The Gayly Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 6, Ed. 1 Saturday, June 1, 1985 Page: 6 of 23
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been expected. One gay person ex-
plained that by commenting that “Most
of these questions are checked ‘no’
because I have not let the fact that I am
gay be known.”
Tulsa’s “Sexual Preference Study”
was an incredibly well-researched,
pioneering study. Copies were request-
ed from and sent all over the country.
But it was not enough to get an ordi-
nance passed protecting Tulsa’s gay
community. Election time was too close
for that much comfort.
Instead, the Human Rights Com-
mission recommended a policy state-
ment—which meant that companies
doing business with the city could not
discriminate against employees on the
basis of sexual preference. It passed.
The first step.
Unfortunately, the only step. If the
idea was to consider the Ordinance—
which offered gays the only legal pro-
tection—at a later date, all hope died
with the election of Jim Imhofe as Mayor
of Tulsa.
In 1978, Jim Imhofe is quoted in the
Tulsa Tribune as saying, “I don’t think
it’s the government’s place to be giving
attention to the issue of homosexual-
ity, particularly when it is treating homo-
sexuals as a minority, which means
you give preferential treatment to the
concept.”
Jim wasn’t exactly on our side.
Passing the Torch
(Or: Flaming Fiercely Forward)
After several years spearheading the
Tulsa Gay Community Caucus, John
definitely needed a break. He passed
the reins on, but interest waned and
TGCC soon became a page in Tulsa
gay history.
Tulsa’s next gay organization was
formed as a chapter of an Oklahoma
City group, Oklahomans for Human
Rights. In its infancy, OHR in Tulsa was
viewed with disdain by many gays. It
was called “cliquish” and members were
referred to as “the Polo set.” But despite
early attitudes, OHR survived and is
now an integral part of the community.
A recent name change to Tulsa Okla-
homans for Human Rights severed the
umbilical to the OKC parent group,
and TOHR is a strong organization
that stands on its own merits. It oper-
ates the Help Line, provides a hospice
service for AIDS patients, donates
books to the library, prints a newsletter,
and generally serves as an informational
and educational forum for gay-related
issues in Tulsa.
About the same time as the fledgling
OHR was getting off the ground, an-
other service was started that would
support the gay community until its
dissolution just this year. On October
25, 1980 the Premier Issue of Another
World magazine hit the streets. Edited
by M.C. Parker, published by Princetta
Rudd, and with Tim Warren (a.k.a. Mr.
Timm) as Sales Director, that first issue
uncluded a nude male photo, gossip
information, a gay directory, and more.
It wasn't the first publication for Tulsa,
but was the one that survived the test of
time. After a while the magazine was
taken over by Jack Field and Stuart
Santifier; it grew, and eventually cover-
ed several states.
Still another youthful organization
which operates as a vital part of Tulsa’s
gay community is Metropolitan Com-
munity Church. Started in Tulsa in the
mid-70s, MCC has grown from its first
storefront h ome to a quiet church
building in northeast Tulsa. MCC offers
an outreach to the gay community that
many other churches have not been
able or willing to provide. MCC spon-
sors rap groups, a children’s church,
guest speakers, and socials. It ministers
to gay youth and sponsors dances for
them. MCC fills needs that cannot be
met in bars—which were, for so long,
the only places to go to meet others like
we did from the gay community. The
gay community was very hostile. We
were perceived as rocking their secure
boat—even though their boat was
anything but secure.”
By 1976, TGCC had decided it was
time to sink or swim. Gay bars were
being busted nearly every night, and
letters to various city officials obtained
no results. So, in March, John appeared
j before Tulsa’s Board of Commissioners
! to “respectfully ask that the Tulsa City
I Commission adopt a Municipal Ordi-
nance which will guarantee the rights
of all homosexuals in this municipality
so that fear and repression will no
longer enslave the minds of one of the
largest minorities in this community...”
The Commissioners seemed uncom-
fortable, with the exception of Police
and Fire Commissioner Mike Kerpan.
Mayor LaFortunp didn’t think there
wefs much of a problem, and referred
the matter to the Human Rights
Commission.
