FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Oklahomans for Equality
(918) 743-4297
center@okeq.org
www.okeq.org

OkEq Decries Anti-Gay Vandalism in East Tulsa

Tulsa, Okla – July 16, 2008 — Oklahomans for Equality deplores the vandalism directed at Robert Stotler, an openly gay resident of East Tulsa. Such intimidation highlights the urgent need for federal and state hate crimes legislation protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LBGT) people.

Over the last week, anonymous vandals have twice attacked Stotler's property. The assailants set Stotler's truck on fire and spray painted "Gay Must Go" on the charred vehicle.

"No Oklahoman should be victimized because of his or her sexual orientation," asserts Freddy Owens, Executive Director of Oklahomans for Equality. "All of Oklahoma's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens should be free to live openly and safely. It is far past time that our state legislature amended our hate crimes laws to include the LGBT community."

In 2006, the FBI reported 7,722 hate crimes across the US, a 7.8% increase over 2005. About half were due to racial hatred; 1,195 of the crimes - representing 15.5% - were due to bias against LGBT people. 79 of the hate crimes were reported in Oklahoma, but the state hate crimes law does not cover sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.

Earlier this year, state lawmakers introduced four different bills attempting to strengthen and broaden the Oklahoma statute. None of the bills received a committee hearing. Oklahoma remains one of only 17 states whose hate crimes laws do not protect LGBT citizens.



Founded in 1980, Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) is the state's oldest and largest gay rights organization. Oklahomans for Equality seeks equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals and families through advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis R. Neill Community Center