Stonewall - Forty Years Later

Mostly missing from the news in the state of Oklahoma is the anniversary of the police raid on the Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969. This isn't unlike the lack of coverage which occurred in 1969, but surely we've become a more enlightened society since then, right?

Not just yet.

Homosexual men and women, those whom Baltimore Sun columnist Tim Smith refers to as "people who go to work, pay taxes, take deep delight in family and friends, treat animals with affection, keep a neat yard, watch old movies" are still treated as second-class citizens by the laws of this country.

The attacks continue from the self-proclaimed moral right and the lunatic fringe. Elected officials such as Oklahoma Representative Sally Kern base entire careers on such bigotry. Fortunately for them, the leaders of their movement are living lives of chaste decency. You know, Senator John Ensign or Governor Mark Sanford.

Still, I have hope. I meet more and more young people who, like me, feel rights denied to anyone are rights denied to everyone. Just because I'm not gay doesn't mean this isn't my fight too. It is a battle of education and exposure of people to ideas. I believe a people who love individual freedom will naturally come around to the principles of equality.

Let's just hope it doesn't take another forty years.

Goodbye To The Little Red Schoolhouse

If you haven't been to Washington, DC in the last few years, you might not have seen this "landmark". Even if you have been, it isn't usually on the regular tour. Yet people always ask when traveling between the Washington Monument and the Capitol why this red facade is in front of the Department of Education.

I know, it looks like something from a bad state fair.

This has been the front of the building for several years now, placed there when No Child Left Behind legislation was passed in the first term of President George W. Bush.

Now, we can have a rational and serious policy discussion on the merits of the law. I, for one, can find both good and bad in the changes made. However, no matter which side you fall on the controversial education law, this attempt at message control has to make you laugh.

When it first went up many people assumed it was temporary. Lots of message "props" are created for just this reason. I was living in DC then and each time I drove past it I just knew it was coming down soon.

How wrong I was.

As the years passed the structure became a joke. Teachers across the country began to ridicule the "Little Red Schoolhouse". It came to stand for everything the opponents of the education reform policy distrusted in government.

Now, it has seen it's last day. President Obama's administration officials have announced it is coming down. Perhaps it can be reused. Surely there is a state fair going on somewhere...

Happy Father's Day

I'm a little late posting this, but still wanted to wish my Dad a Happy Father's Day. We had a pretty low-key celebration. We got him a dvd player - his request - as he is now on Netflix. Does it all himself. The man emails, reads more news than me and shops online - all at 76! Next up, facebook...

Happy 50th Ben Odom!

I want to wish my good friend, Ben Odom, a happy 50th birthday! I met Ben seventeen years ago at Boys State where he was one of the instructors and I was but a young delegate. He may have wished it didn't happen, but I'm sure glad to have had him as a friend, counselor and mentor all these years.

Here's to many more Ben!

Taylor Made For Tulsa

Last week, in a move that shocked most Tulsa residents, Mayor Kathy Taylor announced she wasn't running for re-election in T-town. I have to admit I was caught off guard as well. Especially as I had attended her campaign kickoff event just four months ago.

Not to offer too strong an opinion, but this is bad news for Tulsa. It could possibly be a return to the days of no momentum and bitter partisanship that gripped the town for almost two decades.

The entire state watched during this period as Oklahoma City moved forward in a progressive manner and did so with bi-partisan if not non-partisan support. In that same time frame Tulsa literally began to fall apart. Good ideas were shot down for entirely personal and partisan reasons and the whole community suffered.

Mayor Taylor said last week she was dropping out of the race for just this reason, to take politics off the table. I'm not certain if her lack of candidacy will help or not. There are some in Tulsa who just don't want to play nice in the sand box and it prevents progress from occurring.

At least the Mayor will have some bold accomplishments of which she can be proud. The city streets program and the remarkable BOK center are just a couple that come to mind.

It is a shame that Tulsans will lose this gifted public servant who honestly ran for all the right reasons. Maybe a loss for all Oklahomans too.

How Much Does Freedom Cost?

Remember D-Day

June 6, 1944

Kim Henry To Lead Sarkeys Foundation

Most of the Oklahoma political world has been wondering what Governor Brad Henry's next move would be after he leaves office. Speculation began almost as soon as he won re-election in November of 2006. Turns out, everyone was looking in the wrong direction!

It was announced yesterday First Lady Kim Henry will be taking over the Sarkeys Foundation as the new Executive Director. I've long been a big fan of Mrs. Henry and have said on more than one occasion she is my favorite part of the Henry administration!

Sarkeys is a great organization that fills a critical role in our community. Her addition is a great benefit to the both the foundation and our state. I certainly wish her the best of luck.