Mayor David Holt and the Oklahoma City Council appointed 10 volunteer residents and one rotating Council member to the MAPS 4 Citizens Advisory Board. The board will make recommendations to the City Council for planning and implementing MAPS 4. It will meet monthly, with its first meeting as early as July. “The Citizens Advisory Board […]
Allie Shinn
Posted inNews
Conversion ban
For the first time ever, Freedom Oklahoma lobbied at the capitol in support of a bill with momentum that would protect LGBTQ+ individuals. Historically, the nonprofit organization has had to play defense and oppose a slew of bills that would discriminate against the community. The Youth Mental Health Protection Act (House Bill 3872) passed out […]
Posted inNews
Final actions
Councilmembers set a date on a new sales tax vote, amended policies and approved more spending, among other actions at Oklahoma City Council’s final meeting of the year. Park tax Three weeks ago, former councilman Ed Shadid submitted a petition with enough signatures to allow residents to decide whether or not they want to implement […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Cover: 2019 review
To the ballot Oklahomans have filed four statewide initiative petitions and one referendum in 2019. The referendum, filed in August, was to let voters decide whether or not they wanted “permitless carry,” the first bill signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt to go into effect. The referendum did not gain enough signatures. Ultimately, the law, which […]
Posted inNews
Cities’ equality
Norman earned Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s distinction as an “All Star” city for advancing LGBTQ+ equality without relying on state law. Human Rights Campaign (HRC) annually ranks cities across the country in various categories from 0 to 100 through its Municipal Equality Index. Norman more than doubled its ranking from 41 in 2018 to 92 […]
Posted inNews
Freedom fighters
Freedom Oklahoma aims to build off a successful year for Oklahoma’s LGBTQ+ community by focusing more on diverse sects of the community and advocating for more issues. With October being LGBT History Month, Allie Shinn, Freedom Oklahoma executive director, said the organization is reflecting on recent history to inform what is next to come. The […]
Posted inNews
Extending rights
Norman City Council voted 8-1 to amend its civil rights ordinance to add protections on the basis of sexuality, gender identity or expression and same-sex marriage. The protections are now in place and affect employment, housing and public accommodations. Norman United, an interfaith group formed to support the LGBTQ+ community, spearheaded the efforts and played […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Plaza Pride
Pride on the Plaza 6-10 p.m. June 14 16th Street Plaza District NW 16th Street, between Classen Boulevard and Pennsylvania Avenue plazadistrict.org 405-578-5718 Free 16th Street Plaza District’s monthly Live! on the Plaza art walk is hosting its first Pride-themed event in the series June 14, which organizers hope serves as a kickoff for the […]
Posted inNews
One OKC
One of the newest city council members is making history and giving a voice to people who have gone without representation at the city level. Ward 2 councilman James Cooper is the first openly gay member of the council, first biracial representative, first black representative outside Ward 7 and the first teacher on the council […]