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We're following up further on a story that has generated lots of local, national and even world attention.
We're talking about the remarks made by a state legislator that "the homosexual agenda is destroying this nation" and that homosexuality is "the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam".
(LISTEN TO THE FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE)
On Tuesday, we spoke with Chuck Wolfe, President and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, to get his reaction to State Representative Sally Kern's comments.
Wolfe said his group posted the recording of Kern on YouTube because they felt it was "important for people to hear that elected officials are speaking this way about gay and lesbian americans."
Wolfe's organization endorses gay and lesbian candidates for political office, including two candidates for state office in Oklahoma, according to the group's website.
Rep. Kern's remarks came during a small gathering in her district and have stirred the emotions of people on both sides of the issue. Some say she should resign from the Oklahoma Legislature.
NewsChannel 8 went to Oklahoma City Monday to speak with Kern who says who said she does not condone hate speech and does not consider her words hate speech. She also says she is sticking by her beliefs. "There is nothing wrong with people having a legitimate debate or talking about the issues, okay? That is not hate speech when you disagree with someone's lifestyle. And, I do because I believe God's word."
Rep. Kern called homosexuality "a bigger threat than terrorism." "They're going after young children, as young as two years of age, to try and teach them that the homosexual lifestyle is the acceptable lifestyle," she said.
"Those are comments not based on anybody's faith," says Wolfe. "Those are comments based on hate, there is no basis of fact for making any of those comments and, in whatever context they're made, they're inappropriate."
When NewsChannel 8 talked with Rep. Kern Monday she told us her comments were taken out of context. She also said she stands by them because they're based on her beliefs.
Kern has received plenty of hate mail since the recording was posted.
"The vast majority of them are such vile profane language," Kern says. "Hate? They just reek of hate."
Wolfe doesn't condone that and says there are other ways to fight back.
"There are appropriate mechinisms to deal with inappropriate speech by an elected official and those methods needs to be undertaken in the state of Oklahoma."
We'll also continue to monitor the messages left on our website by visitors on both sides of the issue. Are Kern's comments hate speech? Should she resign? Is it her protected First Amendment right to speak her mind?
You can still leave comments on this story by posting them below.
On The Net:
GLAAD Responds to Anti-Gay Remarks Made By State Legislator
Sally Kern - Oklahoma State House of Representatives
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