Oklahoma Senator Hates Gays and Fighting the Matthew Shepard Act
Back in November Towleroad reported Senator Steve Russell was trying to fight the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act in Oklahoma.
Comparing homosexuality to necrophilia, Oklahoma State Sen. Steve Russell (R-Oklahoma City) plans to introduce a bill that would exempt the state from having to abide by the recently passed Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act on the basis of the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
The question posed at the top of this article is exactly the same question we've been pondering this week. The rhetoric that Sen. Russell is using now about "increased protection for everyone" does little to lessen the hate that fueled this legislation.
The Cimarron Alliance Foundation is standing firmly against this legislation. Besides being unconstitutional, it is unthinkable that this level of bigotry exists in our Legislature.
This is not an issue limited to the LGBT community. The idea that Oklahoma can simply "opt out" of Federal legislation when it comes to civil rights should be horrifying to every right-thinking individual in this state.
Perhaps together we can convince policymakers that we are living in 2010, not 1865.
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Thanks for the info Scott!
Michael Snell
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