Leslie Jordan tour stops in OKC >>

Special thanks to our Equality Gala Presenting Sponsors >>

• Special Announcements
• Upcoming Events
• Weekly Activities
• Ongoing Programs

ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 3
Thursday, May 8, 7:30pm, IAO Performance Gallery at 811 N. Broadway, OKC

Friday and Saturday, May 9-10, 8pm, Nightingale Theatre, 1416 East 4th St

Comedy Central star Jade Esteban Estrada will return to Oklahoma for the premiere performance of his solo musical comedy ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 3. In his portrayals of historical figureheads, Bravo TV star and multiple award-winner Jade Esteban Estrada has made a name for himself as "a man of many faces." In the last segment of the ICONS trilogy, Estrada took on the roles of biblical Naomi, King James, Bessie Smith, Greg Louganis and Mary Cheney, the lesbian daughter of U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney. The show lasts 65 minutes and is appropriate for ages 13 and up. The celebrated actor will sign autographs immediately after the show. Tickets are $10. For reservations and information in Oklahoma city, call (405) 232-6060; for Tulsa shows call (918) 633-8666 or email info@midwesterntheater.com. More information on Jade and the show here.

 
My Trip Down the Pink Carpet
Saturday, May 10,  8pm, Tolbert Theatre at Stage Center, 400 W. Sheridan Ave, OKC

Leslie Jordan won the 2006 Emmy Award Winner for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his delicious portrayal of Beverley Leslie on Will and Grace. On his book tour, Leslie talks about being an openly gay actor in Hollywood from 1982 till the 2006 Emmy. In My Trip Down The Pink Carpet, Leslie comically weaves anecdotes from his early life with his adventures in Hollywood in the eighties and nineties. Purchase tickets online here.

Show your PRIDE, Tulsa!

Tulsa PRIDE 2008 is just weeks away! Sponsored by Oklahomans for Equality, Tulsa's annual celebration of LGBT equality and diversity is bigger, better, and downtown-flavored fun in 2008! Tulsa PRIDE remains one of the only national Pride events whose main activities are free and open to the public, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and the tireless commitment of the all-volunteer PRIDE steering committee. Be sure to check out official site for a complete list of events, including Equality Day at area recreational areas, a new night parade and block party, family and youth events, star entertainment, and more!

What can we do for you, Tulsa?

Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) and the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, in partnership with OU-Tulsa, have launched the OkEq Programming Survey to determine what services and programs are most needed in the LGBT community. Please take 15-20 minutes to complete the survey. Your input is completely anonymous and will be used by the leadership in OkEq to develop programs to better meet your needs and interests. Please also help us by passing this along to your friends and allies!

Dennis R. Neill Equality Center closed for Memorial Day

In honor of Memorial Day, the Equality Center will be closed Saturday-Monday, May 24-26. 

Community Needs Assessment Public Forum
Wednesday, May 7, 6pm, Conference Room

Join the community-based needs assessment team as we discuss distributing and raising awareness about the OkEq Programming Survey. We want the results to represent all of the LGBT and allied community's voices and we need your help! For more information on the survey and/or to share your thoughts, contact Deputy Director Mana Tahaie.

Diversity Book Club: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
Thursday, May 8, 6:30pm, Nancy & Joe McDonald Rainbow Library
Calling All Book Lovers! February's book is Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. Complete information on the selection and the reading schedule on our website.

2008 LGBT Leadership Summit

Saturday, May 10, 9am-5pm, Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library, 300 Park Avenue, Oklahoma City

The 2008 LGBT Leadership Summit is a one-day event with four sessions of workshops. This year's summit features more extensive workshops about our state legislature - by far the most attended session last year - and programs appealing to college students and young adults. There will also be two community forums. More information here.

HOT on the Street at Club Maverick
Saturday, May 10, 9pm, Club Maverick, 822 S Sheridan Rd
Strap on your spurs and join OkEq health outreach team, HOT on the Street, at Club Maverick. We'll be talking health prevention and awareness, Tulsa Pride, and all things OkEq. 

Blue Dome Arts Festival

Friday-Sunday, May 16-18, Blue Dome District, Downtown Tulsa
The Fifth Annual Blue Dome Arts Festival is scheduled for the weekend of May 16th through the 18th. The festival, which puts the spotlight on Oklahoma artists and features many LGBT artists (some of whom have shown artwork in the Equality Center Gallery), is held in the historic Blue Dome District near 1st & Elgin and will feature over 200 artists working in a wide range of media including ceramics, painting, glass, wood, metal, photography and textiles. For patrons and collectors who want to support local talent, the Blue Dome Festival has become the premier spring festival. 

