Oklahoma

As the nation reacts to Sen. Tom Woods’ ‘filth’ comment, is there controversy at home?

Published

3 months ago

February 27, 2024

As the nation reacts to Sen. Tom Woods’ ‘filth’ comment, is there controversy at home?

As the state and nation reacts to Oklahoma state Sen. Tom Woods’ usage of the word “filth” when talking about the LGBTQ+ community, the response back home suggests he has support for his comments, at least in some corners.

When he uttered the word Friday at a Tahlequah Chamber of Commerce legislative briefing in response to a question about the death of Nex Benedict, some in the audience grumbled. Others broke out in applause when Woods said, “We are a religious state and we are going to fight to keep that filth out of the state of Oklahoma because we are a Christian state — we are a moral state.”

Kelly Blair was in the room when Woods spoke. According to her account, Woods’ comments have been grossly exaggerated.

“Sen. Woods did not call any person ‘filth.’ He did use the term, ‘that filth’ when referencing the education of Oklahoma children on these topics, which have no business being taught in school,” Blair said. “He stood up for our children and what they need to learn, or not learn, in classrooms.”

More: Listen to the audio of Oklahoma Sen. Tom Woods using the word “filth” when talking about the LGBTQ+ community

Many public officials and community leaders have remained silent about the controversial statement. The Oklahoman reached out to businesses, churches and government leaders in and around Woods’ eastern Oklahoma Senate district, but few wanted to speak publicly.

Woods’ Senate district spans four counties along the Arkansas border. Tahlequah, where the comments were made, lies just outside of his district. Nathan Reed, president and CEO of the Tahlequah Chamber of Commerce, said that while Woods was invited to the event, the chamber doesn’t have “a strong enough interaction” with communities in the district to say whether Woods’ comments are representative of his constituents.

More: Does a senator’s ‘filth’ statement reflect Oklahoma? The impacts of rhetoric on state’s LGBTQ community

When reached by The Oklahoman, Tahlequah Mayor Suzanne Myers referenced the death of Nex Benedict, the Owasso teen held up by the LGBTQ+ community as a victim of bullying. Woods’ “filth” comment came after a member of the public suggested Benedict was targeted because of how politicians speak about LGBTQ+ issues.

“The passing of the Owasso student was a heartbreaking incident,” Myers said. “It is a time where we should express empathy and compassion. I believe last week’s legislative briefing in Tahlequah could have been an ideal opportunity to demonstrate these virtues. I praise the citizen who persisted in their questioning of Sen. Woods.”

Do Oklahoma religious leaders agree with Sen. Tom Woods?

There’s no way to uncouple Woods’ comments from religion. In the same breath, the senator said Oklahoma is a Christian and religious state. Navil Vaughan, the lead pastor at Impact Church in Woods’ hometown of Westville, was among those who spoke on the record to The Oklahoman.

Vaughan said he preaches that “alternative lifestyles” are sinful.

“I’m not trying to condemn anyone, but I do know that the scriptures are very clear in what it says, and I stand by that scripture,” Vaughan said. “I’m not saying that homosexuals or that group of people, whatever that would entail. … I’m not denying they have rights or anything of that nature. I’m just saying I believe that’s sin. Sen. Woods used some pretty strong language there, and that is what it is.”

More: Oklahoma’s national embarrassment continues thanks to GOP lawmaker’s bigotry | Editorial

Blair said Woods stood up for what children need to learn — and against what they should not learn.

“I feel many Christian conservatives are now more vocal, not because they are ‘bullies,’ but due to the fact they feel more and more in the LGBTQ+ community have become so extreme that they expect those of us raised heterosexual, and in biblical principle, are now somehow supposed to be ashamed of our faith and heritage?”

Blair told The Oklahoman that she’s received “horribly disturbing, slanderous private messages” from people for supporting Woods on social media.

“My heart breaks for them. I feel people desperately want a cause to fight for, and sitting at home, safe behind their phone somehow seems heroic? We all need each other. We need much less division, and part of doing that means this story needs to stay on topic,” she said.

