OkEq Weekly eNews March 22nd, 2021 |
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MISSION: OkEq seeks equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals and families through intersectional advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. |
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Get your house in order and help us get our house in order, too! Go to smile.amazon.com for your shopping needs, and Amazon will donate a portion to Oklahomans for Equality!
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Tracy Allen
July 8, 1966 - March 22, 2021
Oklahomans for Equality remembers Tracy Allen, an incredible staff member who served OKEQ for over 24 years.
"I could always count on Tracy to be there for our community. We met as volunteers, we became board members, we became staff, but always were friends first, I have lost one of my dearest friends and I must never let him down by failing to serve our community. You have finished your race Tracy, I will continue to run my race with you in my heart." -- Toby
"Tracy, you're forever in our memories and forever in our hearts. Thank you for all the work you've done for our community. We miss you, Tracy." -- Kao
"Tracy always made time to listen to anyone who needed an ear."-- Allison
"Tracy was so dedicated to the cause. We all learned from him and his infinite wisdom."
-- Morgan
"Tracy's smile and laugh always made you feel welcome and better."-- Paul
"Tracy was one of the first people I met at the center. He trained me as a volunteer, and as I got more involved, I saw how much of a rock he was for this organization. Anything that needed to be done, if Tracy could do it, he would. More than anything else, I will remember Tracy's laugh and his smile. He always filled the room with cheer. I already miss the light he brought to this building." -- Alex
"Tracy is an incredible advocate and mentor for us here at OKEQ. His presence and personality will be greatly missed." -- Krissy
"Thank you Tracy, for sharing the history of this organization with myself and countless others."-- Anna
"Tracy was a mentor and friend, I'm thankful that I got to experience his kindness and learn from the wisdom he shared with me." -- Donovid
"There are so many words that can define such a sweet, loving person that is a joy to be around. I remember the first time I met you. We were cutting a rug on the dance floor. Down the line, I got the pleasure of being on staff with you. Your presence was always good vibes. You served the community and took time to give back. I'm really gonna miss you, and our last conversation in text will be saved forever. Your mission is complete. Now you get to dance with the best. Love you." --Scrappy Legacy
"Tracy Allen was a force of nature that we will never forget and can never replace. For decades, Tracy was one of the faces greeting you when you entered the Equality Center and one of the voices wishing you well when you left. Tracy embodied everything we stood for as an organization and was a constant warrior in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in this community. Tracy met every person with compassion and approached every problem with a genuine desire to be a part of the solution. We have lost a beloved member of our family and, while we mourn this incredible loss, we also celebrate a man that helped so many people, saved so many lives. We each carry a piece of the light that shown brightly in Tracy with us. We will carry it with us every day and, hopefully, make the world a brighter place in remembrance of our brother, who was sadly taken much too soon."
-Board of Directors, Oklahomans for Equality.
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Mylin Gipson
Jim Craven
June 5, 1937 - March 16, 2021
Kodee Shane
Nataleigh Ann LaLonde
Cody Wayne Allen
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Tulsa Pride: Parking Lot Bingo
Friday, March 26, 2021, 7:00 p.m.
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center
621 E. 4th St., Pride Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
Join OKEQ as we kick off Pride Bingo with Rainbow Granny!
Bar and concessions will be open inside, as will the bathrooms.
Tickets are live at the OKEQ Pride Store.
Social distancing and masks are required.
Dress appropriately for the weather.
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OKEQ Health Clinic Virtual Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Tuesday, March 23, 2021, 6:00 p.m.
On Facebook Live
Please join us on Facebook Live on Tuesday, March 23rd, at 6:00 p.m. for the OKEQ Health Clinic ribbon cutting. Though our clinic has been seeing patients since 2020, COVID kept us from commemorating the occasion, and we felt like LGBTQ+ Health Week was the perfect time for an official virtual grand opening.
