Norman City Councilman Says He Voted With Constituents on Proclamation

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- Tuesday night, the Norman City Council passed a proclamation 7 to 1, making October 2010 Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender History month. However, the lone council member who voted against the proclamation said he simply voted with his constituents.

Councilman Dan Quinn, District 8, said if he would have voted with his heart, the proclamation would have passed unanimously. However, Quinn said with so many of his constituents opposed to the proclamation, he was left with no choice but to vote against it.

Read the full proclamation

"The group of people there that voted against it have very strong feelings, and I felt like they should be represented with a vote," Quinn said.

Quinn said other than a few e-mails, almost everyone he heard from in his district urged him to vote no.

"It was a tough decision. I'm not usually a rebel or a rogue voter, but right now at this time politically with the feeling of a disconnect with the voters and their representatives, I felt like this was one time I should represent," Quinn said.

However, despite Quinn's no vote, supporters of the proclamation said what's important is that it passed.

"That was really reassuring to see that there are real leaders in Norman who are willing to take a stand," said Scott Hamilton, Executive Director, Cimarron Alliance Foundation.

Hamilton with Cimarron Alliance Foundation, an organization who has been fighting for gay rights in Oklahoma for years, said he believes what happened in Norman is just the beginning.

"I think in time we'll be able to look at Norman and say those folks knew what they were doing. They took a leadership role, and I want my city to do the same thing," Hamilton said.

More:

• Norman City Council Passes Gay, Lesbian History Month Proclamation