Oklahoma
In 2004, as discriminatory constitutional amendments were pushed in numerous states throughout the nation, Oklahoma citizens voted for an anti-marriage and anti-relationship recognition constitutional amendment which passed and wrote discrimination into Oklahoma's constitution. State advocacy groups are working to both repeal such discrimination and end the exclusion of same-sex couples and their families from marriage.
WHERE YOU CAN GO TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE:
Oklahomans for Equality
Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) seeks equal rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals and families through advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center.
Cimarron Alliance Foundation
The mission of the Cimarron Alliance Foundation is to support
educational efforts that increase personal self-esteem, promote public
enlightenment and advance equality for LGBT Oklahomans.
Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus
The Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus educates Oklahoma
leaders and the members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
communities.
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LEGISLATIVE STATUS IN OKLAHOMA:
Your Community—Oklahoma
Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
HRC presents resources, news, and the current marriage and
relationship recognition laws in each state.
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PUBLICATIONS:
Oklahoma Census Snapshot
Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, this report provides demographic and economic information about same-sex couples and same-sex couples raising children in Oklahoma.
Geographic Trends Among Same-Sex Couples in the U.S. Census and the
American Community Survey
Williams Institute
November 2007
Gary Gates at the Williams Institute released groundbreaking research
on the geographic trends among same-sex couples. The report finds the
biggest increases in Southern and Mountain states and states barring
legal acceptance of same-sex couples had larger percentage increases
in same-sex couples from 2000 to 2006.
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NEWS:
Oklahoma marriage case survives standing motion
Leonard Link
July 31, 2006
U.S. District Judge Terence Kern ruled on July 20 in Bishop v. State
of Oklahoma, 2006 WL 2045877, that two Oklahoma same-sex couples can
litigate various challenges to the federal so-called Defense of
Marriage Act and Oklahoma's anti-same-sex-marriage constitutional
amendment, but sharply reduced the scope of the case by eliminating
certain legal theories from consideration and finding that the couples
lacked standing to raise certain legal questions.
Why we need to talk about marriage equality
Washington Blade
May 1, 2006
"Question your friend or your father about what they are saying — make
them actually think about their words. Don't let go unchallenged a
flippant brush-off comment about 'there's no need for gay marriage.'
Put up your dukes and fight back."
Battle over the freedom to marry plays out in the Cherokee Tribe
Washington Post
August 1, 2005
A historical hearing in Oklahoma's Cherokee courts will take place on
Tuesday to legalize marriage between same-sex couples after Kathy
Reynolds and Dawn McKinley of Oklahoma moved to become the first
same-sex couple to marry under Cherokee law. Cherokee law did not
exclude same-sex couples from marrying, but the couple was stopped
short upon the actual filing of their marriage application, after they
requested and received, without incident, a marriage application from
the tribe last year, and held a wedding ceremony performed by a
licensed minister certified by the Cherokee Nation.
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Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, this report provides demographic and economic information about same-sex couples and same-sex couples raising children in Oklahoma.
