Fresh from the SDS National Convention several members of Oklahoma SDS joined GLBTF (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Friends) for a Rally Against Intolerance on Monday (October 25).
The rally was organized in response to several recent events at OU and in the city of Norman. It was a direct response to the [as yet unidentified] person(s) who stole GLBTF’s pride flag during Shack-a-Thon. The date for the rally was chosen to coincide with Norman Human Rights’ Commission’s (HRC) current discussion around amending the Norman non-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
Seventy to seventy five students and townies marched from the South Oval up to Gray St. and the Municipal Complex, chanting the whole way. We stopped on the lawn right outside the HRC meeting. Then about 10 or 15 marchers were invited to sit in on the meeting and contribute to the discussion – the HRC will go on to recommend that gender identity and sexual orientation be added to the non-discrimination policy that governs Norman employees. The next step will be to amend that ordinance to apply to all Norman businesses: if that happens, Norman will be the first state in Oklahoma to adhere to such a policy.
