Fallin: “Like The Vast Majority of Oklahomans, I Support Traditional Marriage”
Gov. Fallin steadfastly opposed to gay marriage; Tulsa’s Equality Center celebrates rulings
BY RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Equality Center Executive Director Toby Jenkins hoped his morning Bible reading would prove a good omen. “Exodus 15 — Miriam leading the Israelites coming out of Egypt in dancing,” said Jenkins, a former Baptist minister. “I thought ‘Hmm.’ And we’ll be dancing tonight.”
Jenkins and many of the 50 others gathered at the Equality Center Wednesday morning for the release of two U.S. Supreme Court decisions related to same-sex marriage were delighted, if somewhat surprised, by the rulings. In a pair of 5-4 rulings, the Supreme Court struck down a law denying federal benefits to married gay couples; the court also cleared the way for the resumption of same-sex marriage in California.
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin issued a statement this afternoon saying she would not support same-sex marriage in the state.
“When given the opportunity to vote on the issue, 75 percent of Oklahoma voters supported a constitutional amendment declaring that ‘marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman.’ Like the vast majority of Oklahomans, I support traditional marriage,” Fallin’s statement read. “I do not and will not support expanding the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.”