Oklahoma Democrats elect first openly gay candidate.

[gully]

|| News ||

July 27, 2006

First openly gay candidate elected to Oklahoma legislature

KFOR-TV

ASSOCIATED PRESS OKLAHOMA CITY -- For the first time in state history, an openly gay candidate is poised to become a member of the Oklahoma Legislature.Democrat Al McAffrey won a three-candidate primary race with 51 percent of the vote, avoiding a runoff in the House District 88 seat in the heart of Oklahoma City. No Republicans filed for the seat. McAffrey, a longtime Oklahoma City funeral director and a Navy veteran, said he didn't hide his sexual orientation, but didn't make it the focus of his campaign. The District 88 seat was held by longtime state Representative Debbie Blackburn, who's being forced out of office because of term limits. Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

This story is from July, but given there is so much attention to another story on the subject, I felt it would be good to examine a positive story in this regard.

[AndyA]

1. The fact that this happened in OKLAHOMA makes it twice as nice.

There are some major closet cases here, who are very much afraid of gay people. And with all the religious zealots in the state, it is truly a huge accomplishment! I say may the best person win - regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, physical disability, or anything else. We need good people who have their feet firmly planted on the ground.

[hijinx87]

2. oklahoma is southern?

trying to figure out just what your real meaning is . . . .

[gully]

3. As far as I'm concerned it is.

But I changed the OP just in case.

[RoyGBiv]

7. Part of it ...

Oklahoma is culturally rather diverse when it comes to defining its place in American culture. Part of this is due to the rather unique manner of its settlement. Part of it is geographical. Lots of "parts" actually.

The part of Oklahoma where I grew up is distinctly Southern. The part where I live now, not so much, but the influence is still evident.

FWIW ...

[dsc]

4. We have won in some very unlikely states

Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Missori all elected their first openly gay legislators this year. North Carolina did so last year and she is likely to be reelected (the GOP put up a literal child molester to run against her)

[gully]

5. Isn't that amazing?

:)

[dsc]

6. Missouri less so than the others

since St Louis is known as a gay friendly town, and I assume that the gay legislator is from there. NC would be a little less surprising to except she is from eastern NC (New Hanover Co and not Wilmington but the burbs). I am very unfamiliar with the other states involved so can only say I am surprised but maybe shouldn't be if they were gay areas of those states. We are making some amazing progress.