You will hear from Dr. Bruce Dart with the Tulsa Health Department; Dr. Laura Arrowsmith, our supervising physician; Lily Piña, our Nurse Practitioner; Alex Wade, our Medical Services Director; Kara Joy McKee, Tulsa City Councilor for District 4; Krystal Reyes, the Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Tulsa and Mercedes Millberry-Fowler, the Manager of Community Affairs with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma. We will be naming the waiting room in memory of Doug Campbell, a long-time supporter of the Equality Center who died of ALS in 2019. Wes Smith, Doug's former partner, David Gourd, Doug's caregiver, and Doug's sons Brent and David will be sharing about Doug's legacy.
You can view the ceremony on Facebook Live.
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STOP ASIAN HATE
Oklahomans For Equality stands with the Asian community, especially our LGBTQIA+ Asian siblings, during this time of Anti-Asian racism and violent attacks.
Together as a community we must raise our voices and stand up against anti-Asian hate speech, acts of violence, and the more subtle microaggressions the community experiences. Since the start of the global pandemic in March 2020, Stop AAPI Hate, a center that tracks and responds to incidents of hate, violence, harassment, and child bullying against the AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) community, has reported over 2,800 firsthand accounts of anti-Asian hate from 47 states and the District of Columbia.
Racism and discrimination are words that are not new to any of us. As marginalized people, we must recognize the connections of our own implicit biases to the oppression of others.
At times of social unrest and uncertainty, we may feel like there is nothing we can do to make the world a better place, but that is never the case. Together we can achieve great things.
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SAGE Tulsa in-person meetings have resumed.
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SAGE Tulsa
Tuesday, March 23, 2021, 10:00 a.m.
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center
621 E. 4th St., Pride Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
SAGE Tulsa has resumed meeting in-person.
Please see the COVID-19 Guidelines below to participate.
SAGE Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m.
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SPIRIT: Interfaith Happy Hour
Thursday, March 25, 2021, 6:00 p.m. on Facebook Live
Oklahomans for Equality's new Equality Faith Alliance is excited to announce SPIRIT, a virtual happy hour-style support and social group dedicated to helping LGBTQIA+ individuals reframe their relationship with religion. Whether your goal is to reconnect with your faith, recover from past spiritual abuse, renounce your faith, or just connect with other people like yourself, SPIRIT is the group for you. Each Thursday, a spiritual leader from Tulsa and the surrounding areas will guide the group through a discussion about the intersections of faith and sexuality. All walks of faith are welcome. All expressions of identity are welcome.
Our guest host this week is Rev. Bob Lawrence with the United Church of Christ.
Precepts C.A.R.E
1. Committed to Interfaith Dialogue
2. Affirming full equality for LGBTQ+ persons and families
3. Resistant to any coercive action of proselytizing and conversion
4. Eradicating conversion therapy and dangerous reparative counseling practices
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Neurodiversity Tulsa
1st and 3rd Tuesday of Every Month, at 6:30 p.m.
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center
621 E. 4th St., Pride Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
Neurodiversity Tulsa is a program of OKEQ focused on connecting neurodiverse LGBTQ+ people. If you are on the autism spectrum, have ADHD, have bipolar, have anxiety, have Down Syndrome, a personality disorder, brain injuries, or other neurodivergencies, you are welcome in this group! We will meet on the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center to play games, make art, chat, and connect with like-minded individuals in our community.
Please message Anna Puhl on Facebook or email by clicking the button below:
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GEN Q: Trivia and Karaoke Night
Thursday, March 25, 2021, 7:00 p.m.
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center
621 E. 4th St., Pride Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
Come and join OKEQ's group for young, LGBTQIA+ adults 18 to 26-ish, GEN Q! GEN Q is a social group for young adults looking to make friends, network, or just looking for support.
Thursday, March 25, we will have a trivia and karaoke night! Come with your favorite song and your fun facts. We will have snacks and drinks.
This will be a laid-back event. Masks are required.
For questions, please email Donovid with the contact button below.
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Her-Story Moment: Cecilia Chung
Cecilia Chung is an internationally recognized civil rights activist who advocates for transgender people and people living with HIV/AIDS. In 2004, she co-founded the Sacramento Trans March, an event demanding equal treatment and protections for transgender people in response to a recent rise in violence against trans people. She has worked for the Transgender Law Center since 2005. Through this organization, she launched Positively Trans in 2015, a self-advocacy network for transgender people living with HIV. For the last 30 years, her work has focused on reducing the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS, advocating for transgender equality, and stopping violence towards the LGBTQ+ and the HIV-positive communities.
