Crowd denounces homophobic remarks by lawmaker

About 350 people demonstrated on Mar. 18 at the Oklahoma state Capitol to demand Rep. Sally Kern apologize for calling homosexuality a bigger threat than terrorism. The demonstration was organized by Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays -- PFLAG -- and included a number of area church leaders. Methodist pastor Jim Shields told the protesters that Kern needs to meet with both gays and Muslims. The Rev. Loyce Newton-Edwards, a United Church of Christ minister, and the President of the Oklahoma City chapter of PFLAG said that if Kerns does not meet she should resign. Kern, a Republican was not in the Capitol during the noon hour protest. Kern made the remarks in a speech to a small gathering but did not know they were being recorded. The tape fell into the hands of The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund which then posted it on the video sharing site YouTube. In the speech Kern said gays have become more dangerous to the American way of life than terrorists. "The homosexual agenda is destroying this nation; it's just a fact," Kern went on to say in the speech. "I'm not gay bashing, but according to God's word that is not the right kind of lifestyle," she said. "It has deadly consequences." Kern then declared that "Studies show that no society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted more than a few decades." Thousands of emails have flooded into the state mailboxes of lawmakers demanding an apology. Kern's legislative assistant said that as of Mar. 18 her office had received about 26,000 emails -- some reportedly threatening. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is examining the emails and said that charges could be laid. Pressure has been mounting on lawmakers to censure Kern for her remarks. House Speaker Chris Benge (R) has said that he has no plans to punish Kern. Democrats want a House committee to investigate the remarks to determine if a censure is warranted but Benge has refused.