Voters in 2004 overwhelmingly approved a ban on same-sex marriage, but a state judge ruled in January that the ban was unconstitutional. The issue was argued in front of the court of appeals on April 17, marking only the second time a state same-sex marriage case has been heard by a federal court. James Campbell, […]
Ban
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Circuit Court hears case for Oklahoma’s same-sex marriage ban
Voters in 2004 overwhelmingly approved a ban on same-sex marriage, but a state judge ruled in January that the ban was unconstitutional. The issue was in front of the Court of Appeal, marking just the second time a state same-sex marriage case has been heard by a federal court. James Campbell, an attorney representing the […]
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Five things to know about Thursday’s same-sex marriage hearing
U.S. District Judge Terence Kern ruled earlier this year that Oklahoma’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. Kern’s ruling was immediately stayed, and an appeal was filed with the federal appeals court in Denver. It could take months for the circuit court to issue a ruling on Oklahoma’s case, and many believe the issue […]
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Islamic advocacy group celebrates SQ755 defeat
As the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) held its annual banquet Saturday, guests celebrated a year of advocacy that was highlighted by the defeat of State Question 755, a amendment to the state constitution approved by voters four years ago. “It was a pure political ploy and it was unsuccessful,” said […]
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Women in Oklahoma lawsuit to allow gay marriage will be in OKC on Saturday
Mary Bishop, Sharon Baldwin, Sue Barton and Gay Phillips, all of Tulsa, sued the state and federal governments for the right to marry and for recognition of the marriages of same-gender couples nearly a decade ago. “It is expected that matters surrounding the state’s same-sex constitutional marriage ban will begin to move very quickly in […]
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Landmark decision
In an interview with Oklahoma Gazette, the two Tulsa women said they were confident justice would prevail in their case against the state and its voter-approved ban. “We always thought we would win and should win, but this is Oklahoma, and you don’t always win when you should,” Baldwin said. “In our case, the state […]
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Oklahoma gay marriage ban ruled unconstitutional
U.S. District Judge Terence Kern announced his decision Tuesday in Tulsa. The ruling has been stayed pending appeal, which means same-sex marriages will not occur immediately in Oklahoma. Ryan Kiesel, executive director and spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union in Oklahoma, called the 68-page written decision an “historic day for all of Oklahoma.” “We […]
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Faux-smoke free city
This isn’t her first time to ban a product on state property. Two years ago, Fallin signed a similar order that prohibits the use of real tobacco products. C’mon Mary, surely you have something better to do such as promoting economic development, showing support for the American Indian Cultural Center or helping write constitutionally sound […]
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A giant step toward equality
The excitement of that day culminated in an incredible celebration of justice at the Cimarron Alliance Equality Center. Nearly 500 people gathered to laugh, cry, hug one another and lift up the day as a defining moment in American history. The ruling of the court, we all realized, moved the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender […]
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Lethal distraction
Cherrish Abinah Credit: Shannon Cornman Edmond Memorial High School’s Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is leading an effort to get stricter laws on the books. In Tulsa, a youth-run group called Generation tXt has also been a large part of a grassroots push for an Oklahoma law. Both organizations work on outreach […]