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Josh New “Confronting the Male Nude:
A Figure Study of the Male Form."
Opens Thursday, April 1
Artist Reception On Thursday, April 8, at 6:00 p.m.
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center
621 E. 4th St., Pride Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
Josh New is a commercial freelance photographer from Oklahoma specializing in portraiture and conceptual art. He received his MFA in Photography from the University of Tulsa in 2011, focusing on a thesis critically exploring modern American masculinity in both gay and straight cultures. He continues to create work showcasing the male form in hopes that one-day nudity, both male and female, will cease to be feared and brutally censored.
This show is a celebration of male beauty and figure photography that is currently banned from most social media platforms because it goes against “community standards.” Even when not sexualized, the human body continues to be censored and excluded from discussion in modern American society. My hope is to present beautiful, emotional, and thought-provoking work and show that these “community standards” are actually an archaic barrier to healthy reflection and comfort with our own bodies. The show will feature giant prints of male nudes that I hope viewers will feel comfortable looking at, analyzing, and discussing in the hopes that confronting the fears and misconceptions of nude figure photography, particularly of the male body, can foster a change into what our community accepts.
The show opens Thursday, April 1st, at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center located at 621 E. 4th Street Tulsa, OK 74120. On Thursday, April 8th, there will be a special artist reception with Josh New, and Covid measures will be in place. The show continues throughout the month.
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Gen Q: First Thursday Art Gallery Meet-Up
Thursday, April 1, 2021, at 6:30 p.m.
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center
621 E. 4th St., Pride Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
Come and join OKEQ's group for young, LGBTQIA+ adults 18-26-ish, GEN Q! GEN Q is a social group for young adults looking to make friends, network, or just looking for support. For this event, we will be meeting up at the First Thursday Art Gallery Show, Josh New “Confronting the Male Nude: A Figure Study of the Male Form."
NOTE: This gallery exhibit contains explicit imagery of the Assigned Male At Birth (AMAB) form.
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Queer Black Voices: A Conversation with Donald Rose
Friday, April 2, 2021, at 7:00 p.m
This event will be held via zoom and live-streamed on Facebook due to Covid-19.
Join OKEQ as we continue the Queer Black Voices series with Donald Rose. Donald is a US Army Veteran serving from 1985 to 1994. Donald did Basic Training at Fort Dix, NJ, and Duty Stations at Fort Lewis Washington, Hannau, Germany, Fort Leonardwood, MO.
This event will be held via zoom and live-streamed on Facebook due to Covid-19.
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OkEq In-Person Focus Group: Voting Bylaws Change Proposal
Monday, April 5th at 6:00 p.m.
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center
621 E. 4th St., Pride Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
You are invited to an In-Person meeting to provide needed and necessary membership feedback regarding a proposed amendment to the OkEq bylaws, regarding how the organization currently elects the OkEq Board of Directors. You must be a member in good standing with your $50 membership fee current. This is an OKEQ membership meeting only.
Presently, OkEq bylaws require that the Board of Directors be elected by popular vote of its members in good standing. OkEq is seeking to implement current best practices for an LGBTQ+ community organization of its size, based on feedback from national and local LGBTQ+ leadership organizations, with guidance from Oklahoma nonprofits and other local leaders and fundraising organizations, and move the OkEq Board of Directors to a succession board. This would mean that the OkEq Board of Directors would, annually, with the advice and recommendations from our constituency, self-nominate the successor Directors to fulfill all the terms and conditions of a Director for the organization.
This is a major change in organizational policy and OkEq needs membership feedback prior to voting on this issue. Please join us and make your voice heard. You must be a member in good standing with your $50 membership fee current.
You may also join this meeting remotely by Zoom. You must be a member in good standing with your $50 membership fee current.
You must RSVP to get a zoom link to participate. Please RSVP by contacting us below by Monday, April 5th by 3:00 p.m. to register and receive the Zoom link.
