._ recently resigned from the
board.
At the April 14, 1998, meeting, three new board members
were presented for membership approval.
Leslie is an accountant with internal auditing experience and
will serve as Treasurer, filling the position vacated by Tom
Neal. Leslie will take on the responsibility of keeping the organization's financial records current.
Misti has a great deal of experience working in the political
arena and will serve as an at-large board member. Misti will
concentrate primarily on political and advocacy issues and will
be a great asset to TOHR as we seek to continue our history in
that area.
Ken will serve as newsletter editor and as an at-large board
member. You probably noticed a change in the newsletter format last month and this month. Well, Ken is responsible for that.
Ken brings a great deal of desktop publishing experience as well
as experience from serving on other boards in the past.
Greg is moving from his position as an at-large board member to the position of 2nd Vice-President, filling the position vacated by Jonatl1an Stanley. He will continue to serve as volunteer coordinator and in the many other capacities he currently
serves, but he will now also be a member of the executive committee.
This leaves one position open on the board of directors. A
new board member to fill this position will be named at the May
general membership meeting. Anyone having an interest in
serving on the board of directors should contact Steve Hom at
743-4297. Plan to attend the next TOHR Membership Meeting
on May 12, and meet all the board members.
the Pride Center News, page 3
\ May General Membership
}
Meeting
The May 1998 general membership meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 1998, at 7:30 PM. The agenda for this meeting may
include presentation of proposed amendments to the by-laws for
TOHR, presentation of new board member(s) and updates on the
Pride Picnic, Pride Store, Pride Center, etc.
The special program for the May membership meeting will be
presented by P-PLAG. Members of the local P-FLAG chapter will
detail recent activities of their chapter. It's time to build a working
relationship with the local P-FLAG chapter. Aller all, they are our
parents, family and friends. Who better to stand beside us in our
fight for equality.
And remember. .. we have a social hour starting at 6:30 PM before
the meeting. Why don't you make a point to be there for the next
social hour and meeting? See you then!
Rape Survivor Support Seminar
Began Apr 19
Are You Aware? Survival Seminar is a support group for gays and
lesbians who are victims of rape or
molestation. This group will provide
an informal .gathering for survivors
to discuss and share experiences.
The group will be meeting on Sundays from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM in
the Renfro Room at the Pride Center, 1307 E 38th Street. Call
Vickie at 745-6952 for more information.
lendar
Thu
26
27
6:30 Rape Survival
Group
3
4
4:00 Council Oak
Mens Chorale Mtg.
6:30 Rape Survival
Group
10
11
6:30 Rape Survival
Group
17
6:30 Rape Survival
Group
18
28
29
6:00 Coming Out
Grp
7:30 Rainbow Business Guild Mtg.
6:00 DVIS Support
Grp
7:00AA
5
6
6:00 Coming Out
Grp
7:30 TOHR Board
Mtg.
6:00 DVIS Support
Grp
7:00 AA
12
13
6:00 Coming Out
Grp
6:30 TOHR Social
Hour
7:00 Prime Timers
Board Mtg.
7:30 TOHR Membership Mtg.
6:00 DVIS Support
Grp
7:00AA
19
20
6:00 Coming Out
Grp
7:00 Prime Timers
Membership Meeting
7:00AA
30
Fri
Sat
1
2
7:00 Bingo Night w/
5:00 T.U.L.S.A.
5:30AA
Familyof Faith
8:00 Safe Haven
7
8
9
4-8:00 HIV Testing/
at the Pride Center
5:30 AA
14
15
16
5:30 AA
21
22
23
7-11:00 Community
Movie Night
4-8:00 HIV Testing/
at the Pride Center
5:30 AA
12-6:00 Concessions Drag Car
Wash benefiting the
Pride Picnic!
the Pride Center News, page 4
Concessions Car Wash
Benefits Picnic
Testing
Concessions has tentatively
planned a fundraiser for the
Pride Picnic on Saturday, May
23rd, from noon to 6:00 PM.
The event will be a drag car
wash similar to the one held
last fall benefiting
H.O.P.E. and the Pride Center.
That's Memorial Day weekend so go by and get your car washed on your way out
of town! Location to be announced.
J
Tulsa
&
Oklahomans
for
Human
ComeByForYourCopy!
•The Gayly
•TulsaFamilyNews
•TriangleNews
•CommunityNews
Voice
Offeredthroughcooperation
with H.O.P.E.
Rights
the Pride Center
1307 E. 38 St.
Tulsa, OK 74105
Herland Sister Resourses
2312 NW39th
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
834-8378
Free& anonymoustesting
is available
at the Pride
Center.
AlternatingSaturdays
4:00- 8:00
Tulsa
Oklahomans
Human
Rights
for