HerlandVoice-2008-01-v26-no01_ocr.pdf
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- HerlandVoice-2008-01-v26-no01_ocr.pdf
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Time for True Hate Crimes Legislation 1n
inside .·.
Oklahoma
January Calender of ·
Events
'Batchelder Receives
Award
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_Retrea~ ~elp · ~eeded
Space for Rent
OljrSponsors
Steven Domer, a 62-year-old OKC gay man, disappeared from the NW 39th and Penn area
on Oct. 26, 2007 and was later found murdered. The Oklahoma County District Attorney,
Larry Prater, has charged an alleged white supremacist with the murder. Prater has
called it a hate crime because there was no other motivation (e.g., robbery or revenge)
for the crime than simply that the murderer wanted to kill a gay person . Allegedly, this
murder was committed to earn a badge or patch in the white supremacist group to which
the accused belonged. The DA has said that he cannot prosecute this as a hate crime
because of the weak hate crimes laws in Oklahoma . Under the current law, a hate crime
is a misdemeanor in Oklahoma and sexual ori entation is not covered.
The first week of December, community activists and faith leaders gathered in a press
conference, a candlelight vigil, and an interfaith worship service to remember Steven
Domer and draw attention to the issue of violence against lgbt people . Harry Knox, Director of Religion and Faith for the Human Rights Campaign, Washington DC, was the keynote speaker at the interfaith service. It was felt by many that we must continue the
cause, and that we should work together in a concentrated effort to bring meaningful
hate crimes legislation to Oklahoma.
(continued on page 3)
Reschedule of SuZ Ogden for January
Herland Winter Coffeehouse
Due to the inclement weather, the December Herland
Winter Coffeehouse had to be cancelled . We have rescheduled the evening of musical inspiration with SuZ
Ogden for 7 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2007. And we
promise to have heat!
In her celebration of Life, SuZ travels the world sharing
her gift as a vivacious speaker/singer/songwriter whose
spirit weaves through her message and her music. Her
experience with blues, folk, country, gospel, and honkytonk music has evolved to create a sound she calls
"Angeltonk" . Come experience it for yourself! This event
is free, but all donations are greatly appreciated.
The Herland Voice is a publication of Herland Sister Resources, 2312 NW 39th, OKC, OK 73112. Our bookstore and lending library is open
Saturdays from 1-5 pm. Contact us at (405) 521-9696 or herland@herlandsisters.org. Visit us on the web atwww.herlandsisters.org.
January Events
Herland New Year's Potluck
luck 1 pm
Ring ,in the new year and eat some good food, too, on Saturday,
January 1, at 1 pm . We'll have black-eyed peas, cornbread, cabbage, and lots of other goodies. Come by for a visit and start a
brand new year with good old friends.
·Saturday January 5 Her/and
Herland Scrabble Day
Scrabble Day 2 pm
Herland Scrabble Day starts off the new year on Saturday, January
5, at 2 pm. Put your brain cells through a good workout and enjoy
some good company at the same time. Players of all levels welcome. And, to practice your vocabulary ahead of time, visit
www.freerice.com .
•Tuesday January 1 Her/and New
Year's Day Open House 8: Pot-
•Tuesday Jan 8 PFLAG OKC
Church of the Open Arms 7 pm
•Thursday Jan 10 PFLAG Norman
St Stephen's Church 7 pm
·Saturday January 12 Her/and
Supper Club at Adobe Grill, 5120
N Shartel, 5:30 pm, followed by
Bowling at 66 Bowl, 3810 NW 39,
7:30 pm
·Monday Jan 14 OGLPC Meeting
Neighborhood Alliance 7:30 pm
·Saturday January 19 Herland
Winter Coffeehouse 7 pm
·Sunday January 20 Her/and
Board Meeting 4 pm everyone
welcome (eat at Gushers after-
Herland Supper Club
Join us on Saturday, January 12, at 5:30 pm for the Herland Supper Club at Adobe Grill, 5120 N. Shartel, where you will elevate
yourself to a new level of taste for Mexican food. Explore your
senses while experiencing the finest in Mexican gourmet. Simplicity combined with attention to detail turns the most basic ingredients into flavors not forgotten. After Supper Club, at 7:30 pm, we
will head to 66 Bowl, 3810 NW 39th for a few games of bowling.
Bring your funky bowling shoes or rent them there and show us
your best bowling technique!
Herland Book Sale & Swap
As we told you last month, we'd really like to move some of these
used books off our shelves and into your hands. Don't miss our
huge sale and swap of used books on Saturday, January 26, starting at 1 pm. Bring in a few that you have already read and swap
each of them for two of ours. Or, buy ours at 50 cents a piece .
