March 8, 2008

The Honorable Chris Benge
Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd.
Room 423-D
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

Email:  chrisbenge@okhouse.gov

Dear Speaker Benge:

Representative Sally Kern must apologize or be censured by the House of Representatives, and you must allow Hate Crimes Legislation to come to a vote before the full House. Representative Kern’s hate words will inspire and give license to hate actions by others.  How can we fail to understand the consequences of hate words and hate actions?

Just a few month ago on October 26,  Steven Dormer a 61 year old, tax paying, law abiding, life long Oklahoman was brutally murdered at the hand of a young angry member of the Arian Brotherhood.  Hate words inspired the killer.  Mr. Domer’s body was bound in duct tape, with a wire hanger wrapped around his neck.  His accused killer is a self-proclaimed member of the Aryan Nation.  Mr. Domer’s killer “earned an arm patch” by killing any minority but in particular a homosexual.   Mr. Domer was killed only because he was gay. 

Secretive hate words said to small groups of people undoubtedly made the killer believe his actions were right and not wrong. Representative Kern’s secretive hate words made to a small group of about 50 people are now being heard and judged by millions of Americans.  These words are on YouTube and millions more Americans will hear her hateful words.

Representative Kern on Friday publicly defended her statements on NewsLine 9.  Her hateful remarks can no longer be swept under the carpet.  What are you going to do?  The ugly truth is out.  She is at best a terrible embarrassment for this state and at worst her words will inspire and give license for others to act out their already demented thoughts.  The entire state, nation and world are asking now, I am asking:  What will you do?

Steven Domer’s murder drew national attention.  His death renewed calls for hate crime legislation in Oklahoma.  You, Mr. Speaker purposefully assigned the Hate Crimes legislation to a committee which will not even give the legislation a hearing much less a Floor vote.  

If Mr. Domer’s murder was not enough cause for concern, just last month, a 15 year old gay student in California was shot by another only because he was gay.   And daily, gay and lesbian people are the victims of lesser hate crimes such as vandalism and assaults.

Not only have you failed to provide protection to the citizens of Oklahoma from crime by not allowing Hate Crimes legislation to come to a vote, but you have failed to deal with Rep. Kern’s hateful words.  She said “I honestly think (homosexuality is) the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism,” yet you have done nothing to censure her or demand she apologize to the gay and lesbian citizens of this great state.  Her entire four minute hate-filled anti-gay rant can be found on YouTube under search word “I’m Listening” or our web page at www.cimarronalliance.org.  I would encourage you to listen and judge for yourself.

Cimarron demands several things of our government and its leadership.

First, we demand that Rep. Kern publicly apologize on the floor of the House during open session and on the record.  If she does not, Cimarron demands the House Ethics Committee conduct an investigation and censure Rep. Kern for promoting hate and endangering the gay and lesbian citizens of this state.

Next, Cimarron demands the Hate Crimes legislation now dead in committee be sent to the Floor for a public vote.  Our citizens have the right to know where their Representatives stand.  Incidentally, Cimarron conducted a poll in 2004 and found that 76 percent of the good and fair minded people of this great state agree with us that gay and lesbian citizens deserve protection against hate crimes.  I would be happy to share this data with you.

Mr. Speaker, the times have changed in Oklahoma and across this country.  The people of this state stand with their fellow gay and lesbian citizens and against the haters.  The people of this state are embarrassed by Rep. Kern’s words and by your inaction.  The gay and lesbian community is no longer weak and unresponsive, we are no longer unsupported by the majority of our citizens; we are doctors, lawyers, truck drivers, plumbers, real estate agents, DHS workers, teachers, everything including politicians now as well.

On behalf of gays and lesbians across this state and the vast majority of all Oklahomans, we demand Rep. Kern apologize or be censured, and we demand that the Hate Crimes legislation go to the Floor for a vote.  As a life long Oklahoman, I know my state.  Our people are fair and just and honest.  They know what is right and wrong here.  Now, will you follow their lead?