“The only trouble was, he had not
reckoned on . .. Victoria Myers,” says
John. “She was on the Human Rights
Commission. She was a law student...
she picked it up and ran with the ball,
and got the study going.”
The study, officially titled “Sexual
• LEATHER • NOVELTIES • CARDS
• MAGS • ASSORTED GIFT ITEMS
• GAY PRIDE T-SHIRTS
GENERAL STORE
Open 7 p.m. Nightly
(located inside TIM’S PLAYROOM
Special Sidewalk Sale — June 27th
i
Preference Study,” was a first not only
for Tulsa, but a first in this country. The
study was conducted over a five month
period “to determine whether or not
substantial problems exist in the areas
of employment, housing, public accom-
modations and police practices.”
Over 500 questionnaires were dis-
tributed within the gay community.
Hotel and motel owners and managers,
real estate agencies and apartment
complexes, as well as Tulsa employers
were contacted. Private individuals
were called in a phone survey. Letters
were sent to cities across the U.S. with
laws pertaining to sexuality.
All this research was done to deter-
mine the extent—if any—to which
homosexuals were being discriminated
against, and to discover possible ap-
proaches to the issue.
The respondents of the business
community for the most part indicated
that they would not or had not discrim-
inated against suspect or known homo-
sexuals. However, those in business
were overwhelmingly against a city
ordinance protecting homosexuals.
Sixty-one percent of the general
population felt that gays should not be
fired due to their sexual preferences,
though the majority believed that gays
should not be teachers or ministers.
The gay community itself reported
less discrimination than might have
us.
In fact, it has only been during the
past few years that Tulsa has had so
many different services to offer the gay
community; a community that has al-
ways existed but has only, in the past
fifteen years, begun to speak. We are
learning to take care of ourselves.
We are growing up.
Tulsa, perhaps, is growing up with us.
Police harassment is almost nonexistent
compared to what it was ten years ago.
Mayor Young threw out the first soft-
ball at a gay game last year, and has
made an appearance at MCC. The
Tulsa press even manage to do a non-
judgmental story on gays on occasion.
Homophobia still exists here, of
course. But it no longer debilitates us.
We have support networks; we have
places to go.
We have Gay Pride.
MISS GAY TULSA
A List of Tliost Who Htvt Worn tht Mist Gty Tulst Crown
compiled by M C Parker & Timm Warren
NOTE: Some dates list more than one Queen This is due
to the fact that more than one pageant was held in some
years until the consolidation of pageants in 1982 by
WarPark Productions. Miss Gay Tulsa is a registered
trademark of WarPark Productions.
1970-71
Queen Sandy
Gala
1971-71
Feathers
Holiday Inn East
Jamie
Blue Moon
1972-73
Cammie
Blue Moon
1973-74
Dianne
St Augustine's
Church
1974-75
Marcie
Friend s Lounge
1975-76
Taja
Mayo
1976-77
Leslie Fox
Queen of Hearts
Trudy Tyler
Le Cabaret
1977-78
Louise Kelly
Le Cabaret
1978-791
Casey Starr
New Plantation
Lisa Goodman
Papillon—
Foundam
1979-80
Mr. Timm
Friend's Lounge
Rita
Caruso's
1980-81
Leighann
Quality Inn
Cianti
Caruso's
1981-82
Tosha Turner
Rick’s
Chi Chi
Caruso's
1982-83
Helen Holiday
Crash Landing
1983-84
Raven Madd
Gaslight
1984-85
Stephanie CasadyOld Lady on Brady
AftYtmm
Goes
OPEN
IN TULSA
PAJAMA
§j*amv
JUNE
$50. to the KIN,
$50. to the FUh
$50. to the SM/
$50. to the MOi
(Judging#
fguiar $2.m cover costume.
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Shaffer, Ron; Hawkins, Don & Clark, Mark. The Gayly Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 6, Ed. 1 Saturday, June 1, 1985, newspaper, June 1, 1985; Oklahoma City, Okla.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc824321/m1/6/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.