NOMblog: The Official Blog of the National Organization for Marriage

Category Archives: Oklahoma

Oklahoma Senate Approves Pro-Marriage Resolution

April 17, 2013 – 10:30 am

"Tulsa's Own" NewsOn6.com has the story:

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A nonbinding resolution to reaffirm marriage as a union between a man and a woman and support the federal Defense of Marriage Act has been approved in the Oklahoma Senate.

The resolution sponsored by Norman Republican Sen. Rob Standridge was quickly adopted Tuesday on a voice vote. The House passed the resolution unanimously last week....

[The bill's] authors say it is meant to send a message to President Barack Obama and the U.S. Supreme Court, which recently heard arguments in two cases related to same-sex marriage rights.

By NOM Staff | Posted in DOMA, Marriage, Oklahoma, Politics, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (5)

Oklahoma House Votes 84-0 to Uphold DOMA

April 10, 2013 – 11:00 am

Is there any part of the country as pro-SSM as Oklahoma is pro-marriage?

The Oklahoma House has approved -- without a single negative vote but with some members walking out -- a resolution reaffirming marriage as between a man and a woman and supporting the federal Defense of Marriage Act that prohibits recognition of same-sex marriages.

The House approved the resolution Monday on an 84-0 vote. House Democratic Leader Scott Inman and openly gay Rep. Kay Floyd of Oklahoma City were among more than half of the chamber's 29 Democrats who walked out of the chamber instead of voting.

... The resolution would not carry the weight of law. Its supporters say it's meant as a message to the U.S. Supreme Court, which recently heard arguments in two cases concerning same-sex marriage rights. (AP)

By NOM Staff | Posted in Featured, Marriage, Oklahoma, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (13)

Oklahoma Introduces Bills Aimed at Keeping Married Couples Together

February 19, 2013 – 12:00 pm

FOX25:

"..."Till death do us part... not till difficulties do us part," says State Sen. Josh Brecheen, R- Coal County. He's going after the number one reason Oklahomans are filing for divorce-- incompatibility. In his proposed bill, Oklahomans would have the option of choosing a "covenant marriage."

"When they choose the option of a covenant marriage, they will go through four hours of premarital counseling," says Sen. Brecheen. If you want a divorce from a covenant marriage, you and your spouse would be required to take six hours of counseling, spread out over a three-month period. "We're not saying they can't get a divorce. We're saying we're going to slow down the process and make it much more thoughtful," he adds. But, that's not all. If you still don't want to stay together after three months of counseling, you would have a one-year "cooling off" period, before you could be eligible for divorce. "This is light. Other states require two years in a cooling off period. This bill just says one," says Sen. Brecheen.

"My heart really goes to the kids," says State Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman. He says marriage in Oklahoma is easier to get out of than a Tupperware container, so he's also proposed a marriage bill. "My legislation would require 30-minutes of education," says Sen. Standridge. Under his bill, if you have children, a divorce would first require a 30-minutes pre-divorce education class to be taken individually, plus a four-hour post-divorce co-parenting class. "It's mainly about making sure the parents get along and that the children have the best co-parenting environment that they can have," says Sen. Standridge.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Children, Divorce, Marriage, Oklahoma | Comments (4)

Oklahoma Pastor & Church Receive Death Threats After Opposing Gay Rights Agenda at City Council Meeting

November 30, 2011 – 10:00 am

The Greeley Gazette:

In a disturbing trend, “gay” groups are becoming more violent towards those who do not accept their lifestyle.

Last week, a pastor in Oklahoma received multiple death threats after he spoke for two minutes at a city council meeting in Oklahoma City, arguing against adding “sexual orientation” to the city’s anti-discrimination policy.

Paul Blair, Pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma told the council that the law was unnecessary and would create an unfair burden on employers and could allow men to use women’s restrooms and locker rooms.

Following his remarks, Blair and the church have been threatened with violence.

A caller said “I have committed homicide more than one time and in more than one state – and yet have not been caught or charged. Think about that.” The caller then said “I will be coming to visit you at 1230 North Sooner Road. I will be seeing you, bringing you something.”

The individual placed several other threatening calls, including one hinting there was a bomb on the church property. “I suggest you listen to this message clearly. A (muffled) has been placed on your property in the building, as well as some visitors will be visiting Pastor Blair at his residence. This is just to let you know. Thank you. Detonate it, detonate.” The caller also threatened to sexually assault Blair’s wife.

Individual members of the church have also faced threats.

Blair told the Gazette, that they called the police after the first calls and were going to leave it at that, but that changed once the possible bomb threat materialized.

... Blair said it was amazing that the threats against his church and himself have been largely ignored by the national media.

“If I would have left these types of threats on the voicemail of the local ‘gay’ alliance, I would have been in jail before sundown. It would have been on the front page of the new York Times and the lead story on CNN.”