Jezebel: Oklahoma

How in the Hell are We Supposed to Grant Fertilized Eggs Constitutional Rights?

Erin Gloria Ryan — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:30:00 EST

The state legislatures of Virginia and Oklahoma have continued to embarrass their reasonable constituents this week by passing legislation that defines fertilized eggs as "persons" eligible for the same rights as normal humans that aren't multicelled, consciousless globs. Framers of Personhood bills believe that their new laws would outlaw abortion, and they're right— but I don't think they realize just how complicated it would be if all constitutional rights were granted to prepeople. How messy could it get? Let's take a look at the Bill of Rights and find out. More »

Kansas and Oklahoma Battle to See Which State is Considering Crappier Abortion Restrictions

Erin Gloria Ryan — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST

There's no better way for lawmakers to impress constituents nowadays than to pass draconian abortion restrictions, and no states are trying harder to enforce pregnancy than Kansas and Oklahoma. But which terrible, totalitarian abortion law is worse? Let's find out. More »

Romance Contest Fine With Werewolves, but Gay People Are 'Just Too Much'

Anna North — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:20:00 EST

An Oklahoma romance writers' group recently launched a contest for the best book in each of nine sub-categories (example: "Paranormal –- Single titles –- dark or light, futuristic, magic, alternative Earth, urban fantasy, vampire, werewolf, etc."). The problem: no gay romance allowed. More »

Brilliant Democratic State Senator Tacks 'Every Sperm is Sacred' Clause to Oklahoma's Personhood Bill

Erin Gloria Ryan — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST

Undaunted by the monumental failure of Personhood USA's push to declare fertilized human eggs exactly the same as grown ass adults in Mississippi, conservatives in Oklahoma have pushed forward with their own Personhood Bill. But one Democratic smartass isn't having it, and she finds the whole thing so absurd that she tacked on an amendment of her own that would outlaw the spilling of semen in any location other than a woman's vagina. More »

Fun-Hating Legislator Proposes Ban on Eating Aborted Human Fetuses

Erin Gloria Ryan — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST

Let's take a moment today to salute a brave American hero. A man who saw through the amoral haze of today's society and who had the courage to stand up for what's right, even in the face of an unstoppable tide of modernity and vice. That man is Oklahoma legislator Ralph Shortey. And that fearless act of bravery was his introduction of a bill that would ban adding aborted human fetuses to food. Your babyeating ways will no longer be tolerated, Sooners. Be warned. More »

Woman Kills Intruder After Asking 911 Operator For Permission To Shoot Him

Margaret Hartmann — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:53:00 EST

For Sarah McKinley of Blanchard, Oklahoma the past few weeks have been unbelievably harrowing. First, the 18-year-old's husband died of lung cancer on Christmas. Then on New Year's eve two men tried to break in her house while she was home alone with her infant son. One of the men made it through her front door, and after checking with a 911 operator to make sure it was legal, McKinley shot and killed him. More »

Woman Arrested After Turning Wal-Mart Into Meth Lab

Erin Gloria Ryan — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:50:00 EST

A woman's attempt to turn her local Wal-Mart into a makeshift meth lab ran afoul of the law after spending six hours unsuccessfully trying to concoct crystal meth in the store. This is the best store related illicit multitasking since Horne's Department Store recruited perfume counter employees for prostitution work at One Eyed Jack's! More »

Racist, Homophobic Legislator Sally Kern Is Back

Irin Carmon — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:15:00 EDT

Three years ago, Oklahoma legislator Sally Kern announced that homosexuality is "the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam." More recently, she gave a speech suggesting that the number of incarcerated African-Americans was "because they don't want to study as hard in school." She also said women wanted to work less hard than men. More »

"Rapest" Tattooers Going To Prison

Irin Carmon — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:05:00 EDT

The bizarre story of the two men and two women who forcibly tattooed a man with "Rapest" and "I like little boys" has come to end, and the men are getting the toughest sentences. More »

Oklahoma's "Homosexual Agenda" Rep Is At It Again

Irin Carmon — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 10:15:12 EDT

Up until recently, Oklahoma legislator Sally Kern was most famous for her homophobia and creationism. Now she's added racism and sexism to the mix — just for variety, we assume. Her "apology" for remarks on affirmative action is also a treasure. More »

School Board Official Says Hiring Pregnant Woman Would Be "Worthless"

Irin Carmon — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:31:47 EST

A Board of Education member in Oklahoma has caused an uproar after saying a proposed candidate would be "worthless" to them—because she's pregnant and might take maternity leave. The woman, eventually voted in, left the meeting in tears. More »

