Rev. Randy Lewis penned the following open letter to Oklahoma legislature in response to Oklahoma Freedom Caucus’ Challenge to “National Coming Out Day” Event at Tinker Air Force Base.
Dear Senator Jett, Representative Olsen, and the Oklahoma Legislature:
I am Reverend Randy Lewis, a minister at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I am also a proud member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. As a clergyman, my commitment is to the spiritual well-being of all people, and my role is to bring compassion, understanding, and guidance to my community. I write to you today with hope for understanding and growth.
Your recent comments challenging the “National Coming Out Day” event at Tinker Air Force Base are profoundly concerning. They have affected not only me but also many other Oklahomans who have served their country, contributed to their communities, and simply want to live with dignity.
It is deeply troubling to hear an elected official describe their constituents’ lives as vulgar or inappropriate. These words do not capture the reality of our lives. For many individuals in the 2SLGBTQ+ community, our lives are centered around love, family, community, and the pursuit of authenticity. We are your neighbors, colleagues, friends, and fellow worshippers. Divisive rhetoric has no place in public discourse. Labeling our lives as “prurient” and a “sexual social experiment” is also harmful. This language dehumanizes individuals and breeds fear, division, and exclusion. Rather than promoting an environment of respect and understanding, such rhetoric serves to intimidate and dismiss an entire segment of your constituents.
For Q+ people, particularly transgender and non-binary individuals, harmful rhetoric can lead to real-life consequences—fear, isolation, and even violence. Each November 20th, we observe Transgender Day of Remembrance to honor those lives lost to violence and intolerance. It is a day of both mourning and hope—a reminder of the work still ahead, but also of the resilience and strength of our community.
Furthermore, your comments were disrespectful to the many 2SLGBTQ+ members of our armed forces and to our country’s 2SLGBTQ+ veterans. These individuals have served and are serving our country with honor and dedication, often putting their lives and well-being on the line for the freedoms we all enjoy. They deserve our respect, not criticism or attempts at intimidation. I invite you to see their humanity and to recognize their contributions and their bravery. I ask for accountability and hope for a public apology—first to 2SLGBTQ+ members of the military, and second to your 2SLGBTQ+ constituents—whose lives have been devalued and marginalized by this harmful rhetoric. This is an opportunity for reconciliation and growth, to show that all Oklahomans deserve respect and dignity.
As a minister, I understand the power that words can have. Words can either build up or tear down; they can bring us together or drive us apart. As someone who has faced the challenges of being marginalized, I can tell you that your words matter. They echo through our schools, workplaces, and homes. They add to the anxiety and exclusion Q+ people already experience. Divisive rhetoric does real harm, sowing fear and distrust, and emboldening those who would seek to intimidate or harm others simply for being who they are.
My faith compels me to remind all of us, including myself, that we are called to speak in ways that uplift each other. I understand that unfamiliar topics can lead to misunderstandings or fears. But there is an opportunity here—a chance to grow, to understand, and to lead with empathy. By learning more about Q+ lives, you have an opportunity to represent a wider constituency. We must reject any attempts at using fear or intimidation as tools of leadership. Instead, by choosing to listen and learn, we can build a more unified and compassionate society.
I encourage you to reach out to Q+ individuals and allies, to have conversations, and to ask questions. Speak with us, not against us. I welcome future dialogue to create a more inclusive community.
At All Souls Unitarian Church, we believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every individual. We oppose all forms of bullying, intimidation, or marginalization, and we extend our hand to you in the spirit of unity and growth. Let us work together to build a society that upholds the ideals of unity, equality, and freedom for everyone.
Sincerely,
Rev. Randy Lewis
All Souls Unitarian Church
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