Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, ABC News, Tulsa World, Dallas Voice

Kern's anti-gay rant

"I was thoroughly disgusted by what you had to say and astonished that someone who presumably took an oath of office to uphold the U.S. Constitution and the laws of this nation would espouse hateful, bigoted and un-American views," Mr. Shields said in his e-mail to Oklahoma Rep. Sally Kern. He sent copies to many of that state's state representatives and news reporters.

"New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned his office for far less an offense than the ones you committed in your remarks," he continued. "I would hope that you, too, would recognize your offense and do likewise -- resign."

Ms. Kern's remarks were reportedly made to a group of 50 Republicans who invited her to speak at a closed-door event. Someone recorded her remarks, and they emerged online in the past week. In press reports she did not repudiate them.

"Gays are infiltrating city councils," she said. "Have you heard that the city council of Eureka Springs is now controlled by gays? There are some others. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; . . . Kensington, Maryland, West Palm Beach, Fla., and a lot of other places in Florida. What's happening? And they are winning elections."

Bruce Kraus' inauguration in January marked the first by an openly gay man to Pittsburgh Council.

"As the president of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh, I require an apology from you for your senseless, mean-spirited attack on one my colleagues and the council as a whole," he wrote.

Kraus' letter is just the latest of in a round of criticism of the Oklahoma lawmaker from throughout the country.

Kern's speech, first posted online earlier this week by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, has generated national attention. The recording has been viewed more than 500,000 times on YouTube. Since then, Kern's office has been bombarded by angry phone calls and e-mails. Several gay rights organizations have called for her to resign and local newspapers have criticized her.

"Her comments are so inappropriate and beyond the pale that she's demonstrated that she's not fit for service in public office," said Patrick Sammon, president of the Log Cabin Republicans, a national association of gay and lesbian Republicans. "For someone to compare gay people to terrorists is really difficult to comprehend. She should be ashamed."

Jessica Brown, the spokeswoman for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, said the agency was still reviewing the more than 17,000 mostly hostile e-mails sent to Kern to determine if any of them could be considered legally threatening. A law enforcement official who’d been called in to investigate reportedly said Tuesday, March 12 that the e-mails in question didn’t contain what could be characterized as death threats.

Her son, Jessie, said he stood by his mother according to ABC News. "I'm grateful that she has the passion to stand up for what she believes in," he said.

Jesse Kern told Tulsa World that his views differ from those of his mother, but that he  thanks his parents for his good upbringing. His father is a Baptist minister in Oklahoma City.

On Wednesday, March 12, the gay online news service Queerty reported that Jesse --one of Kern’s two grown sons -- is gay. The report was based on comments posted on Web sites by readers who alleged that Jesse Kerns had been disciplined for cruising toilets while a student at Oklahoma Baptist University.

A case in the Oklahoma courts database lists a "Jesse Jacob Kern" as defendant in a 1989 Cleveland County case that was ultimately dismissed. This Jesse Kern was charged with "attempted oral sodomy." The case lists a permanent address in Oklahoma City with a temporary change of address to Norman which is in Cleveland County. The University of Oklahoma is located in Norman.

Sally Kern’s husband, a Baptist preacher, issued a statement denying that his son is gay.

Speaking to Tulsa World, Jesse Kern himself said the reports are unfounded. The World reports that Jesse Kern called the reports damaging to himself and his family.

Kern, who told the paper he is affiliated with the Des Moines School of Metaphysics, said that he chooses to be celibate, but he is not homosexual.

"First of all, no one's sexuality is anyone's business. It is not even my mother's business," he said. "I practice celibacy to give to my God," he told the paper.

Kern, 31, said he feels the media has a responsibility to seek out the truth, then report it.

Kern said metaphysics helps teach him such things such as concentration, which has helped him keep focused with all the adverse publicity surrounding his mother's comments.

He said the purpose of sex is reproduction, and it is the function of the animal body.

"But we are more than animals, and we can use sex for a tool of deep relationship with another person."

Kern added that what is more important than whether it be a relationship with someone of the same sex, is that there "needs to be honor in any relationship whether it is a straight or gay relationship."

Full article: Council president fires back at anti-gay remarks | Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Politicians 'Anti-Gay' Speech Sparks Outrage | ABC News
Homophobic official may have gay son | Dallas Voice
Kern's son denies reports he is gay | Tulsa World