Marriage equality advocates in Oklahoma
on Tuesday launched an awareness campaign.
Supporters gathered at the state
Capitol to launch Freedom
Oklahoma.
“We must remember that freedom means
freedom for everyone,” said Troy Stevenson, executive director of
The Equality Network. “As long as Oklahomans are denied the
dignity and the freedom of marriage, as long as they are fired from
their jobs for just being who they are and living open and honest
lives, we will continue to fight to make sure that these voices are
heard and to make sure that we all remember equality is not a
question of if, but a question of when, and we plan to make sure that
happens sooner rather than later.”
The campaign's launch comes as a
federal appeals court in Denver prepares to hear arguments in the
state's appeal to a lower court's ruling striking down Oklahoman's
ban on gay marriage. Oral arguments will be presented on April 17, seven days after
the court hears a similar appeal out of Utah.
Similar educational campaigns have been
launched in several states.