A Celebration of Pride
Decades beyond raiding gay bars and clubs along NW 39th Street, Oklahoma City’s Pride celebration now spills across the city and expands each year.
Cover Stories
Liberty libretto
The phrase “no justice, no peace” has become such a commonplace call-and-response chant in Oklahoma City protest marches over the past few years that it has become as shorthanded as “Boomer Sooner” in some circles. Though not a new saying, it carries the baggage of polarized present-day discourse due to its renewed popularization alongside the…
Love transcends
OKC PrideFest is hoping for clear skies its second year after inclement weather derailed their parade plans on its first run. The June 25 parade route hasn’t yet been announced but will still pass city hall and ends this year at the intersection of Oklahoma City Boulevard and Thunder Drive. It begins at 10 a.m.…
Pride is solidarity
[editor’s note: In the more than half a century since the Stonewall riots in New York City, Pride has become increasingly visible and inclusive. 2SLGBTQIA+ people have spent decades forging a path for subsequent generations to be able to openly live authentic lives. What follows is a profile of one such young woman.] Ramona Waylon…
Growing up
Oklahoma’s legislative session saw nearly a hundred proposed cannabis bills, but after winding their way through the process, only a dozen were ultimately signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt. A two-year moratorium and tiered licensing stirred some angst within the industry with others making fewer waves, but Oklahoma will be seeing some major shifts in current…
Citizen Spotlight: Tamara Nelson
It all started with socks. One may not consider it a luxury to slip into a nice, clean pair of socks, but to many people, that’s exactly what it is. Tamara Nelson is an economic development specialist with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. She specializes in historic preservation, with her work taking her into a…
House District Race 88
Oklahoma House of Representatives District 88 contains many well-known OKC landmarks: Oklahoma City University, the Paseo and the Plaza District. In the primary election on June 28, Democrats and registered independent voters will choose who advances to the general election. The winner will face independent candidate Jed Green on Nov. 8. Incumbent Rep. Mauree Turner…
Just about everyone seems to have had enough of Kevin’s shit, including members of his own party.
Just about everyone seems to have had enough of Kevin’s shit, including members of his own party. On May 27, the legislature convened to override Kevin’s veto of a bill that would allow the Department of Public Safety — the agency that oversees the issuance of driver’s licenses in the state — to count driving…
Gazedibles: Just poke it
Poke bowls — a raw fish salad originating in Hawaii — entered the mainstream a few years ago. Poke means “to slice or cut” in Hawaiian, referring to chunks of raw, marinated fish tossed over rice and topped with vegetables and flavorful sauces. While we’re far away from the islands, when the hot days call…
The citizens of Oklahoma County are damned if they do and damned if they don’t when it comes to the jail.
The citizens of Oklahoma County are damned if they do and damned if they don’t when it comes to the jail. On one hand, the towering monstrosity on Shartel Avenue has not only become a cesspool — literally — with sewage routinely backing up its plumbing, but detention inside the building has become a fight…
Fresh start
After a crowd of nearly 800 people showed up to its inaugural Expungement Expo, the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City has expanded its efforts for the second year. “Realizing that over 93.5 percent of expungement eligible records remain unsealed in Oklahoma and that African Americans and other minorities represent the largest amount of those…
Civic sizzle
Lyric Theatre’s summer series is the stage event of the season. Presenting three dazzling and enormous musical productions at the Civic Center Music Hall is a triumphant return after COVID-19 kept them out of all indoor productions for two years. Pivoting to an unprecedented outdoor season in 2021 by performing Grease on the Bishop-McGuinness High…
Channel surfing
Go to Lake Thunderbird any day in any season of the year and you just might spot Piers J. Hale putting in the work. Most swimmers track their distance in meters or yards. Hale counts miles. At the end of June, weather permitting, he will swim across the English Channel. This feat, known as the…
Slip into summer
School is out so let the fun begin. These two cocktails offer a refreshing and tasteful twist as the days get hotter. Three Olives Club Special -2oz Three Olives Vodka -1oz limeade -1oz Sprite -Club Soda -lime and lemons to garnish Combine Three Olives Vodka, Limeade and Sprite into a glass filled with ice. Top…
Soundcheck: Poppa Foster and The Grits – Gravy Baby
This is the one. For many years, Christopher Foster has been a rambling Tulsan, bringing his New Orleans ivory tickling and bandleading to a bustling assortment of musical projects. Not often the type to take the spotlight, he has lent his funky Southern ear to produce local recordings for the likes of Dane and The…
Strain Review: Jealousy
Strain name: Jealousy Grown by: Blue Collar Criminals Acquired from: Blue Collar Criminals Date acquired: June 9 Physical traits: light green and orange Bouquet: gassy and earthy Review: If you’ve followed The High Culture since the beginning, you know that Blue Collar Criminals (AKA BCC Collective), has always been the anecdotal through-line of the Oklahoma…
Strain Review: Slow ‘N’ Sweet
Strain name: Slow ‘N’ Sweet Grown by: Fire Leaf Farms Acquired from: Fire Leaf (Stockyards) Date acquired: June 9 Physical traits: green and purple Bouquet: sweet and sour Review: Continuing the nostalgia tour of OKC cannabis, the second destination was the Fire Leaf location in the Stockyards. Having toured the dispensary’s eponymous farm in its…