School Keeps Gay Teens From Graduating (Updated)

Anna North — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 09:35:00 EST

Students at an Oklahoma high school say administrators have discouraged them from graduating — and even kicked them out — because of their sexual orientation. More »

Oklahoma Teen Commits Suicide After Homophobic Meeting

Anna North — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EDT

The latest in a string of tragic suicides by gay youth, Zach Harrington ended his life after hearing anti-gay rhetoric at a City Council meeting. More »

Meet Oklahoma's First Transgender Political Candidate

John Bavoso — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EDT

There's a showdown unfolding in Oklahoma's House District 84, between Brittany Novotny, the state's first transgender political candidate, and Sally Kern, infamous for believing that LGBT Americans are more dangerous than terrorists. An interview with Novotny, after the jump. More »

Angel In The Outfield

Anna Holmes — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:10:00 EDT

[Oklahoma City, June 8. Image via AP]

Lucky No. 7

Anna Holmes — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:10:00 EDT

[Oklahoma City, June 6. Image via AP]

Oklahoma Governor Vetoes Abortion Website Bill

Anna North — Tue, 25 May 2010 10:40:00 EDT

Oklahoma's governor has vetoed a reintroduced bill that would have required details of women's abortions to be posted online, because it has no exception for rape or incest. However, Oklahoma's legislature has overridden such vetoes in the past. [WSJ] More »

Oklahoma Passes Strictest Abortion Law, Protects Doctors Who Lie To Women

Anna North — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:40:54 EDT

Oklahoma just passed the country's strictest law on pre-abortion ultrasounds, along with another law that basically allows doctors to lie to pregnant women. More »

Cats Evicted From Bush Library Grounds • Miss America In Favor Of A Lesbian Winning Pageant

Katy Kelleher — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:20:00 EDT

• A group of feral cats have been left homeless from the construction of the George W. Bush library. Volunteers are transporting the squatting felines to a new site, but it is difficult because "cats don't like to move." • More »

Health Nuts: The Anti-Abortion Empire Strikes Back

LatoyaPeterson — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST

As Senator Nelson continues crusading to expand the Hyde Amendment, the state of Oklahoma is attempting to leverage more restrictions on abortion: new regulations force women to answer 30+ questions pre-procedure, with the answers posted to a state-run website. More »

Judge Strikes Down Oklahoma Abortion Ultrasound Law

Anna North — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:30:00 EDT

An Oklahoma judge has overturned a law that would have required doctors not only to perform ultrasounds on all women seeking abortion, but to describe the resulting images. One critic called the law the most extreme in the country. More »

Sheriff Charged With Raping, Sodomizing & Bribing Female Prisoners

Jessica G. — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:30:00 EDT

An Oklahoma Sheriff is being accused of running his own version of Girls Gone Wild in prison: On Wednesday, Mike Burgess, the top officer in Custer County — 90 miles outside Oklahoma City — was arrested for, among other charges, forcing female prisoners to "engage in wet T-shirt contests and offering cigarettes to those who would flash their breasts," reports the AP. Burgess's T-shirt contests weren't his only alleged misconducts: A federal lawsuit against him includes "14 counts of second-degree rape, seven counts of forcible oral sodomy and five counts of bribery by a public official." Other dastardly deeds attributed to the asshole: telling a drug court participant he would send to jail if she didn't give him sexual favors; giving a prisoner a coveted "jail trusty" job after she performed a sex act on him, then taking the position away when she would no longer service him, and telling a third woman he would get her brother released from jail if she did him. More »

Undercover Operation

Dodai Stewart — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 09:45:00 EDT

A man in Bethany, Oklahoma has been knocking on doors and leaving notes with specific instructions: Asking for women to give him their underwear, reports CBS News. The notes say that the women will be given $20 in exchange for undies. Bethany Police Chief Neal Troutman uses his amazing skills of deduction and says this person "apparently has a fetish." The Chief also says he's worried what this "sick individual" might do next. But should the cops be concerned? Seeing as how this panty enthusiast has conducted himself quite civilly so far? [CBS News] More »

[www.youtube.com] State Representative...

trisarahtops — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:11:21 EDT

[www.youtube.com] State Representative Sally Kern was recorded in a recent speaking event, making egregious homophobic, ignorant, bigoted, hateful remarks, namely, equating homosexuality with terrorism. This has been circulating over the weekend on YouTube, and plus Perez picked it up—landing numerous embarrassed responses from self-proclaimed Oklahomans. As an Oklahoman myself, I am just as mortified and heartbroken. More »