'Straight Country Boy' Ally Takes His Rainbow Truck To OKC Pride

Cody Barlow at Oklahoma City Pride (image via Instagram/okiegirltoo)

Earlier this month, country boy Cody Barlow shared pics of his truck with the tailgate taped up to represent a Pride flag.

A straight guy living in Oklahoma, Barlow wanted to share his support for the LGBTQ community.

He also added the words, “Not all country boys are bigots. Happy Pride Month.”

On his Facebook he wrote:

This is important to me, not only because I have family and friends that are LGBTQ+, but also because countless people have dealt with hatred and judgement simply for who they are, and/or who they love, for far too long. Obviously doing this isn't going to change the minds of those who are intolerant, but hopefully it can help drown out the hatred with love.

I live in a rural area in Oklahoma, surrounded by small towns in every direction, and I'm sure this is not a very welcome message around here, but this is going to be displayed on my truck for the entire month of June in support of pride month.

I don't think it is necessary to say, but for all intents and purposes I am a straight man that grew up here in Oklahoma. I love taking my truck mudding, going fishing, swimming at the lake, floating the river, and several other "country" activities.

It doesn't matter what negativity I receive for supporting this. I hope that this can help even the slightest bit to encourage and support at least one person that needs it.

At the time, Barlow said he intended to drive around the Sooner state and visit different Pride events to show his further support.

And that's exactly what he did.

This past weekend, Barlow joined Oklahoma City’s Pride parade and participated in all the gay goodness there, and folks were thrilled!

From NBC News:

Barlow spent almost 11 hours taking pictures and signing autographs with those who appreciated his visible support for the LGBTQ community.

“Oklahoma City Pride is the biggest Pride in state. People come from every rural town to celebrate,” said Lauren Zuniga, the president of the Oklahoma City Pride Alliance, which organized the official event. “Cody’s truck made ‘baby gays’ feel at home. Having a visible ally like him can change the trajectory of a young person’s life.”

Check out just some of the joy Cody helped create.

View this post on Instagram

Had the pleasure of meeting this lovely gentleman today. REPOST FROM OUR COUPLE’S ACCOUNT @okcpridefest is the second #pride we have been to featuring this incredible human. Meet Cody, a country boy from #oklahoma who made national news for his reaction to a friend coming out - a friend who was afraid he would lose Cody’s friendship because many in their small town are anti-gay. We have both been in that friend’s shoes. Both of us grew up in small towns - towns where we stayed in the closet, but were still made fun of and called “GAY!” in a derogatory way. Cody is doing this, not to say that most “country boys” are bigots, but because he never wants another person to worry about coming out. He wants them to know that while some country people may be closed minded, not all of them are. Thank you Cody for being the person to youth today, who we needed a decade ago in our towns. ❤️

A post shared by Jason Sway (@jason_sway) on Jun 22, 2019 at 5:54pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

I was so excited to run across #codybarlow this weekend! What an inspiration and a cool guy! #loveislove #pride #pridemonth #notallcountryboysarebigots #allies

A post shared by Kent Berry (@theonlykentb) on Jun 23, 2019 at 2:34pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

I had the most amazing weekend vending at OKC Pride🦄🌈❤️🌈🧡🌈💛🌈💚🌈💙🌈💜🌈🖤🌈🦄 So much love is a wonderful thing to experience. Major props to this guy spreading love all over the country. There is one thing that makes it even better. I sold so much stuff I will have a busy week or 2 restocking. That is a wonderful feeling. When an item you put your heart into sells it's a reminder to keep doing what you love. HIGHLY considering doing another event in July. It's in my blood to do this and I love it. Loving Daisy Creations is almost on the right track again. #OKCPride #handmadeislove #shoplocal #ShopMyEtsy #shopsmall #crazyfuntimes #oklahomaischangingslowly #resinwork #carfreshys #LovingDaisyCreations

A post shared by Loving Daisy Creations (@lovingdaisycreations) on Jun 22, 2019 at 11:14pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

making progress 💜 #loveislove #codybarlow

A post shared by 𝐚.𝐫.𝐭. (@ashfordthomson) on Jun 23, 2019 at 9:11am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Love me a country boy 💜💙💛💚❤ #okclovesyou #okcpride 🌈 #codybarlow

A post shared by Lisa 🦄💕 (@okiegirltoo) on Jun 22, 2019 at 4:06pm PDT

News Round-Up: April 12, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• Even though his iPhone didn't recognize his newly-32-year-old face this morning, I'm thinking InstaHunk Alex Abramov (above) looks pretty fab.

• Rugby Australia has declared its intention to terminate Israel Folau’s contract over his anti-LGBTQ social media posts.

• Donald Trump's transgender military ban went into effect today. Nearly 15,000 Americans who signed up to put their lives on the line for the US could be impacted (read that 'discharged') by the new policy.