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April Volunteer Training
Saturday, April 3, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 6, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center
621 E. 4th St., Pride Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
Interested in joining the OKEQ volunteer team? Already a volunteer but need to brush up on your service skills after the year-long service break?
We are hosting volunteer training for new and returning volunteers to get ready for in-person programming and service at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center! You will learn about the center, the duties and responsibilities of being a volunteer, and all of the necessary skills; all packed neatly into a 90-minute training!
This training will be offered twice each month, so don't stress if you can't make it. However, these trainings are required to volunteer at OKEQ! We can't wait to see you!
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Lawyer in the Center
Tuesday, April 13, 2021, at 5:30 p.m.
2nd Tuesday of the Month
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center
621 E. 4th St., Pride Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
Julie L. Goree with Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma is available for drop-in discussions regarding legal issues. It is a "first-come, first-serve basis." Please be patient and prepared to wait your turn.
Julie can answer basic questions on any matter that Legal Aid covers. So, divorces, paternity, child custody, protective orders, child support, guardianships, housing, expungements, Wills/Estates, and Social Security. Legal Aid does not cover criminal, personal injury, or worker's comp. She has some knowledge about those fields of law.
If the question is beyond her knowledge, she can take the person's phone number and call them back after discussing it with another Legal Aid attorney. She also will accept questions via email or phone if someone does not feel comfortable getting out or coming in. Email is julie.goree@laok.org. Office phone is (918)295-9429.
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Third Thursday in the Rainbow Room:
Thursday, April 15, 2021, at 8 p.m.
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center
621 E. 4th St., Pride Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
Join Rainbow Room favorites as we re-open Third Thursdays in the Rainbow Room with a spectacular cabaret remembering all of the wonderful music of days before Covid-19!
Tickets will be limited, and we will offer pay-per-view streaming on Zoom of this performance.
Check back next week for the ticket link!
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POC SOCIAL: Paint & Sip
Friday, April 16, 2021, at 7:00 p.m
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center
621 E. 4th St., Pride Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
Come paint something magical and sip on some wine. 21+ to drink
POC Social is a space for people of color across a variety of backgrounds to come together and create a community through friendship, connections, entertainment, and thoughtful conversations.
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EBA Mixer
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021
6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Cityscape Home Mortgage
1115 S. Lewis Ave.,
Suite D
Tulsa, OK 74104
www.cityscapehome.com
The Equality Business Alliance networking mixers have resumed! Cityscape Home Mortgage will be hosting the Equality Business Alliance Mixer for April. Please join us. Masks and social distancing will be required.
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GEN Q: Night Out
Friday, April 23, 2021, at 9:00 p.m
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center
621 E. 4th St., Pride Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
Come and join OKEQ's group for young, LGBTQIA+ adults 18-26-ish, GEN Q! GEN Q is a social group for young adults looking to make friends, network, or just looking for support.
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Every 4th Friday of the month, we will hit the town and dance the night away. We will pay for entry on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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The Racial Justice Task Force of Oklahomans for Equality kneels with the Norman High School Girls Basketball Team
"At OkEq an extremely important part of the work we do is in supporting our youth. These youth represent a whole host of intersectional identities that deserve respect and honor. We not only denounce this terrible display of racism targeted at young people, but we denounce racism directed at anyone. Our youth deserve to be loved and cherished for everything they are and we will continue to do that work every day. Our youth should not be put down, reprimanded, or impeded in their efforts for equality as there are no laws against them and they too have freedom of speech."
-The Racial Justice Task Force
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As a sign of our thanks and gratitude, OKEQ is excited to announce that all new, monthly donors supporting us at $25/month and above will receive a complimentary OKEQ T-Shirt with confirmation of their monthly donation. |
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FREE PRONOUN PINS
We now offer free pronouns pins at the front desk of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. If you don't see your pronouns listed, ask a staff member, and we can help make you a custom pronoun pin.
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YOUTH GROUPS ARE BACK IN PERSON!