 
Herland Sisters Spring Retreat

Friday-Sunday, May 16-18, Roman Nose State Park

Are you ready for a weekend full of relaxation, good friends, good music, good food, and lots of fun? Well you're in luck! The annual Herland Spring Retreat will be at Roman Nose State Park (near Watonga), Friday, May 16 to Sunday, May 18 More information on the Herland Sister Resources website.

OkEq invites you to our annual Equality Gala

Saturday, May 31, 6pm, Cain's Ballroom, 423 N Main Ave
Oklahomans for Equality is excited to announce its annual Equality Gala, held this year at the legendary Cain's Ballroom. Benefiting OkEq, the Gala honors Lifetime Achievement Award winner Charles Faudree, Community Heroes George Kaiser Family Foundation and Carol Crawford, and Russ Bennett Spiritual Inclusion Award winner Nancy Day. The program features a champagne and hors d'oeuvre reception, live entertainment by Jared Tyler and Valerie Eskridge accompanied by Reed Mathis and Josh Rayburn of Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and Chuck Fluker, dinner by Taste and wine donated by Loring Wine Company. Don't miss the black tie event of the season, celebrating Tulsa's rich diversity. More information, sponsorship details and tickets available on our website. 

 
HOPE HIV Testing
Monday - Thursday: 6-8pm, Saturday: 4-7pm, Health Testing Center
Free, anonymous HIV testing with results in 20 minutes for MSM (men who have sex with men) and high-risk individuals. Also available by appointment by emailing AmeriCorps member Blakely Adams.

 
Gender Outreach
Wednesdays, 7:30pm, Conference Room
A support and social group for transgender individuals.

 
Special May Center Cinema: Small Town Gay Bar

Fridays, 6:30pm, Sue Welch Hall
In May 2008, Center Cinema will present five documentaries setting the stage for our Pride 2008 Celebration in June. This week's Center Cinema features Small Town Gay Bar. Center Cinema takes place each Friday at 7pm and is free and open to the public. For a complete listing of films, visit our website.

 

Tulsa Unity String Orchestra Rehearsal
Thursdays, 6pm, Wellness Center
The Tulsa Unity String Orchestra, an all-volunteer ensemble,  practices in the wellness center and performs at OkEq and area events. For more information contact conductor Adrian Rogers at (918) 813-2470. 

 
Game Night @ the Center
Saturdays, 6:30pm, Sue Welch Hall
New game each week. No need to RSVP, just drop in! 

 
Tulsa Pride 2008 Planning
Mondays, 7pm, Event Center
The Pride Committee meets each week to plan what promises to be the best Tulsa Pride event in history. We need your voice and energy on the Pride Committee! To volunteer your time, join us at our weekly planning meetings or email. For more information, visit the official Pride 2008 website.

Inside Out ACA
Mondays, 7pm
The Inside Out group of ACA, Adult Children of Alcoholics, is a twelve-step, twelve tradition program of men and women who grew up in alcoholic or otherwise dysfunctional homes.

 

 
Equality Center Gallery: Ann Marie Distefano
Ann Marie's paintings emerge from an aspiration to reclaim the spiritual dignity of art. "I want to make art that might open for the receptive viewer the window onto eternity," states Distefano. She continues, "My paintings are 'plugged into' an inner source within myself that is very deep and sometimes unknown. What I seek to achieve is independence of artistic and philosophical fashions. My goal as an artist is to reveal an ineffable presence, the contemplation of which can lead the viewer towards an intuitive recognition of his or her own inherent radiance."
 

Pride Store
Our Pride Store features a selection of LGBT-themed merchandise, artwork, and our hip Louis and Cluck-designed OkEq t-shirts!

Nancy & Joe McDonald Rainbow Library
Our lending library has thousands of LGBT-related books in dozens of genres, including fiction and non-fiction, as well as many free magazines like the Advocate, Gay Parents and the Ozark Star.  

 
Logo Network
We feature the Logo Network, the first and only 24-hour LGBT television channel, on the big screen in Sue Welch Hall. For programming information, visit the LOGO website. 

 

David Bohnett CyberCenter
Nine high-speed-internet-connected computers and a network printer available to the public. The Equality Center also provides free wireless internet!

 

Relay Videophone for the Deaf
The Equality Center is fortunate to feature a broadband video relay service for the deaf in the David Bohnett CyberCenter. Ours is the only publicly-accessible videophone available after 5pm in the city of Tulsa. For more information on the phone, visit our website.

 
Volunteer for OkEq!
Oklahomans for Equality is always looking for smart, dedicated, energetic volunteers to help run the Equality Center, facilitate programs, and assist and support other OkEq operations. If you have a special skill or would like to donate some time to OkEq, check out our website.