Anti-gay Oklahoma state Representative
Sally Kern, the woman best known for saying gays were the “biggest
threat our nation has” at a gathering of Republicans, will face a
transgender opponent in the fall.
Oklahoma City attorney Brittany
Novotny, a Democrat, filed paperwork Tuesday to officially
challenge the outspoken Republican for the seat.
“[Kern] has proven to be out of touch
with mainstream Oklahomans, ineffective at solving problems, and bad
for business,” Novotny said in a press release.
While Kern's anti-gay comments drew
criticism from gay rights groups, the media attention turned the
politician into an overnight right-wing celebrity. She has since
continued to speak out against gay rights.
Earlier this year at the John Birch
Society's Clouds Over America conference, Kern called for a
new “Great Awakening” to defend America against the gay rights
movement, which she called the “gay agenda.”
“We need a spiritual revival, and
that will only come if God's people, especially you pastors, will
stand in your pulpits and vocally preach the word of God and thus
declare the Lord this sin, and preach it in love, only then does our
nation have a chance of overcoming the scourge of AIDS, HIV and the
devastating destruction that the homosexual lifestyle is bringing on
your children and grandchildren.”
In her press release Novotny kept mum
about Kern's anti-gay comments, keeping the focus on her campaign.
“I understand there are going to be
some folks who try to make this election about the fact that my
medical history includes a gender transition,” she said, “but I'm
running for office because I believe I'm the best candidate to fight
for jobs, education and transportation.”