• A Trump-supporting Oklahoma woman has been arrested after confessing to a spree of racist vandalism that targeted black, transgender and Jewish residents in two towns.

• Two male dancers have joined the New England Patriots cheerleading team.

• Check out the latest single from P!nk, "Can We Pretend," from her upcoming album Hurts 2B Human out April 26.

P!nk makes me feel good. I like her music, I like her musical perspective on life. If you've never seen her in concert (and I'm not a concert kinda guy) you have to go. It's a totally feel-good experience.

And I love that a lyric in this song is "Can we pretend that we both like the president?"

Oklahoma State Chair For Trump Campaign Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Child Sex Trafficking

Ralph Shortey

You may recall the sad tale of former Oklahoma state Sen. Ralph Shortey, who was found in a room at a Motel 6 with a 17-year-old boy on March 9, 2017.

Police found through text messages that Shortey had offered the teen cash in exchange for "sexual stuff." When police entered the hotel room it reeked of marijuana, according to police reports.

In November of last year, Shortey, who was the Oklahoma state chair for Donald Trump's presidential campaign, agreed to a guilty plea of child sex trafficking.

Text messages were found on Shortey's phone between him and the underage teen that showed the boy needed money. Shortey apparently replied “I don’t really have any legitimate things I need help right now. Would you be interested in ‘sexual’ stuff?”

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped three other charges of child pornography that had been filed against him.

Had he faced all of the charges brought against him in court he could have spent close to the rest of his life in prison.

Shortey was sentenced today to 15 years in prison plus 10 years of supervision upon release from prison.

Shortey was infamous for introducing strange legislation like banning human fetuses in food products (that happens?) and, of course, voting for every piece of anti-LGBTQ legislation put before him.

He had been married to his high school sweetheart since 2002. She filed for divorce, and it was granted this past April.

Podcast: Oklahoma Parents Threaten Trans 5th Grader; Anthony Starble's Latest Track "Paperweight"

 In this week's podcast:

• An Oklahoma school district shut down after parents of students threatened violence on a transgender 5th grader

• That anti-gay Colorado baker is at it again - this time denying a cake to a trans woman

• Smart guy Matt Baume reminds us when 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' went gay for just one episode

• A gay Afghanistan teen was denied asylum by Austria for not being ‘gay’ enough

• Plus, out musician Anthony Starble's new remix of "Paperweight"

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report - Hit the play button below:

News Round-Up: August 16, 2018

Andrew Serkin (via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Miami-based InstaHunk Andrew Serkin (above) took a break from the sun. #LuckyUs

• An Oklahoma school district briefly shut down this week after people purporting to be parents of students used social media to make violent, epithet-filled threats against a transgender girl. “If he wants to be a female, make him a female,” one user wrote. “A good sharp knife will do the job really quick.” Another post read, “You know we have open hunting seasons on them kind. Ain’t no bag limit either.”

• Regarding the still-unfolding and massive molestation scandal wracking the Catholic Church in Pennsylvania, Catholic League president Bill Donohue today told followers the alleged victims were not raped: "they were groped or otherwise abused, but not penetrated, which is what the word 'rape' means." #SRSLY

• A new twist in the #MeToo movement: An 11-month Title IX investigation recently found New York University Professor Avital Ronell responsible for sexually harassing her gay student, Nimrod Reitman.

• GQ Magazine got in hot water for calling these guys "stocky."#Stocky???

How the hell are these guys considered “stocky”???? https://t.co/MwkIkYFl7E

— just Gabe (@gabester089) August 10, 2018

• Omarosa Manigault Newman‘s tell-all Unhinged claims that Ivanka Trump hated the Saturday Night Live sketch that labeled her “complicit” in March 2017. According to Omarosa, Ivanka was "thin-skinned and could not seem to take a joke.”

• The California Senate has approved AB 2943, a bill that could protect LGBTQ people statewide from undergoing gay conversion therapy. The bill passed in the state Assembly in April. After heading back to the Assembly for a concurrence vote, the bill will hopefully be signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown.

• Donald Trump’s military parade this fall is shaping up to cost $80 million more than initially estimated. The parade, slated for Nov. 10, is now estimated to cost $92 million, blowing way past the original $12 million estimate.

• Queer artist Anthony Starble recently teamed up with The Klassiks to create an sexy EDM remix of his latest single, "Paperweight." The new mix adds a catchy synth line and bass drops that kicks up the intensity from the original.

I like. Listen below and then head to iTunes for more from Starble here.

Podcast: Hate Crimes, Oklahoma, Netflix, RuPaul And Colton Haynes

In this week's podcast:

• Hate crime charges have been filed against the Miami Beach Pride day attackers

• Oklahoma has the dubious distinction of having the first anti-LGBTQ state law of 2018

• Arrow and Teen Wolf star Colton Haynes has filed for divorce after six months

• The Trump administration continues its assault on the transgender community

• RuPaul is set to star in a new Netflix sitcom, AJ and the Queen

All that and more on this episode of The Randy Report

Oklahoma Becomes First State in 2018 To Pass Anti-LGBT Legislation

America, America, America - 2018 was doing pretty well so far when it comes to new legislation and the LGBTQ community. No new state bills attacking the community had been signed into law this year.

