OkEq Weekly eNews October 8th, 2019

October 11th, is National Coming Out Day!

To celebrate National Coming Out Day this Friday, October 11, Oklahomans for Equality has created a Facebook frame for your profile picture! At OKEQ we celebrate being OUT and PROUD LGBTQ+ Okies. Feel free to use it to show that you are #OUTinOKLA. Lynn Riggs does a great job showing our new frame off! You can find it on our Facebook page.

LGBTQ Town Hall Watch Party!

Thursday, October 10, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Dennis R. Neill Equality Center

621 E. 4th St., Pride Street

Tulsa, OK 74120

On Thursday, October 10th HRC and CNN are hosting the Power of Pride LGBTQ town hall with 9 of the 2020 presidential candidates. The next Democratic presidential debate is Tuesday, October 15th.

We invite you come out and get an early look at our 2020 Equity Agenda. We want to know what you and your guests think and what's important to you in this race.

We are inviting you and your guests to help us shape our 2020 Equity Agenda!

Thank you for helping us queer the vote!

McAlester Pride

Saturday, October 12, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Chadick Park

S. 3rd St. & E. Chadick Ave.

McAlester, OK 74501

Join us as we pick up the torch lighted by McPride many years ago...McAlester Pride Picnic! Come in costume if you like! Food, music, entertainment and resources!

Tulsa Native American Day

Monday, October 14, 2019 at 9:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m.

Guthrie Green

111 E. M.B. Brady St.

Tulsa, OK 74103

Come join us for the 3nd Annual Tulsa Native American Day Celebration! Event will begin at 9:00 and is open to the public. Vendors, artists, and food trucks will be available throughout the day! Come listen to local community leaders and guest speakers talk about what this day means to them. Parade will begin at 12:00 pm followed by exhibition dancing.

We have so many volunteer opportunities ahead at OKEQ and one we are super excited about is the  Tulsa Native American Day  Parade on Monday Oct. 14 from 9:00am-1:00pm. We need 30 volunteers who are ready to help our indigenous family out by giving directions, helping with parking, and other general parade stuff! Our Native American community has worked hard to put this event together, and they deserve the opportunity to enjoy and participate in their parade and, with your help, we can make that happen!

Stand with our Native Siblings!

You can sign up by clicking the link below:

This years art, titled "Walking in the Spirit", was done by Tim Nevaquaya. Visit Nevaquaya Fine Arts:

LGBT Women's Network October Happy Hour

Monday, October 14, 9:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m.

Vi ntage Wine Bar

324 E. 1st St.

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74120

Vintage Wine Bar has will be hosting us in their beautiful new(ish) space for our October happy hour. Come have a glass of wine or cocktail, meet some new faces, and hopefully it'll be nice enough out to enjoy their perfect patio. **this is on the second Monday of October due to our organizers BOTH being out of town.

As always, our monthly meetups are come & go gatherings for Tulsa women who identify as LGBTQ+ and allies are always welcome!

If you would like to recommend a happy hour location, just send us a message! We’re interested to visit all LGBT-friendly locations!

EBA Mixer

Wednesday, October 16, 6:00 p.m.

Serenity Financial

508 W. Atlanta St.

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

serenityfinancial.us

Serenity Financial will be hosting the Equality Business Alliance Mixer for October.

Preparing for your financial future is one of the most important steps you can take in life. From tax-advantaged strategies to lifetime income solutions to protecting your lifestyle, we can help you create and enjoy the future of your dreams.

We’re committed to keeping things simple and clear. We pride ourselves on providing you with quality information so you can make sound financial decisions. We tailor our recommendations around your specific goals to help create the peace of mind you deserve.

Attend one of our events to discover more about what we do or connect with us one on one to figure out if we might be a good fit. 

Third Thursdays in the Rainbow Room

Thursday, October 17, 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Dennis R. Neill Equality Center

621 E. 4th St., Pride Street

Tulsa, OK 74120

Best of Broadway…and Other Exaggerations is a delightful compilation of some of the most beloved tunes every performed on the great white way. The talented cast takes the audience on a sometimes hilarious and sometimes sentimental journey, offering important moments from more than a dozen Tony Award winning Broadway musicals. This cabaret-styled performance features members of Tulsa’s theater and entertainment scene, Sam Briggs, Kara Staiger, Denise Hoey, and Mike DeMarco, while Christy Stalcup lights up the keys. With music from "A Chorus Line" to "Hello Dolly," with moments from "Cabaret," "Man of La Mancha," and many more, this show has something for everyone who loves Broadway music.

