The Gayly Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 1, 1999 Page: 10 of 28
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Oklahoma Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Gateway to Oklahoma History by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Page tO ▼ T^e QAYLV ▼,AprtU. 99
Community News
INCOME TAX RELIEF
PROGRAMS AVAILABLE
Low income parents whose children lived
with them for over half of 1998 may be eligible
for an Earned Income Credit (EIC) tax refund,
reports the head of Legal Aid of Western
Oklahoma.
Stan Foster, executive director, said par-
ents raising one or more children and earning
less than S26.473 in 1998 can receive up to
S2.271. Parents raising two or more children
can earn up to $30,095 in 1998 and receive
a credit of up to $3,756 The law applies to
gay and lesbian parents as well as non-gay
parents.
The EIC is designed to supplement the
income of families and individuals whose
wages still leave them below the poverty line.
Foster said, noting the poverty line for a
family of four is about $16,000 per year.
In addition, the credit does not affect
other benefits such as welfare cash assis-
tance, food stamps. Social Security, Medicaid
or federal housing assistance, he said.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
office has trained staff ready to answer any
questions regarding the EIC or other tax
refund programs designed to help families
Cjreystofe
JApartments
2242 9{.W. 42nd
528-4710
Penn Square area. All new, totally electric,
microwave, ranges, refrigerators/ice mak-
ers, dishwashers, garbage disposals, ceil-
ing fans, free washer and dryers, high effi-
ciency CH&A. remote security gate, indi-
vidual security systems, fire suppression,
fenced patio, wetbars, plush carpet, ce-
ramic tile, vertical blinds, indoor pool
and the working poor. The number is (405)
297-4125.
Legal Aid of Western Oklahoma is a non-
profit organization providing free civil legal
services to low-income people and senior
citizens. Its counterparts include Legal Ser-
vices of Eastern Oklahoma, serving the east-
ern part of the state, and the Oklahoma
Indian Legal Services, serving native Ameri-
cans statewide. For more information, con-
tact Foster at (405) 557-0020.
VETERAN REPORTER VISITS
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OK
Veteran White House reporter Helen
Thomas visited the University of Central Okla-
homa last month to share her story and pitch
her second book. Front Row at the White
House.
Thomas had a ringside seat to history,
covering every president since John F.
Kennedy, and has no plans to be anywhere
else. She did. however, take a break to visit
the UCO campus where she. talked about
what's happening in Washington and the
state of journalism today.
She described the Clinton investigation
and impeachment proceedings as a “yearlong
siege." saying, This president has never
known a day when he has not been under
investigation."
Thomas said she believes Clinton has
been a "fairly good president." doing a lot for
the economy and education, but "lie's made
terrible mistakes that have brought the roof
down."
Thomas cares very much about the fu-
ture ofjournalism and is concerned about the
integrity of many newspapers. "Cities are
becoming one-newspaper towns, competi-
tion is dying and the public ends up getting
boiled-down, compressed news that lacks
diversity of opinion with page after pages of
advertising." she said, adding. "I don't think
we'll ever go back to big newspapers. We are
looking for our news more through comput-
ers and television."
CotryeulsOK
521-9545
2124 NW 39tl) SI
ate. ok
Sun. lues. Wed:
5pm til 11pm
Hiurs.Fri.Sat:
5pm HI 4am
NORTHERN LIGHTS HOLDS
THIRTY-THIRD AIDS MASTERY
WORKSHOP
The Oklahoma City chapter of Northern
Lights Alternatives (NLA) will hold another
AIDS Mastery' Workshop this month. The
program has been held in the Oklahoma City
metro area for over eight years, with a new
workshop offered every three months. I his
one. scheduled over the April 16-18 weekend,
is number thirty-three.
According to NLA Steering Committee
Member Dennis McKinney, the workshop is
designed to help those living with H1V/A1DS
learn to work with and handle more effec-
tively the issues associated with the disease,
especially as new drug therapies have made
living with HIV a much longer prospect. 'File
purpose of the workshop is empowerment,
giving those affected by the disease the tools
they need to regain control over their lives. It
also addresses issues often faced by families,
friends and care givers.
"Living with HIV is about living, not
about dying.” McKinney said.
The workshop begins on Friday' evening
with an introductory session where everyone
attending has an opportunity to get ac-
quainted with each other as well as with the
facilitators. On Saturday and Sunday, par-
ticipants go through intense sessions, both
m group and individual settings, where they
learn how to let go of negative emotions
which can often have an equally negative-
impact on overall health. In their place,
participants learn to see and appreciate the
positive forces in their lives, and to tap into
those inner resources for emotional healing.
