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Oklahoma State Senate

Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

For Immediate Release: April 20, 2004

Audio Clip


Senator James A. Williamson

Former Dem Governor Walters Attempting to Stop Vote of the People on ‘Marriage Protection Amendment’

• UPDATE: Dems Seeking to Stop Gay Marriage Ban Vote in Oklahoma

Former Democrat Governor David Walters has joined efforts by state Democrat leaders to keep the people of Oklahoma from voting on the Marriage Protection Constitutional Amendment at this fall’s general election.

In a recorded phone message to voters, Walters asks citizens to call House Speaker Larry Adair (D) and demand that he kill House Bill 2259, which would send the Marriage Protection Constitutional Amendment to a vote of the people in the November general election.

The Marriage Protection Constitutional Amendment would define marriage in Oklahoma as only between one man and one woman, and would prohibit the state from recognizing homosexual marriages performed out-of-state. It is a response to recent attempts across the country to legalize so-called “same-sex” marriages.

The Republican leaders in the House of Representatives and the Senate said Walters’ phone message proves that Oklahoma Democrat leaders support legalizing homosexual marriages, and are pulling out the stops to keep Oklahomans from being allowed to vote on constitutional protections for traditional marriage.

“I feel if Speaker Adair and other members of the Democrat leadership will listen to their constituents, we will soon be voting on HB 2259, a bill favored by the vast majority of Oklahoma voters,” stated House Republican Leader Todd Hiett, R-Kellyville.

“Recent polling by a state newspaper showed that 79 percent of Oklahomans oppose homosexual marriages and 69 percent of Oklahomans support a constitutional amendment defining marriage as only between one man and one woman,” stated Senate GOP Leader James A. Williamson, R-Tulsa. “Once again, Democrat leaders in this state are showing how out of step they are with the people of Oklahoma.”

Tuesday, the Senate tabled a motion to reconsider Thursday’s vote to approve House Bill 2259, which means the bill is now headed to the House of Representatives.

For more information contact:
Senate Communications Office - (405) 521-5774

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