Alphabet Soup: OUT of the Can

October 18 - October 20

Dennis R. Neill Equality Center

621 E. 4th St., Pride Street

Tulsa, OK 74120

Leadership Lock-In 2019 will bring together LGBTQ+ youth in middle school and high school from across the state to socialize, develop leadership skills, and to have a great time! Throughout the lock-In, youth will have the unique opportunity to build partnerships, learn new skills, and develop leadership skills to impact their community.

Who Should Attend?

Youth: Youth in grades 6 through 12 who identify as LGBTQ+ who also have an interest in connecting with, and impacting their community.

What Will We Do?

Youth will participate in interactive workshops focusing on leadership development, community impact, and self-expression. There will be informative and motivating keynote speakers, lots of fun activities, entertainment, and a silent disco!

Some activities will be held at alternate locations such as Youth Services of Tulsa. Staff and volunteers will be responsible for transporting youth to alternate sites.

 For more information about registration, call the Equality Center at 918-743-4297.

The OKEQ History Project Needs your Help



Our History Project team has been working on archiving footage, artifacts, and newspaper clippings from 1980 to the present day. We have pieces of Oklahoma LGBTQ+ history that span forty years, but we need your help! Do you have old newspapers at your house that mention OKEQ? Do you have Pride shirts from 1999? Videos from past galas? 

Consider donating or loaning them to our history project so we can digitize and make our archive searchable to the public! 

Bring any and all artifacts to the center! We are open 7 days a week from 9am-9pm!

Lynn Riggs received his final makeover on Monday! We are so happy to have him restored thanks to the fine artists at  Colorpop Art Lab ! Thank you Tulsa for your support.

POC Social at OkEq

Friday, October 18, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Dennis R. Neill Equality Center

621 E. 4th St., Pride Street

Tulsa, OK 74120

The People of Color Social Mixer focuses on celebrating, preserving and connecting POCs in the Tulsa LGBT+ community. Join us for drinks, food and fun! The POC events are scheduled the third Friday of each month.

Visibly Imperfectly Perfect Tulsa Support Group Meeting

Thursday, October 24, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Dennis R. Neill Equality Center

621 E. 4th St., Pride Street

Tulsa, OK 74120

This is Visibly Imperfectly Perfect Tulsa very first meeting invite!!! We are so excited to bring people together to help each other LOVE the SKIN they are in!!

LOVE the SKIN they are in!!!! Encouraging others keeps her encouraged as well!

Our first meeting was so much fun!!!! We hope to see you there :)

Active Shooter - How to Respond and Survive

Sunday, October 27, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Dennis R. Neill Equality Center

621 E. 4th St., Pride Street

Tulsa, OK 74120

Learn strategies on how to survive an active shooter situation. 

Profile of an Active Shooter 

Per the Department of Homeland Security:

An Active Shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area; in most cases, active shooters use firearms(s) and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims

This course will teach you how to prepare mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation at school, work or other public places.  

Name Change Clinic

Wednesday, November 6, 5:30 p.m

Dennis R. Neill Equality Center

621 E. 4th St., Pride Street

Tulsa, OK 74120

Oklahomans for Equality is hosting a name change clinic. We are focusing on those who are in progress of starting the name Change process as well as those who are interested in doing so in the near future. Joshua Payton will be our resource.

Josh, has eight years experience as a practicing attorney and six years in the entertainment industry working for Celebrity Attractions. My desire is to apply my legal and business experience to serve at the Equality Center. I may not immediately know the answer to a question, but I pledge to walk in solidarity with those seeking clarity until we have an answer.

