OKLAHOMA: Hate Group Files Marriage Ban Overturn Appeal With SCOTUS

The Alliance Defending Freedom today filed their Oklahoma appeal with the US Supreme Court. Via the Associated Press:

The appeal was filed Wednesday by an organization representing Tulsa County Clerk Sally Howe Smith, who was sued after refusing to grant a marriage license to a same-sex couple several years ago. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the couple last month, upholding a federal judge's ruling that found the ban unconstitutional. However, those rulings are on hold as the case makes its way through the courts, meaning same-sex couples haven't been allowed to marry in Oklahoma. The ban was approved by more than 75 percent of voters in 2004. The couple who sued, Sharon Baldwin and Mary Bishop, challenged the ban shortly after it was approved.

The first SCOTUS appeal to have been formally filed came yesterday from the state of Utah. The Alliance Defending Freedom has also filed a notice of intent to appeal to SCOTUS on behalf of a Virginia county clerk.

OKLAHOMA: Child Molestations And Cover-Ups At Tulsa's Massive Megachurch

Two employees at Tulsa's Victory Christian megachurch have been arrested for child molestation and several other high-level staffers have been accused of shielding those crimes.

More alleged sexual abuse victims at the 17,000-member Victory Christian Center in Tulsa, Okla., have come forward, adding to charges already made against the megachurch that its staff delayed reporting the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl. Reports revealed that on Monday, prosecutors added two additional charges against 20-year-old Chris Denman, a former employee who was arrested for allegedly raping a 13-year old in a stairwell on the ministry's main campus in August. He is also being accused of molesting a 15-year-old girl and for using a computer to make a lewd proposal to a child and committing a sex crime involving a 12-year-old girl. Another former employee, Israel Castillo, was arrested last week over similar accusations of making a lewd proposal to a 15-year-old girl and using a computer to commit a sex crime, The Tulsa World shared. On Tuesday it was unveiled that there might be a fifth victim of sexual abuse and a third suspect could face charges if more information is provided on the currently undisclosed incident.

Five church employees have been suspended as the police investigate whether they protected the molesters.

"We deeply regret that our employees did not report these incidents to authorities within the proper amount of time. This failure within our organization weighs heavily on us, because our purpose is to help people and minister to their needs," Victory Christian Center has said. "Our internal response was unacceptable, and we are taking the proper steps to correct it." The mother of the assaulted 13-year-old girl filed a lawsuit against the church last week, claiming that Victory Christian Christian had not done enough to report the crime on time. "Rather than contacting the appropriate authorities, defendant (Victory Christian Center) chose to conduct its own 'investigation' with the ultimate purpose of doing damage control as opposed to protecting the victim", the lawsuit reads.

OKLAHOMA: Tulsa City Council Adds Sexual Orientation Protections

Gay rights? In Oklahoma? Get out of here!

Champagne corks popped at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center on Thursday night after the City Council voted to add sexual orientation to Tulsa's nondiscrimination policy. Oklahomans for Equality members cheered and jeered at a rally as they watched councilors discuss the issue and their votes on a large-screen TV at the center. "As a gay, black man in Tulsa, Oklahoma, it's a monumental night," said Tracy Allen, incoming volunteer coordinator at the center. The change in policy is more in line with other large cities and will help Tulsa as it continues to grow, Allen said. "We are impressed with what we're seeing," he said. "As a city, as a whole, we are growing in the right direction." Oklahomans for Equality released a statement saying the vote marked a 35-year journey to equality, beginning with a 1975 report commissioned by then-Mayor Robert LaFortune. That report recommended that the city adopt the nondiscrimination policy.

Sally Kern must be livid. Excellent.

And Then She Floated Home In Her Ark

Tulsa, Oklahoma mayoral candidate Anna Falling is running on the platform of forcing the city's zoo to include the book of Genesis in its displays, in order to explain to children where all the animals came from.

"Some may ask why this issue during a Mayoral campaign? And I say why not?" said candidate Anna Falling. For Anna Falling, the road to city hall runs through the Tulsa Zoo. She's made her Christianity central to her platform and now the exhibit depicting the Christian story of Creationism is her first campaign promise. "Today we are announcing that God will be glorified in this city. He shall not be shunned. Upon our election, we hereby commit to honoring Him in all ways that He has been dishonored," said Anna Falling. Falling says God was dishonored four years ago, when the Tulsa Parks Board rejected an exhibit which borrows heavily from the first book of the Bible.

Four years ago Tulsa went through a protracted battle with Creationists over the same issue.