GLAAD visited the Dennis R. Neil Equality Center to speak and train dozens of activists on how to speak to the media while fighting anti-LGBTQ and anti-equality bills.
GLAAD is the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization that works to increase media accountability and community engagement to ensure authentic LGBTQ stories are seen, heard, and actualized.
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GLAAD provided training titled "Engagement 101: Telling Your Story: Messaging and Media Tools for Today's Activists," to teach activists how to share their stories with audiences who want to learn the facts about LGBTQ people to accelerate acceptance and strengthen equality throughout Tulsa and the state of Oklahoma.
“I have to interact with people seeking information all the time. Just in the limited amount of work that we’ve been able to do together, I’ve been able to refine and hone my messaging,” said Dorothy Ballard, executive director of Oklahomans for Equality. “What was most moving to me is seeing the light bulb moments across people in attendance today, and then going ‘Aha I can do this!’ The other takeaway is that Oklahoma is so often regulated to a fly over state zone. And because of that, there is a lot that’s overlooked or neglected here.”
GLAAD reported that the activists expressed feeling overwhelmed in their state, but by breaking down and refining the message that Oklahomans will respond to, solidarity was formed.
On March 21, Oklahoma state representatives passed House Bill 2564, otherwise known as the "Don't Say Gay or Trans" law.
HB 2564 works to censor history, health education, and all discussions of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and race in the classroom.
The bill was passed just weeks after the Tulsa City Council passed a resolution to make Tulsa more inclusive to all communities.