a gay campaign in Oklahoma

[tulsakatz]

OKLAHOMA CITY — One of the more unlikely showdowns for the fall elections is taking shape here in this staunchly conservative state, where same-sex marriage is constitutionally banned and the Legislature frequently takes on issues like abortion.

Brittany Novotny, a Democrat and Oklahoma’s first known transgender candidate, is running for a seat in the State House against Sally Kern, the Republican incumbent who gained national attention in 2008 for saying that “the homosexual agenda is just destroying this nation” and that homosexuality was a bigger threat than terrorism.

Both candidates for House District 84 in west Oklahoma City — where Mrs. Kern won by a comfortable margin in 2008 and remains popular — have insisted that Ms. Novotny’s sex will not be an issue in their campaigns. But some of Mrs. Kern’s supporters have voiced concern that the “homosexual lobby” has recruited Ms. Novotny, who identifies as a heterosexual woman.

The group Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ, which has hosted “Rallies for Sally,” said in a mass e-mail message in June, “The homosexual lobby from across America will be pouring money into this local race in an attempt to make a statement to the country by knocking out an outspoken Christian, pro-family representative.”

Mrs. Kern, 63, said that she and her husband, Steven D. Kern, a Baptist minister, have attended events held by Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ, but that she had “no say in what they write on their materials or Web site.”

Ms. Novotny, a 30-year-old lawyer running for public office for the first time, rejected the notion that her campaign was largely financed by gay rights groups.

Ms. Novotny grew up in Oklahoma City as William Novotny. She began her sex transition in 2005, after graduating from the University of California Hastings College of the Law. She completed the transition in 2007.

continued......
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/20/us/politics/20oklahoma.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

[xchrom]

1. I have to hand it to Ms Novotny for her courage. Nt

[a la izquierda]

2. Go Brittany Go!

Little by little, hopefully sane Oklahomans like myself can retake this backward state. I can't vote for her, because she is running in a different district, but I sent an email of support to her yesterday. I hope she wins.

[tulsakatz]

3. when I saw that, I thought. it was great!

I only wish I lived in OKC so that I could volunteer for her campaign.......