MOREcolor Art Exhibition ‎ First Thursday Art Opening & Exhibit featuring OCRJ

Thursday, November 7, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Dennis R. Neill Equality Center

621 E. 4th St., Pride Street

Tulsa, OK 74120

The November Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) showcase and exhibit of local artists and will feature a show titled “Defending abortion access is an act of love”, beginning with a reception on Thursday, November 7th from 6-9pm and continuing throughout the month. The show begins with a reception on Thursday, November 7th from 6-9pm where there will be a door prize drawn of the artist’s work. The show continues throughout the month.

Join the Oklahoma Call for Reproductive Justice and MOREcolor Art Exhibition to talk about reproductive freedom in 2019 and what it’s going to take from each and every one of us to ensure abortion remains accessible to all.

This event will feature Oklahoma visual artist’s interpretations of the theme, “defending abortion access is an act of love,” as well as talks from local activists and opportunities to get involved. And of course since we are feeding the movement, enjoy dinner with us!

Defending abortion access is an act of love. And we fight to defend that access because we care. We fight because we know that without the ability to control our reproduction we are less free. We fight because In 2019 the right to abortion has become less secure, and at this moment in history it is crucial that we stand together to defend our reproductive freedoms.

We each have something uniquely powerful to lend this battle, and that’s why we’ve gathered artists, activists and students together to learn and to strategize together on how that message can change Oklahoma and ensure reproductive freedom. See more about OCRJ by clicking their link below:

Fresh Start Program: Trans-formative Self Care!

Thursday, November 7, 6:00 p.m.

Dennis R. Neill Equality Center

621 E. 4th St., Pride Street

Tulsa, OK 74120

The brain child of Victoria James and co-sponsored by Clary Sage College, Dennis R Neill Equality Center, Unity Tulsa, and Dynamite Conventions.

The Fresh Start Program is designed give a hand-up to those who are going experiencing major life-changes through teaching self-care. No matter what is happening in your

life … gender transition, divorce, or even just a much-needed change … The

Fresh Start Program provides a judgment free and life-affirming environment so

that you can build the best version of yourself through self-care and style.

So, stop hating your mirror and stop waiting on the Fab Five to swoop in to

make your life better. Join us for our free monthly classes, take control and

give yourself the skills to stride into the future with confidence.

November 7th - Hair Care and Styling

Still looking for that perfect hairstyle? Need to update your look? Come check out our workshop where Clary Sage College's Cosmetology instructor will discuss proper hair care, styling and what styles and cuts look good for certain face shapes. Students and instructors will style hair of attendees and show what may work best for you. The first 20 Attendees will receive a free gift and samples (or for as long as supplies last).

LEAD Together Class 2 LGBTQ+ Leadership Program

Wednesday, November 20, 7:00 p.m

Dennis R. Neill Equality Center

621 E. 4th St., Pride Street

Tulsa, OK 74120

Created in partnership with Oklahomans for Equality and Leadership Tulsa, LEAD Together LGBTQ+ Leadership Program Class 2 is now accepting applications! LEAD together is the only program in Oklahoma addressing LGBTQ leadership development.

The six-month program includes an orientation, 8 day-long sessions, volunteer work for Tulsa Pride and networking opportunities. Applications are due by 5 p.m. November 15th, 2019. They can be found by clicking below.

Transgender Day of Remembrance - TDoR

Wednesday, November 20, 7:00 p.m

Dennis R. Neill Equality Center

621 E. 4th St., Pride Street

Tulsa, OK 74120



Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.

Additionally, during the week of November 12-19, people and organizations around the country participate in  Transgender Awareness Week  to help raise the visibility of transgender people and address the issues trans people face.

This year we will be honoring those lost and celebrating their lives.

AIDS Quilt Narratives Wanted

The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center and Jeremy Stevens, program director of the Orbit Initiative for the Tulsa PAC, are asking anyone who knew and/or loved someone who died of AIDS to record their narratives for archival and future use. This project is for anyone affected by the AIDS crisis whose stories are connected to Tulsa. All of these stories deserve to be told.

 

Those who are interested in having a story recorded are asked to contact Stevens at the Tulsa PAC at (918) 596-7119 or  [email protected]  or Oklahomans for Equality Program Director Jose Vega at (918) 743-4297 or   [email protected] .