Alphabet Soup, Alphabet Soup Kids, Raise Your Voice, and the LGBTQ+ Parent Support Group have resumed. All groups will still have a zoom component for those who need it. Masks will be required, and social distancing practices will be in place.
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Join us and the Bisexual Resource Center all month long in calling for bisexual+ equity in social, educational, and healthcare spaces.
Bisexual+ people make up more than half of the LGBTQ+ community. Still, they receive minimal funding to tackle the major physical, emotional & social health disparities they face at higher rates than their gay peers.
By centering the unique needs of the bi+ community, we can fight back against bi-antagonism in media, health care, research and education, and improve the physical, sexual, mental, emotional, and spiritual health of bi+ people. Learn more about the bisexual+ community’s well-being here: bihealthmonth.org
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Brought To You Bi the Letter B Virtual Programming
2nd and 4th Mondays, 7:00 p.m. - 7:40 p.m.
Meets via Zoom
Our Bi Support Outreach group is now Virtual! The program exists to provide support, encouragement, education, and social opportunities for all Bisexual and Pansexual, Curious, & Questioning individuals. The group will meet virtually via Zoom. You will be able to access it via Video, Chat, and/or telephone.
Please call 918-798-1054 or email Daniel Buck with the link below for more information.
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The Equality Act Passes in U.S. House
Senators Must Now Prioritize LGBTQ Nondiscrimination Protections
Take action today by contacting your Senator via phone or email. It's so simple - just a few clicks will get it done. You can even record a 30-second video! Click below and follow the prompts:
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A Message from
OkEq Board President
Chris Brecht-Smith
As many of you are aware, on Thursday, February 25, 2021, the United States House of Representatives passed the Equality Act, which would ban discrimination against people based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It is the latest in a series of steps towards true equality for everyone. Oklahomans for Equality (“OkEq”) is beyond elated that the Equality Act is one step closer to becoming the law of the land in this country and prays that the U.S. Senate follows suit to pass the Act.
However, it should be noted that none of Oklahoma’s representatives – Kevin Hern; Markwayne Mullin; Frank Lucas, Tom Cole; or Stephanie Bice – voted in support of the Equality Act this past week. OkEq is aware that each of these representatives received notice from their constituents voicing support for the Equality Act; thus, it cannot be said that the State of Oklahoma stood unanimously opposed to the Act.
It further bears mention that opponents of the Equality Act, including Oklahoma Senator James Lankford, are asserting that the Equality Act will threaten people’s religious freedoms if passed. OkEq could not disagree more. Granting equal rights and dignity to all LGBTQ+ persons should not and does not inhibit any person from living and practicing their faith. Historically, religious freedom has been used as a rallying cry to discriminate against people based on racial and gender lines. History has shown us, though, that the Constitution can protect religious people and LGBTQ+ people simultaneously.
We live in a beautiful and incredibly diverse country. It is time that all people are celebrated and protected for those diversities. Please contact your U.S. Senators, James Lankford, and Jim Inhofe, and let them know that Oklahoma supports the passage of the Equality Act. Additionally, please take a moment and remind your Representatives that their “nay” votes to the Equality Act are not representative of you, their constituents.
Chris Brecht-Smith
OkEq Board President
(pronouns: he/him/his)
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Art2Go: Five-Week at Home Art Class
Five art classes in a box delivered directly to your door once a week for five weeks! Learn a little art history, a little art theory, and then get creative with art supplies, step-by-step instructions, and virtual support.
Projects include:
- Altered books
- Found object sculpture
- Paper art quilting
- Grafitti Stamping
- Collage
This class started Monday, February 22nd, but you can jump in anytime! Contact Alex to get started.
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The March Allie Jensen Memorial Art Gallery
will feature Audrey Byrd: “The Divine Feminine”
Continues until March 31,
The Show is open from 9:00 a.m to 9:00 p.m. Monday - Sunday
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center
621 E. 4th St., Pride Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
“My bold colors and textures act to accentuate the femininity that is often so harshly judged and censored by the public eye. My main goal as a painter is to help people fall in love with their beauty and recognize their divinity. I use all reclaimed + repurposed canvases, frames, and miscellaneous oddities to create my pieces to be as sustainable (and unique) as possible. I love manipulating my supplies to create one-of-a-kind paintings and sculptures that leave my viewers thinking, “how did she do that?” and inspire them to try creating their own masterpieces.”
