Oklahoma poised as unlikely same-sex battleground

The Norman Transcript ^ | August 6, 2010 | Trevor Brown

[SoonerStorm09]

NORMAN — A federal judge’s ruling Wednesday in California — and a federal judge’s decision last month in Massachusetts — have made conservative Oklahoma in the middle of the country an unlikely battleground for gay marriage.

Longtime Broken Arrow couple Sharon Baldwin and Mary Bishop, who are the named plaintiffs challenging Oklahoma’s Constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, said California’s case does not carry any legal precedent in their own case. However, Baldwin said it shows “the tide is turning” and more judges could follow the lead of what has happened in California and Massachusetts.

On the other side of the issue, Michael L. Jestes, executive director of the Oklahoma Family Policy Council, which opposes same-sex marriage, said he was not surprised to hear the ruling Wednesday, and he urged opponents of same-sex marriage to get involved at the grassroots level because the debate likely will heat up in Oklahoma.

[dalebert]

hope OK is a good place for a trial.

[darkangel82]

I doubt there are any Judge Vaughn Walkers in OK. The pro-marriage side wins in this one.

[dfwgator]

"Only two things come from Oklahoma...steers and queers."

[Mr. Blonde]

Making a SC decision all the more likely.

[onedoug]

It seems, ¨We The People¨ then are just pikers.

[a fool in paradise]

California’s case does not carry any legal precedent in their own case. However, Baldwin said it shows “the tide is turning” and more judges could follow the lead of what has happened in California and Massachusetts.

Public opposition remains the same. Judicial tyranny notwithstanding.

[LouAvul]

hope OK is a good place for a trial.

I live near Tulsa and I swear sometimes I think the faggots have taken over the city. I haven't lived here all that long but I would guess Oklahoma City is about the same. The general population of OK is conservative, but like so many places, we're led around by America hating fascist liberals.

[hout8475]

Both cities have “gay villages”. Oklahoma City also has an openly gay state representative. Almost every major city has such neighborhoods. Some have more than one. There are also small towns, particularly those that are arts communities, that have sizable gay populations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_gay_villages#United_States

[Mr. Blonde]

I really question characterizing The Brady District as a gay village. If there is such a thing as a hippie village I would say that is a better description. Also prominent are hipsters of course, one of the bars doesn’t have domestic drafts instead selling $3 Guinness drafts and PBR. I guess to the untrained eye it can be hard to tell a hipster from a gay person.