The Gender Diversity Health and

Social Experiences Survey (GHSE)

Do you identify as transgender or any gender that is different from the sex you were assigned at birth? If so, we encourage you to participate in The Gender Diversity Health and Social Experiences Survey! This research will help support our understanding of the social,

institutional, and healthcare needs of trans and gender nonbinary people.

Participants will have the opportunity to vote for a trans-related non-profit organization. $300.00 will be donated to each of the two organizations with the most votes. We will not collect any identifying information from you.

ICAO: E & E BALL - Halftime Event

Sunday, October 12, 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Tulsa Eagle

1338 E. 3rd St.

Tulsa, OK 74120

Please join us at the Tulsa Eagle to celebrate the halfway point of Reign 12 of The Imperial Court All Oklahoma, Inc . This is a special show as Their Majesties invite their Half-Emperors, Half Empresses, and ICS Family to come and help support Reign 12. Dress code for the evening is Semi-Formal.

The Deaths of Sybil Bolton

November 1st - 10th

Lynn Riggs Theater

621 E. 4th St., Pride Street

Tulsa, OK 74120

The Deaths of Sybil Bolton

from the book by Dennis P. McAuliffe, Jr.

adapted for the stage and directed by David Blakely

November 1 & 2, 8 & 9 at 7:30PM

November 9 & 10 at 2:00PM

HTC Playwright-in-Residence Emeritus David Blakely returns to recount a shocking true-life piece of Oklahoma history: the Osage Oil Murders. Based on Dennis P. McAuliffe, Jr.’s 1990 nonfiction book The Deaths of Sybil Bolton, Blakely’s adaptation depicts a journalist uncovering lies, cover-ups, and murder on his quest for the truth: what exactly happened to his grandmother during the systematic reign of terror that killed an estimated 60-plus wealthy, full-blood Osage Native Americans in the 1920s? Blakely expands his four-time TATE-winning* one-act play Four Ways to Die into a full-length true-crime story from Oklahoma’s past, with an intimate look at how trauma, legacies, and lies are inherited.

The Deaths of Sybil Bolton marks the latest Heller Theatre Company production that highlights plays centered on and brought to life by women and people of color. We are dedicated to supporting and magnifying the voices of the marginalized through these powerful and well-written works.

*”Four Ways to Die” received four awards from the 2018 Tulsa Awards for Theater Excellence ceremony, including Outstanding Original Work, Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Ensemble, and Outstanding Properties.

Tickets are on sale now:

The Tulsa Little Pajama Jammy Jam Gala!

Friday, December 6, 6:00 - 11:00 p.m

Dennis R. Neill Equality Center

621 E. 4th St., Pride Street

Tulsa, OK 74120

Join us for Tulsa Little Jam's first official fundraising Gala! And this isn't your typical fundraiser. It's the Tulsa Little Pajama Jammy Jam! That means we want you to come in your PAJAMAS! The goofier, the better!

There will be a silent auction throughout the evening of amazing local arts and crafts and other items, amazing food by Joel Bein and Rub , drinks of all kinds, and, of course, live music throughout night. It's Tulsa Little Jam, after all!

This is an ALL AGES event! So bring the family and get ready to have an amazing time! A percentage of all we raise will go to school music programs in Tulsa!

See you December 6th!

NextUp

907 S. Detroit Ave., Suite 210

Tulsa, OK 74120

(918) 442-2900

NextUp is a Tulsa-area initiative to support 18-to 24-year olds in determining, "What’s your next?" That can mean getting your GED, enrolling in technical training, or finding a job. NextUp wants to help you forge your own path and achieve your goals. With our program, you will have access to free technical training and job placement assistance, as well as a variety of individual skill-building workshops, college advancement, career coaching, and other steps to better their lives. and . Whatever your goal is, NextUp is here to help and support you.

Text "NextUp" to 31996 for more information.

Joe and Nancy McDonald Library

Equality Pride Store

Counseling Services

Regularly Scheduled Programming

Community Partners

OkEq Staff

Toby Jenkins

CEO/Executive Director

[email protected]

OkEq Board and Trustees

Oklahomans for Equality

Hours:  Mon - Sat 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. | Sun 9 a.m.- 6 p.m.

621 E. 4th St., Tulsa, OK 74120