This is a deal like no other and it only lasts for one day.
ward)
Retreat Help Needed!
·Saturday January 26 Her/and
Book Sale 8: Swap 1 to 5 pm
We've been looking at our retreat schedule for next year and real'ized we need some help. We are debating whether to hold one or
two retreats and either way we need volunteers to help run them
this year. If you can volunteer to be an assistant camp director,
the cook for one or two mornings, or anything
else, please email us at herland@herlandsisters.org and let us know.
Space Available for Rent
The Herland Bookstore is available to rent for
small meetings or events. Inquire by email at
herland@herlandsisters.org or call Ginger at 5500040.
Enhanced Hate Crimes Legislation Efforts (continued from page 1)
Representative Al McAffrey is now working with the district attorney's office to write an amendment to Oklahoma's
hate crimes law that would strengthen it by making a hate crime a felony and including gender and sexual orientation
in the law. Attorney General Drew Edmondson has also voiced support for such a move in the past. Strengthening our
hate crimes law would allow a DA to file charges for a hate crime in addition to other crimes such as assault and battery or murder. That way if the jury did not convict on one charge, there would still be a chance to convict them on
the hate crime.
Leaders of lgbt and other human rights organizations from around the state gathered for a meeting on Sunday, December 16, to discuss the new hate crimes legislation and how to support that initiative. The meeting was a time for
community leaders to hear from Rep. McAffrey on the legislative effort and then to strategize on how to proceed. A
larger, open community forum will be held in January or February to recruit a broad base of support and involvement.
Noting that Oklahoma has a "tolerance for intolerance" participants at the Dec. 16th meeting feel it is important to
bring in other groups that would be allied with this anti-violence effort. Community education will be an important
part of the effort. (The Daily Oklahoman has already denounced the efforts to enhance Oklahoma's hate crimes law,
saying it would value some victims more than others.) Some of the key points for education include:
•
•
•
The motive of a hate crime is to instill fear in a group
or class of people and for this reason, a higher or additional penalty is warranted.
Hate crime laws do not apply to freedom of speech or
expression which is guaranteed by the Constitution and
also specifically protected by the Matthew Sheppard
Act .
Hate crimes based on sexual orientation are the third
most reported category to the FBI, after race and re ligion.
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Vicki Escajeda, BA, CM (405) 202-7051
P.O. Box 12247, Oklahoma City, OK 73157-2247-(405) 637-8000
Batchelder Receives Okla.
Human Rights Award
Dr. Dawn Singleton, Ph .D.
The annual Oklahoma Human Rights Commission Awards
were presented on Friday, December 7th, 2007 at a public ceremony in the State House of Representatives Chambers at the State Capitol. The awards were presented to
Peace House Director Nathaniel Batchelder, University of
Oklahoma law school Dean Andrew Coats, and former US
Ambassador Edward Perkins.
Licensed Professional Counselor
Licensed Marital & Family Therapist
SOOS N. Pennsylvania #204 OKC, OK
40S-232-3296
FREE HOUR CONSULTATION
The award recognizes individuals' human rights contributions to Oklahoma citizens or their national or international human rights accomplishments.
Batchelder is credited with being the founder of the
Central Oklahoma Human Rights Alliance as well as
the editor of the Oklahoma Peace Strategy newspaper.
An Oklahoma City resident , Batchelder has worked on
bringing attention to a variety of human rights concerns in Oklahoma.
bath, body, spa
http:/ ljordanreQ.com,l 10522
website ofthe month
www.womensedge.org
Ginny Poindexter
Realtor
Direct
Office
Fax
E-ma il
405. 919.8443
405.948.7500
405.948.7502
ginnypoindexter@kw.com
KELLER \VILLI AMS
5629 N. Classen Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73118 .
Each office is ind e pendently owned and operate d .
Sandy Ingraham, J.D. , M.S.W.
Attorney-at-Law
Ingraham & Associates, PLLC
Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, Probate, Adoption, Contracts
Route 2, Box 369-B
McLoud, OK 74851
Tel. (405) 964-2072
lngraham@mcloudteleco.com
Herland Sister Resources
2312 NW 39th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
Rissho Kosei Kai
Dharma Center
of
Oklahoma
"In the home and at the workplace,
when our opinion differs from another person's
and we insist upon our own way of thinking
and want to make the other person accept it,
we can end up in a contest of wills ...
We must put our minds together
on the broader perspective
and not lose sight of our goal."
-Nichiko Niwano
2745 NW 40 1h Street
Oklahoma City , Oklahoma 73112
Phone: (405) 943-5030
Fax: (405) 943-5303
http://www.rkok-dharmacenter.org
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Oklahoma City, OK
Permit No . 861
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