OKLAHOMA, A CONSERVATIVE STATE? NOT SO MUCH
By Carol Rushton
Oklahoma is in the middle of what has been called “the Bible belt,” which can either be a compliment or a pejorative, depending on your point of view. Even though Oklahoma has always had more Democrat registered voters than Republican, Oklahomans have started rejecting the radical Democrat platform in favor of more conservative political views. In 2008, 2012, and 2016, all 77 counties in Oklahoma overwhelmingly voted for the Republican presidential candidate.
You would think with that kind of a voting record that Oklahoma would be a very conservative state. It used to be but the political landscape in the state is changing.
DISAPPOINTING POLITICIANS
Republican Mary Fallon was governor of Oklahoma from 2011 to 2019. Fallon, who says she is a Christian, promised my pastor, Paul Blair of Fairview Baptist Church, that she would sign a bill that would have eliminated most if not all abortions in our state if the bill made it to her desk. When the bill passed both state legislative houses, Fallon broke her word and vetoed the bill, allowing new abortion clinics to be established in Oklahoma.
It is particularly galling to Oklahoma Christians and conservatives that other states like Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, and Missouri have since passed very strong pro-life bills. Oklahoma could have been the state to lead the country in pro-life legislation. Instead, Oklahomans must watch as brave citizens and governors in other states lead the way in protecting the lives of the unborn while Oklahoma must take a back seat. We are a disgrace and an embarrassment in the pro-life movement as more babies than ever in Oklahoma lose their lives every day to the scourge of abortion.
Democrat Al McAffery was elected to the Oklahoma State House of Representatives in 2006, representing the 88th district and then was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate in 2012. Although the son of Baptist minister, McAffery says he is a homosexual and lives with his male partner.
McAffery was succeeded in both Oklahoma House and Senate districts by Kay Floyd, who is a lesbian and was elected by her Democrat colleagues to represent them in the Oklahoma State Senate as the minority leader (both Oklahoma House and Senate are controlled by the Republicans who have the majority in both).
James Cooper was elected recently to the Oklahoma City Council representing Ward 2. A former Oklahoma City public school teacher, James Cooper is very open about his homosexuality. David Holt, mayor of Oklahoma City and a Republican, not only marched in support with Cooper and the homosexual community to city hall for Cooper’s swearing in ceremony, Holt tweeted “Cooper’s election shows City Hall is for ‘OUR neighbors who have not always felt welcome’” (Associated Press, “Oklahoma City’s First Openly Gay Councilman Sworn In,” April 9, 2019, KFOR.com, https://kfor.com/2019/04/09/oklahoma-citys-first-openly-gay-councilman-sworn-in/, accessed June 3, 2019).
In 2018, Democrat Kendra Horn defeated Republican Steve Russell for Oklahoma’s 5th district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, shocking the Republican Party and probably the entire nation. This is the first time since 1974 that the 5th district seat has been occupied by a Democrat. Horn, a lesbian, voted for the Equality Act that would make rights for the LGBTQ+ community superior over the rights of all other Americans and destroy the religious freedoms of Christians and other religious Americans in the United States.
DISGUSTING PUBLIC DISPLAYS
One of the most disgusting things to happen in Oklahoma is the introduction of the Drag Queen Story Hour – for children! Sunnyside Diner in downtown Oklahoma City hosts this horrifying spectacle one Saturday a month; Tulsa has its own version at Bound for Glory Books.
This is how Drag Queen Story Hour is promoted on EventBrite:
“Oklahoma City Drag Queen Story Hour is just what it sounds like – glittering, magical drag queens reading progressive literature to children of all ages! Oklahoma City Drag Queen Story Hour celebrates reading fun and being whomever you want to be! Children, and their families, will join in a fun afternoon, led by local drag superstar, Ms. Shantel! Ms. Shantel will read a story, lead the children in a craft, and we will wrap with a dance party! Dress up in your most smashing attire and get ready to have a blast!” (EventBrite, https://www.eventbrite.com/o/oklahoma-city-drag-queen-story-hour-16910486552, accessed June 3, 2019).
It is even more nauseating to discover that “Ms. Shantel” is actually a man who has been a teacher in Oklahoma City schools for a number of years (Robin Dorner, “OKC’s Drag Queen Story Hour Features Ms. Shantel,” April 12, 2018, The Gayly, https://www.gayly.com/okc’s-drag-queen-story-hour-features-ms-shantel, accessed June 3, 2019).
It’s bad enough that Oklahoma Christian University, supposedly founded as a Christian university, allows drag queen events on campus, sponsored by the university, and allows a LGBTQ group to operate freely on campus. A man dressed up as a woman reading homosexual books like King and King to small children is specifically designed to destroy their innocence. I agree with conservative commentator Ben Shapiro on this. He says the transgender movement targeting small children is EVIL, and I wholeheartedly shout, “AMEN!”
My parents used to rail against sex education classes being taught at the junior high and high school level. This is nothing compared to what is going on now in the Sooner State. I predict the culture in Oklahoma will continue to deteriorate and worsen unless Oklahoma’s Christians wake up and stand up against an abomination like this.
Oklahoma, a conservative state? Not so much anymore.
