It's Time Oklahoma Moves Forward with Sudan Divestment
by Rick Moore, Northeast Bureau Chief
Rep. Sally Kern: Targeted by Homosexual Movement
by Rick A. Moore, Northeast Bureau Chief
Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern has received over 27,000 vulgar, hate filled e-mails, her life threatened, her 31-year-old son falsely accused of being a homosexual, her financial supporters contacted and asked no longer to support her, and a leading Oklahoma City homosexual activist entered her husband's Southern Baptist church during a March Sunday service and took copious notes on Dr. Steve Kern's sermon. At times, as a precaution, a state trooper walks by the District 84 Republican's side when she enters the State Capitol.
Why is Rep. Kern, being assaulted in this manner? She was invited to a Republican club during an open meeting and asked to deliver a speech regarding the aggressive homosexual political agenda and how they are funding homosexual and pro-homosexual candidates to defeat conservatives across the nation. Her comments were secretly taped, spliced together, and then published by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund on "YouTube.com" as an audio clip for the world to hear. The audio clip that runs for 2 minutes and 52 seconds is pieced together with photos of different individuals holding signs with remarks such as "I'm listening." In fact, the video only quotes approximately 530 words from Rep. Kern's 4,146-word speech, according to a transcript on the website of the pro-family group Americans for Truth So basically the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund cut 87.3% of Rep. Sally Kern's speech until they found what met their agenda! As of this writing the video produced by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund has been viewed more than 1,075,000 times. Even open lesbian Ellen DeGeneres joined in the attack by featuring Rep. Kern's comments on her TV talk show. DeGeneres made a phone call to Kern's capitol office with the hopes of speaking with her, but the representative's voicemail was full.
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is a political action committee dedicated to increasing the number of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender public officials in American political life. It was founded in 1991 and is known for its ability to generate thousands of e-mails to those who oppose its views or openly criticize the homosexual lifestyle. The organization has endorsed politicians such as Congressman Barney Frank and Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth. In 2006, 67 of the group's 88 endorsed candidates won their elections.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation issued a press release on March 20 stating that they continue to sift through e-mails sent to Rep. Kern and will do so until "we feel certain her safety is not being threatened." The OSBI stated that Rep. Kern did not request an OSBI investigation, but bureau agents have discovered at least one threatening communication. Public Information Director Jessica Brown said, "We're poring over thousands of e-mails. We have to work through them and then track them down through various investigative means and try to determine their intent and then take it to the district attorney."
Rep. Sally Kern, who has a 90-percent Conservative Index, expressed her concern that the homosexual agenda was destroying our nation, and that young school children were being indoctrinated into believing that the homosexual "life style" is normal.
As a Christian, Rep. Kern believes that we are all sinners. And, we all have desires that are not godly; and we all have desires that we could yield to. But, we are to love the sinner and hate the sin.
Oklahoma Baptists have not been silent in regard to this issue. Sally Kern attends a church that is a member of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (Southern Baptist denomination) which has 1,700 churches with 765,000 members in Oklahoma, making it the largest denomination in the state. Dr. Anthony L. Jordan, Executive Director-Treasurer of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, urged the Directors of Missions to support Sally Kern. Her husband, Dr. Steve Kern, is pastor of Olivet Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. The e-mail from Dr. Jordan's communications person says on March 13, 2008: "Dr. Jordan has asked me to pass along the contact information for Representative Sally Kern. As most of you know she has been under some very tight scrutiny lately about standing up against homosexuality. Many requests have been made to Dr. Jordan regarding what we can do for her as a fellow believer and southern Baptist. He would like you to share this information with all your churches inviting them to contact Rep. Kern via e-mail or a phone call to encourage her and offer support during this trying time. If you have any questions or if I can help you in any way please let me know. Thank you for all you do!
Have a great weekend! Representative Sally Kern sallykern@okhouse.gov (405) 557-7348"
In 2007, Oklahoma Baptists passed a resolution regarding hate crimes legislation, which stated: "We affirm our love of all people regardless of lifestyle choices by sharing with them the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We condemn all acts of hatred and violence toward homosexual and transgender people. However, we strongly oppose any hate crimes legislation that potentially criminalizes speech and beliefs, which would threaten our First Amendment rights. We believe in scriptural authority, which clearly verifies homosexuality as a sin. Furthermore, we express our appreciation to Representatives John Sullivan, Dan Boren, Frank Lucas, Tom Cole, and Mary Fallin for casting 'Nay' votes on such hate crimes legislation."
In 2006, Oklahoma Baptists passed a resolution that stated a traditional family is defined in the Bible as holy matrimony between one man and one woman. It also includes single parent families. The resolutions committee confirmed that a traditional family does not include individuals who cohabitate or practice same sex unions.