Because of its positive approach. AIDS
| Mastery has become a verv popular work
shop over the years and each one. with space
for 25 people, is generally filled to capacity.
For this reason, organizers encourage those
interested in participating to register early.
The workshop is provided free of charge
through a giant provided by the Oklahoma
City AIDS Care Fund and other donations.
The location, which is not advertised
because of confidentiality considerations, has
changed this year. Participants and volun-
teers should contact the AIDS Mastery office
for details by calling (405) 748-9933. The
next AIDS Mastery will be held July 16-18.
HfilR
BY
SHflD
HATE CRIMES BILL DEFEATED
by Paula Brown
A proposed hate crimes bill which would
have increased penalties for committing bias-
related acts of assault or murder was de-
feated on the Oklahoma House floor, receiv-
ing only 33 votes from Democrats and none
from Republicans. The bill initially proposed
to include gays and lesbians in the list of
protected classes, but the bill failed even after
that provision was removed.
The outcome didn't surprise anyone.
“We didn’t expect this bill to pass, largelv
because we didn’t have any advance warning
it was coming and. consequently, didn't have
the necessary time to prepare. But we always
had hope." said Cimarron Alliance Group
President Terry Gatewood.
The bill came out of the blue as Rep. Don
Ross. D-Tulsa, became impassioned bv the
brutal death of college student Matthew
Shepard last year. Ross said he overcame Ins
own homophobia when he realized just how
much violence gays and lesbians were facing.
By the time the debate on the bill was ovei he
said, his understanding was much deeper.
"After the debate was over. Rep. Ross
told me lie had no idea just how much
hostility we faced." Gatewood said, adding.
The subject of gays and lesbians kept com
mg up. even though Ross dropped it from the
bill before it went to the House floor."
Many rural Democrats didn't vote for it
because some of their constituents still tel*
the bill still included gays and lesbians won
though the provision was removed, and mam-
mo rc felt they couldn't vote for it because the\
feared retaliation from Republicans m the
next election. Gatewood said.
Paul Thompson, co-chair of the Okla
homa Gav and Lesbian Political Caucus said
he wasn't surprised by the outcome but still
saw the experience as an overall "positive
"Ifanyone had asked me two months.m -
what I thought would be the chances that am
sort of supportive gay legislation would he
introduced into the Oklahoma's legislature. 1
would have said, next question.'" So. to me.
the fact that not just one. but two legislators
proposed the inclusion of gays and lesbians
in Oklahoma's hate crimes law was a major
step forward. Then, it got the support ol 33
Democrats. That was practically unbeliev
able." he said.
Thompson said dozens of human rights
supporters and religious leaders from across
the state used the opportunity to do "some
intensive schooling on the subject." which
may make things easier m the future. "We
were able to reach them on a daily basis with
information they were not receptive to m the
past. This time they showed an interest,
which means, down the road, we will have
other opportunities with better chances ol
getting something passed." he said.
A Senate version of the bill, written by
Maxine Horner of Tulsa, is expected to i omc
up m the next session.
"Between now and then, we have a ioi ol
work to do.” said Gatewood. " Many of out
supporters are concerned that the passion
inspired by all the killings will fade by then
and leave people less interested. The sad
reality is that the killings will go on."
s/ Smoke S
& Novelty Shoppe
4005 N. PENN*OKO 521-9999
10:00AM -10PM
Whipits. Novelty Gifts. Maximum, Adult Oils & Lotions
Tie-Dye Apparal. T-Shirts. Herbal Ectasv & DNE Head Cleaner.
Imported Cig.. Clove. Incense. Smokers Accessories, Jewelry,
SCALES. PIPES, Test Free, Straw Hats, Rope Sandals, Tarot Cards, Crystal
LocationI • 1500 S.W. 74
I-240 & S. Penn • 682-2299 • Open 12-7
Mark Fi. Cook
Historic
Lodging >
j
e
-I88J-
- Office -
27 Paxos Street
Eureka Springs, AR
- Cfty'WOOf/ C/i(o/l07 —
ffleoAt/ffy *7lousc • oSuwlxScasv/is
A Fireplace! A View! A Jacuzzi tub for two!
Set your heart soaring in a fairytale place . . .
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
• Elegant suites in the downtown district
• Eurekan-style townhouses on Spring Street
• Cozy, private bungalows on“the Loop"
• Secluded,rustic cottages in the woods
Many amenities, including Jacuzzis, kitchens,
Fireplaces, catering services, and more!
e-mail: edgewood@ipa.net
www.eureka-springs-usa.com/victorian
-1-800-210-5683-
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Hawkins, Don. The Gayly Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 1, 1999, newspaper, April 1, 1999; Oklahoma City, Okla.. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc825239/m1/10/: accessed March 29, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.