For a Virtual Tour, Click the Video Below:
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Do you know a young person who loves to sing?
We are so excited to partner with Tulsa Opera and have a youth choir at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center!
This choir is open to all LGBTQIA+ youth, will be held on zoom and in-person starting this Saturday afternoon, and is COMPLETELY COST-FREE!
This group is meant for all music levels, all genders, all expressions, and will be 100% fun. The group is led by a professional musician and will have multiple concert opportunities as COVID-19 allows.
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Join Oklahomans for Equality's NEW youth group for kids under 13: Alphabet Soup Kids. This group is for all youth who identify as LGBTQ2SAI+ or who have parents/guardians who are LGBTQ2SAI+. This group exists to provide support, connection, and (most importantly) FUN for our kids across Oklahoma.
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Being a parent is the most challenging, most amazing job on the planet but being the parent of an LGBTQ2SIA+ youth comes with its own unique challenges and amazing moments. OKEQ's new support group for parents of LGBTQ2SIA+ youth is here to help you navigate hard conversations, meet other parents and have a safe space to talk about what's going on and how to create a better environment for our kids. To learn more and to join this group, contact Morgan Allen at Morgan.Allen@okeq.org
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Support Group for Parents of Transgender People
1st Wednesday of the Month, 7:00 p.m.
Meets via Zoom
This group is here to support parents of transgender people at all stages of transition. Whether your child is 6 or 60, this group is for you to find community and connect to resources.
All participants must speak to one of the group facilitators before joining.
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Trans Teen's Support Group
2nd and 4th Monday of the Month, 6:00 p.m.
Meets via Zoom
This support group is for all transgender teens, ages 13+. This group is welcome to trans boys, trans girls, non-binary teens, and everyone under the trans umbrella.
All participants must speak to one of the group facilitators before joining.
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Support Group for Partners of Transgender People
2nd Wednesday of the Month, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting
Support group for partners of transgender people. Whether your partner is just starting to transition or transitioned twenty years ago, you are welcome to come to talk and find community.
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Non-binary Support Group
2nd Wednesday of the Month, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting
Support group for anyone who identifies outside the gender binary. Whether you identify as non-binary, genderfluid, genderqueer, or agender, everyone is welcome!
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Coming Out Workshop
1st and 3rd Monday of the Month, 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting
Free to participate, this one-day course is designed for individuals coming to terms with their sexuality with presentations on how to come out to family, friends, and coworkers. Question and answer session in a supportive and informed environment.
Please contact our OKEQ Mental Health services at 918-938-6538 or click the button below to schedule.
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Our clinic is open to provide the healthcare services our community needs. Right now, our clinic is taking patients for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and PrEP.
If you are interested in starting or continuing care, please contact the OKEQ Health Clinic by calling 918-938-6537. If you want to make an appointment, follow the link below.
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The Equality Health Alliance strives to connect the LGBTQ+ community with friendly healthcare providers. With our searchable database, patients can find doctors based on their specialty and accepted insurance.
We provide healthcare professionals with training on working with the LGBTQ+ community and follow-up support and education on evolving best practices. All participating healthcare providers must show a commitment to being an affirming and welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community.
