Activists urge lawmakers to revise hate crimes law

NEWS 9

Gay rights activists gathered Dec. 4 to pressure lawmakers into passing a hate crimes bill.

The rally came after an Edmond man died from an what authorities describe as an anti-homosexual attack.

Steven Domer's body and car were found in a McClain County field, two weeks after he was reported missing. He was last seen in the area of 39^th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

Activists say the state needs to be more proactive when it comes to the rights of its gay and lesbian residents.

"We have over the last few years in Oklahoma and across this nation created an environment of intolerance and this has to stop," said Richard Ogden of the Cimarron Alliance Foundation.

Oklahoma is one of 17 states with no hate crime laws protecting gays and lesbians.

Rep. Al McAffrey (D-Oklahoma City) said he plans to file a bill in the upcoming legislative session to add gender and sexual orientation to the state statute on hate crimes.