BY JAMES NIMMO

I reject the president’s calls for prayers and other religious solicitation as sympathy for the Orlando shooting that killed at least 50 people and wounded 53. No doubt Oklahoma’s governor and Oklahoma City’s mayor will get on the wagon along the same road, both of whom have made anti-gay statements in their time in office.

All victims and their families from the far-too-numerous mass American shootings have been getting these responses. However, the actions aren’t working, the murders of innocent citizens continue.

Instead of a prayer, I demand the cessation of the hate speech that masquerades as legislation in state capitols and constitutional amendments in Congress and sermons in houses of alleged religion.

The 2016 Oklahoma Legislature alone introduced nearly 30 bills, several with nearly duplicate language, as the sponsors were so eager to achieve legislative orgasm to assist their re-election campaigns.

If I and my gay brothers and sisters aren’t thought good enough by the hate mongers to have the full rights and recognition of our citizenship then I demand we be declared exempt from local, state and federal taxes from this day forward. We are not getting the benefits we pay for even though we shoulder the responsibilities of making our neighborhoods and workplaces friendly and productive.

If the hate mongers are intent on making America a new apartheid, I’m having none of it.

– James Nimmo lives in Oklahoma City and is a frequent contributor to The Oklahoma Observer