As we are still getting started, our database is small, but it is growing. If you would like to look at our database, click here. |
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Oklahomans for Equality Sponsors
George Kaiser Family Foundation
Flint Family Foundation
Sanford and Irene Burnstein Foundation
Boomtown Tees
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma
Temple Israel
Bank of Oklahoma
Phillips 66
Creoks Mental Health Services
Phillips Theological Seminary
Dennis R. Neill and John Southard
Kelly Kirby CPA
Dwight Kealiher
Timothy T. Cole and Chance Phillips
Larry Ward
Richard and Debra Gordon
Sasha and Ethan Warlick
Jason McVicker and Justin Clary
Joe and Nancy McDonald
The Estate of John Raveill
Al and Renee Carlozzi
Marylyn Tippeconnic
Barbara Abercrombie and Tery DeShong
Cynthia Phillips and Chere Gibbs
William Murphy and Todd Holland
Joe Hukills
David Nelson
Christopher and Michael Brecht-Smith
Mark Fitch
Daniel S. Burnstein and Martin Martinez
Kristopher Wilmes and Dusty Gross
Danny Thomason
GOOGLE
College Hill Presbyterian Church
Darci Hazelwood and Sharon Kimberlin
Sue Welch and Marcy Smith
Anonymous
Trevor Project
Linda Ford
ONEOK
Fellowship Congregational Church UCC
AEP/PSO
Harry Cramton
Jane Wiseman
Runnymeade Foundation
Jacob and Lacey Grinnell
George McCauslan and Rusty Clyma
James Monroe
Bob and Oliver Dale Hanson
Williams
Peter Athens
Philip and Miranda Kaiser
Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation
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Counseling Services: Please contact the counselor directly to schedule a virtual appointment. |
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Allison Ikley-Freeman
Allison Ikley-Freeman, LPC, is passionate about assisting individuals who are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community who experience a range of concerns and issues. Individual, youth, and adolescent counseling is available on a sliding fee scale based on income.
Please call 918-938-6538 and select option 2 to make an appointment or send her an email at
allison.ikley-freeman@okeq.org.
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Samira Yousef
Samira has joined OKEQ Counseling team as a masters intern. Excited to assist individuals in the LGBTQ+ community on their journey to wellness. The first four sessions with Samira are free. Further sessions are available at low cost.
Please call 918-938-6538 and select option 2 to make an appointment or send an email to allison.ikley-freeman@okeq.org
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Jessica Landis-Rase
Jessica has joined OKEQ Counseling team as a masters intern. Excited to assist individuals in the LGBTQ+ community on their journey to wellness. The first four sessions with Jessica are free. Further sessions are available at low cost.
Please call 918-938-6538 and select option 2 to make an appointment or send an email to allison.ikley-freeman@okeq.org
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Katie Zink
Katie has joined OKEQ Counseling team as a masters intern. Excited to assist individuals in the LGBTQ+ community on their journey to wellness. The first four sessions with Katie are free. Further sessions are available at low cost.
Please call 918-938-6538 and select option 2 to make an appointment or send an email to allison.ikley-freeman@okeq.org
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OSU - Tulsa Counseling Services
The Oklahoma State Tulsa Counseling Center is an LGBTQ+ affirming center located in Main Hall of OSU Tulsa. You do not have to be affiliated with OSU to benefit from these services! Our center offers clients from OKEQ sessions for only 5 dollars. Each member of our counseling team receives additional training and supervision in LGBTQ+ issues and is excited to work with clients from OKEQ.
Please contact us at 918-594-8568 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
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Regularly Scheduled Programming |
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Gender Support Program
Wednesdays
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
The program is providing support, education and social opportunities for transgender and intersex individuals.
A first time interview is required before attending your first meeting. Email
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Support Group for Parents of Transgender People
1st Wednesday of the Month at 7:00 p.m.
Meets via Zoom
The program is providing support, education, and social opportunities for parents of transgender people.
A first time interview is required before attending your first meeting. Email
or
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Support Group for Partners of Transgender People
2nd Wednesday of the Month at 7:00 p.m.
The program is providing support, education, and social opportunities for partners of transgender and non-binary individuals. Ages 18+.
A first time interview is required before attending your first meeting. Email
or
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SAGE Tulsa
Every Tuesday
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
"drop in for coffee"
Facilitated by
John Madigan
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OkEq Board Meeting
Virtual
Thursday, April 8th, 6:00 p.m.
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center.
All Oklahomans for Equality board meetings are open to all OkEq members.
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Support Group for Transgender Teens
2nd & 4th Monday of the Month at 6:00 p.m.
Meets via Zoom
The program is providing support, education, and social opportunities for transgender teenagers 13+.
