CONTACTAbout UsCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2025 Equal Entertainment LLC.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
A gay and lesbian rights group started a million-dollar advertising campaign Monday with an ad in a national newspaper saying Oklahoma is "going out of business" because of its proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Cimarron Equality Oklahoma said in a news release that by effectively telling gays they are not welcome in the state, Oklahoma would also drive away economic development. "Studies show that a state's level of tolerance for its gay and lesbian citizens directly impacts its success in attracting the talented people and creative atmosphere essential for economic growth in today's competitive marketplace," the group said in its ad, which took up nearly half a page in the Money section of USA Today. The state house voted 92-4 on April 22 to send to voters a proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage as only the union of one man and one woman. Under the proposal, same-sex marriages performed in other states would not be recognized in Oklahoma, and knowingly issuing a marriage license to gay couples would be a misdemeanor. Oklahoma already outlaws same-sex marriages in statutes but not in its constitution. Sen. James Williamson (R-Tulsa), who wrote the proposed amendment, called the ad campaign "outrageous.... There is a real hunger for a return to traditional values and for leaders who will draw a line in the sand to help stop the moral decay of this country. I believe Oklahoma's efforts to protect traditional marriage will help us attract new jobs and businesses." He predicted the campaign would backfire. "The vast majority of Americans would support our efforts to protect the traditional concept of marriage, and so, indirectly, I think the ad may be beneficial to Oklahoma," Williamson said. The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce also took issue with the campaign. "The growth of the environment is important to all Oklahomans, and discouraging businesses from considering our state is in no one's best interest," Cynthia Reid, chamber vice president of marketing and communications, said in a statement. The USA Today ad showed an outline of Oklahoma with "Closed" stamped over it. "Companies thinking of relocating to or doing business in Oklahoma should look hard at Oklahoma's worsening culture of intolerant exclusion and its resulting brain and talent drain," the ad said. Cimarron Equality Oklahoma hopes to convince residents to vote down the proposed amendment in the November general election. "We believe this constitutional amendment is antifamily, antibusiness, and simply wrong," said Terry Gatewood of Cimarron Equality.
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
31 Period Films of Lesbians and Bi Women in Love That Will Take You Back
December 09 2024 1:00 PM
18 of the most batsh*t things N.C. Republican governor candidate Mark Robinson has said
October 30 2024 11:06 AM
True
These 15 major companies caved to the far right and stopped DEI programs
January 24 2025 1:11 PM
True
Latest Stories
Activists stack coffins in front of State Department to protest PEPFAR cuts (in photos)
April 17 2025 3:22 PM
JD Vance wants the UK to repeal its LGBTQ+ hate speech laws to secure a trade deal
April 17 2025 12:37 PM
Chicago Teachers Union ratifies groundbreaking contract cementing LGBTQ+ protections
April 17 2025 7:00 AM
Mahmoud v. Taylor: Everything to know about the Supreme Court case to ban LGBTQ+ books
April 17 2025 6:30 AM
Top 15 safest U.S. cities for LGBTQ+ travel
April 17 2025 6:02 AM
Federal government to remove gender dysphoria from protected disabilities list
April 16 2025 7:29 PM
U.S. activists call U.K. anti-trans ruling 'a serious blow' to human rights
April 16 2025 4:38 PM