Oklahoma Gets First Openly Gay Legislator

WASHINGTON, DC (U.S. Newswire) -- Al McAffrey is poised to become the first openly gay member of the Oklahoma state legislature after winning his Democratic primary Tuesday night to represent District 88 in the Oklahoma State House, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund said today.

He faces no Republican opposition in the general election in November.

The win in Oklahoma comes on the heels of significant milestones for the LGBT community in red states this year, including the election of Patricia Todd to the state house in Alabama, and the election of Kathy Webb to the state house in Arkansas. Both Victory Fund-endorsed candidates won their Democratic primaries and are unopposed in the general election. Todd and Webb will become their states' first-ever openly gay elected officials.

"Al's win is more proof that what fair-minded Americans care about most are issues that directly affect their lives," said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. "2006 is shaping up to be a breakthrough year for the Victory Fund. Smart, qualified LGBT candidates, backed by our national network of donors, are proving that we can add voices for equality everywhere," Wolfe added.

McAffrey, 58, is a member of the Choctaw Nation, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, a former policeman, a father and a grandfather. He was endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which helped raise thousands of dollars to fund his campaign.

Victory endorsee Jim Roth, an incumbent who sits on the Oklahoma County Commission, was unopposed in his primary race. Rhonda Rudd, a Victory candidate seeking the Democratic nomination to represent District 46 in the Oklahoma State Senate, lost her race to a Democratic Party insider.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund provides strategic, technical and financial support to openly LGBT candidates and officials. It's the only national organization solely committed to increasing the number of openly LGBT public officials at federal, state and local levels of government. Victory is the nation's largest LGBT political action committee. In 15 years, Victory has helped the number of openly LGBT officials in the U.S. grow from 49 to more than 300. For more information, visit http://www.victoryfund.org.