A first time interview is required before attending your first meeting. Email
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Alphabet Soup Youth Group
Join us for Alphabet SOUP, where all letters are welcome! Alphabet SOUP is dedicated to supporting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) youth by providing fun group activities, community, and volunteer opportunities. Alphabet SOUP’s primary goals are providing Services, Outreach, Unity, and Preparation for adulthood -- or SOUP -- to LGBTQIA+ youth ages 13-17.
Email
youth@okeq.org
for more information.
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Children/Siblings of Trans*/Non-Binary Individuals Support Group
This program is for youth ages 8-18 that have trans* parents or siblings. This group will provide support, education and social opportunities for those living with trans* family members. Attendees must have approval from the facilitator to participate. Please contact Krissy at krissy.dudley@okeq.org.
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Brought to You Bi
the Letter B
2nd & 4th Monday
of each month
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Bisexual support group hosted virtually. Tell all your friends. The group is open to all bi/pan/queer/fluid+ folks and their allies. Please call 918-798-1054 or email Daniel Buck with the link below for more information.
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Tulsa Area
Prime Timers
2nd Tuesday of the Month
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
A social organization for mature minded Gay and Bisexual men age 21 and over. The purpose is to establish friendship and support through social interaction. Visit
more information.
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Survivors of Conversion Therapy T.E.A (Therapy Experienced Anew)
Every Monday at 7:00 p.m.
Over 113,000 LGBTQIA+ individuals have been subjected to Conversion Therapy. T.E.A is a new group that will utilize several different activities to help you take your narrative back and find peer support along the way. Come, sit, and spill the tea with us on this journey to the most authentic you.
Call, text, or email Jess Branston at 918-924-5624 jess@anchoredbhc.com
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Equality Game Night
2nd Friday of the Month
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Looking for something fun to do on a Friday night? Wanna meet up with friends and make new ones? Do you have board games or video games you've been eager to play? Then Equality Gaming Night is for you!
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The Equality
Business Alliance fosters a sharing of information, ideas, contacts, products and services, and also strengthens and expands our businesses, careers and community.
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H.O.P.E.
HIV Testing Schedule
2nd and 4th Saturday of the Month
from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00p.m.
provided by H.O.P.E. Testing
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Alex Wade
Medical Services Director
He / Him / His
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Krissy Dudley
Administrative Coordinator
She / Her / Hers
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Anna Them Puhl
Technical Coordinator
They / Them / Theirs
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Morgan Allen-White
Center Director
She / Her / Hers
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Kao Morris
BIPOC Program and Digital Media Coordinator
He / Him / His
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Donovid Sekulits
LatinX Outreach and Library Services Coordinator
He / Him / el
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Lily Piña
Nurse Practitioner
She / Her / Hers
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Luke Scuitto
Membership Coordinator
He / Him / His
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Shay Brewer
Operations Manager
He / Him / His
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Donna Mathews
Grant Coordinator
She/Her/Hers
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In Memoriam
Tracy Allen
SAGE
He / Him / His
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Toby Jenkins
CEO/Executive Director
He / Him / His
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Executive Committee
Chris Brecht-Smith - President
Stacy Turner - Vice President
Will Vaughn - Secretary
Paul Allen - Treasurer
Bob Hanson - Member at Large
Board of Directors
Laura Arrowsmith, D.O.
Angelyn L. Dale, Esq.
Allison Ikley-Freeman
Joe Guetlein
Darci Hazelwood, D.O.
Corey Thompson
Monique Washington
Justin Ross
Shannon Gordon Fair
Trustees
Shawna Baker, Esq.
Dan Burnstein
Kirk Holt
Cynthia Phillips
Kris Wilmes
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Board of Advisors
Aderyn Lonigan, C.P.A.
Amairani Perez
Christian Fencer
Cray Flyn
Crista Patrick
Dani Byrd
Denise Reid
Matt Else, D.O.
Elizabeth Ortiz
Jane Wiseman
Joann Frizell
Karen Keith Wilkins, Esq.
Stephen Rundell
Ty Morgan
Whitney Cipolla
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Oklahomans for Equality
Reduced Hours: Please Call before you visit
621 E. 4th St.
Tulsa, OK 74120
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