Oklahoma’s Second Largest City Roiled by Pro-LGBTQ+ Resolution

Author: Christopher Wiggins

In Oklahoma, elected officials had the opportunity to declare publicly that their town is welcoming to all; however, because the proposed language is affirming to all people who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community, the matter remains undecided.

The Tulsa City Council is considering a resolution to designate the town as a safe, welcoming, and inclusive community, but its future remains to be determined, Tulsa Worldreports.

The issue seems to be the language that affirms the city’s commitment to creating a safe, open, and accepting community for everyone, regardless of [their] sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

It seems some council members cannot accept the fact that some members of the community identify differently from straight and cisgender and should be supported and welcomed as they are.

Whether Tulsa should be designated as a “safe, inclusive, and welcoming community” was discussed for an hour, Tulsa’s CBS affiliate KOTV reports.

According to the councilors who proposed the measure, being on record supporting everyone resulted from fear among the LGBTQ+ community.

Some councilors claimed to have received many emails opposing the resolution.

Councilor Christian Bengel opposed the measure at the council committee meeting on Wednesday, while Jeannie Cue and Jayme Fowler were undecided, Tulsa World reports.

A councilor who was not present, Phil Lakin, said he wanted to take some time to review the recording and discuss the issue with his colleagues before taking any action.

Councilor Grant Miller was absent at Wednesday’s council meeting and was unavailable for comment, according to the outlet.

Previously, the Tulsa council had included sexual orientation in its nondiscrimination policy in 2010. As part of the city’s nondiscrimination policy, which already protected employees based on race, color, sex, religion, nationality, and disability, Mayor G.T. Bynum amended the executive order in 2019 to include gender identity and expression.

Next Wednesday, councilors will vote on the nonbinding resolution, which must be approved before it can be sent to Mayor G.T. Bynum.

It was reported earlier this week that Bynum supports the resolution as written.

Original Article on The Advocate
Author: Christopher Wiggins