Members of the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus have voiced their strong opposition to the celebration and promotion of "National Coming Out Day" at Tinker Air Force Base. According to a report by the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Sen. Shane Jett, chair of the OKFC and a U.S. Navy veteran, criticized the base's decision, which he said does not align with the values of the majority of Oklahoma's Christian population. "It’s incomprehensible that Tinker Air Force Base would openly promote a prurient lifestyle that would obviously affront the tenets of faith of over 75% of Oklahoma’s professing Christian population, as well those practicing Jewish and Muslim faiths," Jett was quoted as saying.
Rep. Jim Olsen, the House vice chair of the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus, agreed with Jett and raised concerns that such events detract from the military's primary mission. "The military exists to protect our freedoms, not to serve as a platform for sexual social experimentation," Olsen told the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He believes such events could undermine the moral fabric that holds the armed forces together. Senator Dusty Deevers, the Senate vice chair of the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus, also emphasized this point, urging Oklahomans to speak out against the event and what he views as an attack on morality and decency.
The Oklahoma Freedom Caucus has rallied the public to demand accountability from Tinker Air Force Base and to contact their elected representatives. Jett explained that the promotion of events like "National Coming Out Day" is seen by the caucus as an affront to traditional values. "We do not give our consent. We do not approve. We call appropriate shame upon those who promote this nonsense in the name of ‘diversity, equity and inclusion,’ which is intended to divide, distract and destroy the morale of this country and devastate the military readiness of our armed forces,"Jett stated on the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
The Oklahoma Freedom Caucus is encouraging direct communication with Tinker Air Force Base as a way for citizens to express their disapproval of the "National Coming Out Day" even, as per the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Asserting the requirement for military facilities to focus on military readiness and providing a wholesome environment, the members suggest that the public should reach out at 405-739-2025 to voice their concerns regarding what they perceive as overly sexualized and politically-charged events.
