Sally Kern

Infobox State Representative
name = Sally Kern

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imagesize = 150px
caption =
state_house = Oklahoma
district = 84^th
term_start = January 4, 2005
term_end =
predecessor = Bill Graves [cite web |url=http://ok.gov/~elections/02gen.html |title=General Election November 5, 2002 Summary Results |accessdate=2008-03-12 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=Oklahoma State Election Board]
successor =
birth_date = Birth date and age|1946|11|27|mf=y
birth_place = Jonesboro, Arkansas
death_date =
death_place =
constituency = Oklahoma State District 84
party = Republican
spouse = Steve Kern
profession = Politician, teacher
religion = Independent BaptistFact|date=April 2008


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Sally Kern (born 27 November 1946 in Jonesboro, Arkansas) is an Oklahoma state legislator from Oklahoma City. Kern, a member of the Republican party, represents House District 84. A former teacher, she graduated from the University of Texas and East Texas State University. She is married to Steve Kern, pastor of Olivet Baptist Church in the Oklahoma City area [http://okhouse.gov/Committees/Member.aspx?MemberID=87 Oklahoma House of Representatives - Sally Kern] ] and has two adult sons.

Election history

*2008 Race for Oklahoma House of Representatives – District 84cite web |url=http://newsok.com/kern-foe-files-terrill-cargill-draw-opponents/article/3252325 |title=Kern foe files; Terrill, Cargill draw opponents |publisher=The Oklahoman |accessdate=2008-06-10]

tatements on homosexuality

In March 2008, Kern made national headlines when she stated:

"Studies show that no society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted more than, you know, a few decades. So it's the death knell of this country. I honestly think it's the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam — which I think is a big threat, okay? Cause what's happening now is they are going after, in schools, two-year olds...And this stuff is deadly, and it's spreading, and it will destroy our young people, it will destroy this nation."cite web |url=http://www.democracynow.org/2008/3/11/headlines#6 |title=Oklahoma State Rep.: Gays "Biggest Threat" to US |accessdate=2008-03-14 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date=2008-03-11 |work=DemocracyNow.com |publisher=] [ [http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/03/10/dnt.ok.lawmaker.anti.gay.kwtv Anti-gay stance hits YouTube: An Oklahoma lawmaker's anti-gay comments are attracting national attention.] ]

After receiving attention for the remarks, Kern said "I said nothing that was not true" and refused to apologize. [ [http://www.newsok.com/article/3214388/ Kern vows not to apologize for remarks against homosexuals] ] [ [http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?2008/03/10/3 PlanetOut online news] ] She received a standing ovation from fellow Republican legislators in a private meeting a few days later. [cite news |first=Mick |last=Hinton |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Kern cites support from GOP |url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080311_1_A9_hUnde16804 |work=Tulsa World |publisher= |date=2008-03-11 |accessdate=2008-03-13 ] In response to Kern's comments, hundreds of gay and lesbian rights supporters protested at the Oklahoma State Capitol on March 18. [cite news|last=Branson|first=Hailey|title=Oklahoma: Lawmaker's Comments Bring Protest|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/19/us/19brfs-LAWMAKER8217_BRF.html?ref=us|publisher="The New York Times"|location=New York|page=A17|date=2008-03-19] Over 1000 later turned out at the Capitol in support of her. [cite news |first=Michael |last=McNutt |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Amid Controversy, Kern Gets Support |url=http://newsok.com/article/3224704/1207238655 |work=The Oklahoman |publisher= |date=2008-04-03 |accessdate=2008-04-03 ]

Shortly after her statements became public, rumors surfaced that one of her sons is gay. The spread of these rumors prompted public denials by both her and her son. [cite news|first=Mick |last=Hinton |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Sally Kern's son denies reports he is gay|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080314_1__OKLAH67120|work=Tulsa World |publisher=] Although Kern claimed in some Christian news sources to have received death threats that caused her to retain a bodyguard,cite web |url=http://www.cwfa.org/articles/14871/CFI/misc/index.htm |title=State Representative Under Attack by Anti-Christian Homosexual Hate Groups |accessdate=2008-03-16 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date=2008-03-14 |work=www.CWFA.org |publisher=Concerned Women for America] cite web |url=http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080315/31528_Lawmaker_Threatened_for_Comparing_Gay_Lifestyle_to_Terrorism.htm |title=Lawmaker Threatened for Comparing Gay Lifestyle to Terrorism |accessdate=2008-03-16 |last=Phan |first=Katherine T. |coauthors= |date=2008-03-15 |work=Christian Post Reporter |publisher=The Christian Post] the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation officer who reviewed Kern's emails said, "I wouldn't characterize them as death threats." cite web |url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080312_1_A13_hThey04584| title= OSBI Reading Kern E-Mails| last=Hinton| first=Mick| date=2008-03-14| publisher=Tulsa World]

Kern's statements were addressed on the "Ellen Degeneres Show" in a segment in which Ellen Degeneres attempted to telephone Kern's office.cite web|url=http://www.pageoneq.com/news/2008/ellen_sallykern031208.html|title=Gay talk show host attempts to contact Oklahoma Rep. Kern during television broadcast|last=Langewis|first=Nick|date=2008-03-12|work=PageOneQ|accessdate=2008-08-07] Degeneres received Kern's outgoing voicemail message, followed by the telecom's pre-recorded message indicating that Kern's mailbox was full. (Degeneres' comedic response was, "I'll bet!") Comedian Margaret Cho also discussed Kern's statements on the Oklahoma City stop of the True Colors Tour 2008.

Firearm possession

On July 23, 2008, Kern was stopped by security guards in the Oklahoma State Capitol when she tried bringing a loaded gun into the building. The gun was a .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun. Kern had a permit for the gun and claimed she brought it into the building by accident. It was later confirmed that a second incident in which Kern made it into the building with a gun occurred in June 2008. Kern was not charged for either incident.cite news|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iKTLcGyMOaU20uyohpz1T8W_FUqgD923SSBG0|title=Anti-gay Okla. lawmaker caught with gun at Capitol|last=Jenkins|first=Ron|date=2008-07-23|work=Associated Press|publisher=The Associated Press|accessdate=2008-08-07]

Political career

Kern authored a bill, which passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives in March of 2008, mandating that students who espouse Young Earth creationism still receive passing grades in Earth science classes. [cite web |url=http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/oese/ |title=Legislative: HB 2211 Passes House Education Committee. Help Defeat this Very Bad Bill! |accessdate=2008-03-11 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work=Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education |publisher=] After being passed in the house, it died in a Senate committee without reaching the floor for debate. [cite web | url = http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/oese/ | title = HOUSE BILL 2211 (KERN'S 'RELIGIOUS VIEWPOINTS ANTIDISCRIMINATION ACT') DIES IN COMMITTEE | accessdate=2008-04-16]

Kern co-authored the Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act that included the provision "Students shall not be penalized or rewarded on account of the religious content of their work", which was vetoed by Governor Brad Henry. [cite web | url = http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080606_1__World33430 | title = Henry vetoes 'Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act' | publisher=Tulsa World | accessdate=2008-06-10]

References

External links

* [http://www.okhouse.gov/Committees/Member.aspx?MemberID=87 Legislative homepage]
* [http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=46295 Project Vote Smart - Representative Sally R. Kern]