Contributing: Josh Dulaney and Bill Wertz, The Oklahoman

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Oklahoma

Texas, Oklahoma earn top spots in NCAA softball draw

Published

7 hours ago

May 13, 2024

Press Room

Texas, Oklahoma earn top spots in NCAA softball draw

Longtime rivals Texas and Oklahoma are primed to go out in style in their final Big 12 seasons before joining the Southeastern Conference.

Texas (47-7) claimed the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Division I Softball Tournament on Sunday, despite losing to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game 5-1 on Saturday. The Longhorns open regional play Friday at home against Siena.

Oklahoma (49-6), the three-time defending national champion, is the No. 2 overall seed. The Sooners will start their path toward what would be an unprecedented fourth straight national title when they open at home against Cleveland State on Friday.

Oklahoma defeated Texas in the best-of-three championship series in 2022 to claim the national title.

All the regionals are double elimination, with the winners advancing to Super Regionals. The Super Regional winners will advance to the Women’s College World Series starting May 30 and ending June 6 or 7 in Oklahoma City.

The top 16 seeds are hosts in regional play. Tennessee is No. 3, followed by No 4 Florida, No. 5 Oklahoma State, No. 6 UCLA, No. 7 Missouri, No. 8 Stanford, No. 9 LSU and No. 10 Duke.

Oklahoma State’s No. 5 seed means the Big 12 as it stands gained three of the top five seeds. Oklahoma State might have been seeded higher had it not lost to BYU 7-2 in the Big 12 quarterfinals on Thursday.

With Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Florida claiming the top four seeds, teams that will be in the SEC next year claimed the top four overall seeds.

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Oklahoma

Legal Aid Services Offer Free Help To Oklahomans Impacted By Tornadoes

Published

14 hours ago

May 13, 2024

Press Room

Legal Aid Services Offer Free Help To Oklahomans Impacted By Tornadoes

Oklahomans impacted by recent severe weather can utilize free legal help.

Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Indian Legal Services partner together to create a disaster recovery network in the state for civil legal issues stemming from disaster.

“There are so many disaster survivors who end up having legal problems,” said Christa Figgins, director of mission advancement for LAOK. “And those are legal problems, which if they are not addressed, can really frustrate and really prevent someone from being able to recover from a disaster event.”

Common issues that legal assistance can help with include: recovering lost documents, processing insurance claims, tenant rights, contractor scams, and FEMA applications.

“I think we’re very fortunate in Oklahoma,” Figgins said. “The disaster community in Oklahoma is, sadly, very experienced.”

More information about the free legal services is available at oklahomadisasterlegalhelp.org or by calling 888-602-8494.

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Oklahoma

Western Kentucky Transfer Guard Officially Signs With Oklahoma State

Published

21 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Press Room

Western Kentucky Transfer Guard Officially Signs With Oklahoma State

The Oklahoma State Cowboys’ signing of a veteran guard out of the transfer portal if official as of Saturday. Western Kentucky transfer guard Brandon Newman — a former player of new Cowboys head coach Steve Lutz — committed to the program a couple of days ago and is now an official member of the team.

Newman began his career at Purdue, where he redshirted during the 2019-20 season. He then went on to play with the program for three seasons, playing in 88 contests, logging 30 starts. Newman averaged 6.3 points per game for the Boilermakers.

The 6-foot-5 guard then transferred to Western Kentucky to play for Lutz, who coached him for one season at Purdue as an assistant. Newman averaged 10.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game at Western Kentucky. Now, he’s following his former head coach once again as he is making the move to Stillwater.

“Experience matters in this game,” Lutz said in a release. “Brandon has been to four straight NCAA tournaments and played a major role in our postseason success at Western Kentucky and Purdue. He’s a skilled guard who can shoot, rebound and defend at a high level, and he’s a great guy, as well. We’re excited that he’ll be joining us at OSU.”

The former four-star recruit had plenty of solid offers coming out of high school before joining Purdue. Now, having played four seasons of college basketball and having been in college for five years — Newman provides some incredible experience for an Oklahoma State roster that needs it.

Lutz has now added five transfers to his class, tagging along with four-star high school recruit Jeremiah Johnson. Building onto a roster of three returners — those being Jamyron Keller, Connor Dow and Bryce Thompson — Lutz has done a good job bringing in players who fit the team’s identity and future play style.

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