In 2004, the people of Oklahoma overwhelmingly (76% - 24%) spoke out in support of Traditional Family Values by approving the definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman.
Even though Oklahomans have clearly stated their opposition to the homosexual agenda, there is a small minority that is banging their drums. Oklahoma City Democrat Ron Marlett has announced that he will seek his party's nomination to oppose Rep. Sally Kern this fall. Kern won the District 84 seat in 2004 by soundly defeating a Democrat challenger with 67.65-percent of the vote. She then ran unopposed in 2006. Marlett is a social worker at Community Pathways Unlimited, and said that Rep. Kern's comments about homosexuals helped him decide to seek the seat. "I've just been concerned for some time about the damage done by extremes," Marlett said.
Governor Brad Henry, although a Baptist, has also taken a few swipes at Rep. Kern over this issue instead of standing in the gap with her. Rep. Kern recently responded to Gov. Henry's remarks during an interview with the Baptist Messenger:
"Well I know the governor said he was disappointed in me and that his, I believe he said his Bible teaches that we are to love everybody and tolerate their lifestyles. He must be reading from a different book. My Bible also teaches that we are to love everybody, because God is a God of love, but my Bible does not teach that we are to tolerate everybody's lifestyles.
You know the Bible talks about how God has come to redeem us, and that means we are lost. And when I said in my speech that not all lifestyles are equal, not all religions are equal, what I meant by that is there is truth. Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. What we have today in postmodernism is this thinking that hey, if you believe it, that's fine. You believe what you want. That's fine. I can believe what I want. All of them are equal.
That cannot work. That is not God's Word. And so I'm disappointed in my governor, who's a good Baptist, or attends a Baptist church. And I will stand by God's word and regardless, I'm so thankful for all the support and calls and e-mails that I have been receiving from great Oklahomans and people from all over the nation saying stick to your guns. Proclaim God's truth.
And I want them to know that I am thankful. But I'm not going to back down because I didn't say anything in hate. I didn't say anything in malice. Perhaps I could have said it in a less offensive way, but I was standing by the truth and I believe I've been reading in Philippians this week, the Book of Joy.
Philippians Chapter 1, Verse 12 says this, 'Paul says I want you to know brothers that what has happened to me has happened to further or to advance the Gospel.' And that's the way I see this. If God can take little old me, I'm a nobody, OK, and use me to stir up the church and say it's time that we take a stand for biblical values, then let God use me.
It goes on to say in Chapter 1 also, he says that we need to contend for the faith and do it boldly, not backing down in fear. And this will be a sign to, to our opposition, enemies it says in there that God will rescue us. And then it goes on to say we have been granted not only the privilege of believing in Jesus Christ, but suffering for him."
There are also organizations that can help men and women escape the bondage of homosexuality such as Exodus International at http://www.exodus-international.org or Living Hope Ministries at http://livehope.org. A book titled Ex-Gays? Shows the best scientific study yet conducted on change of homosexual orientation and on the question as to whether attempts at such change are inherently harmful. George A. Rekers, Ph.D., Th.D., FAACP is a Professor of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science Emeritus at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine who conducted a peer review of this book. He concluded that this careful clinical research investigation of a significant number of individuals yielded no evidence to support the common assumption that attempts to change sexual orientation cause harm or psychological distress.
According to reports from the Concerned Women for America, nearly 3,000 people attended a rally in support of Rep. Sally Kern at the Capitol on April 2. Matt Barber, CWA's Policy Director for Cultural Issues, said, "This astronomical show of support for Rep. Sally Kern today sends a strong message. People with traditional values who value God's design for human sexuality will not be intimidated and bullied into silence. Political correctness can never trump truth. Sally Kern stood for truth, and she was hated for it. She was persecuted for Christ, but the Body of Christ was there to lift her up. Sally was faithful to God, and He was faithful to her in return. This is a great day for all who love righteousness." CWA of Oklahoma State Director Linda Caswell said, "This is an awesome experience. We had a fantastic turnout and a fantastic message. Rep. Kern and her husband spoke a message of forgiveness, redemption and hope through Jesus Christ. This is a historic moment for Oklahoma." Peter LaBarbera, President of Americans for Truth, also flew in from Illinois to speak and take a stand with Rep. Sally Kern.
The Thomas More Law Center, a national Christian public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has agreed to represent Rep. Kern in any legal action that may come about from this controversy.
Rick A. Moore serves on the Ethics & Religious Liberty Committee of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma and is State Committeeman from Wagoner County Republican Party. He has been a conservative activist in the Oklahoma Republican Party for the past 16 years.
Back to Front Page
|  |
|
 
Do you like what you see here? Much more is available in every issue of the publication no true Conservative can do without. Order now for only $10.00.
|
|