Until now.

In Oklahoma, Gov. Mary Fallin has put her signature on Senate Bill 1140 which effectively legalizes LGBTQ discrimination by faith-based adoption and foster care agencies which receive public funds.

This is the first new anti-LGBTQ law in the United States in 2018. What a dubious achievement.

The new law makes it legal to deny placing children in LGBTQ homes based on “religious objections.” Simply declaring a religious or moral opposition to same-sex marriage would allow a faith-based agency the legal right to refuse to place a child in same-sex homes.

The legislation could also withhold child placement with single or divorced people if their social status were to offend an adoption agency’s religious beliefs.

LGBTQ advocates quickly criticized the new law.

“It is shameful that Gov. Mary Fallin has signed into law a patently discriminatory law that targets children,” said JoDee Winterhof, Senior Vice President of Policy and Political Affairs at the Human Rights Campaign. “Gov. Fallin has cemented her legacy, siding with discrimination and the legislature in throwing kids under the bus to create a ‘license to discriminate’ against LGBTQ Oklahomans.”

And Troy Stevenson, Executive Director of Freedom Oklahoma, issued a statement which read, in part: “While we are deeply disappointed that Governor Fallin choose to sign discrimination into law, we are more concerned about the children – desperately looking for homes – that will be harmed by this disgraceful legislation.”

“Our message to Governor Fallin, and the lawmakers who championed this travesty is simple: we’ll see you in court!” added Stevenson.

Supporters of the new law say these faith-based agencies will have to shut their doors if forced to place children into LGBT homes.

Currently, five states - Mississippi, Michigan, Virginia, Texas, Alabama, South Dakota and North Dakota — have similar laws on the books, although Michigan’s law is being challenged in the federal courts thanks to the ACLU.

Kansas’s governor has a similar anti-LGBTQ adoption bill waiting on his desk.

Podcast: Anti-LGBTQ Adoption Discrimination In Kansas & Oklahoma; Adam Rippon Slays On DWTS; 2018 Tony Award Nominations; Pride Nights At Major League Baseball

In this week's LGBTQ headlines:

• Oklahoma and Kansas state legislatures pass anti-LGBTQ adoption laws

• A new survey of over 40,000 Americans shows acceptance for same-sex marriage has hit 61%

• Ireland moves to ban so-called "conversion therapy"

• The 'boys of summer' are back and most Major League Baseball teams have scheduled special LGBT Pride Nights (head over to Outsports.com for a complete list of MLB Pride Nights)

• Drag queen Ada Vox exits American Idol with her head held high

• Tony Kushner’s Angels In America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes became the most Tony-nominated play in history as the 2018 Tony Award nominations were announced

• Adam Rippon came to slay on the premiere of the all-athletes season of Dancing with the Stars

All that and more on this episode of The Randy Report

Kansas & Oklahoma Legislatures Approve Anti-LGBTQ Adoption Bills

We were looking good there, America.

Four months into 2018 and no new anti-LGBTQ legislation on the state level. Until this week.

Both Oklahoma and Kansas have passed bills that will allow faith-based adoption and foster care services to legally discriminate against LGBT folks while using public funds.

In Oklahoma, the House approved the measure by a vote of 56-21 on Thursday this week after the state Senate had previously voted to advance the bill.

Kansas followed just hours later as the Senate approved the bill 24-15 at 1:51 a.m. Friday after the House passed it Thursday night, 63-58.

The legislation had been sitting for weeks before lawmakers revived and passed it in a matter of hours.

Both bills now head to their respective governors' desks to be signed into law.

More from The Advocate:

The bills could allow discrimination against many types of prospective parents who offend an agency’s religious beliefs — single parents, divorced and remarried parents, interfaith couples, and more, in addition to LGBT individuals and same-sex couples, Winterhof pointed out. But Oklahoma Senate Majority Leader Greg Treat, who authored his state’s legislation, mentioned that when agencies express objections to certain placements, they often cite opposition to same-sex marriage, the Family Equality Council noted.

Opponents of both states’ measures said the legislation would make the already-overloaded child welfare system even more so by making fewer people eligible to become foster or adoptive parents. But supporters said the religious protections would encourage more faith-based agencies to work with the states.

Texas, Alabama, South Dakota, Virginia, and Michigan have similar laws in place, NBC reports. Michigan’s is being challenged in court by the American Civil Liberties Union.

What's truly sad is this reduces the number of possible adoptive homes for children who really need loving parents.

Bigotry at the expense of children.

News Round-Up: March 21, 2018

(via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Handsome dog, right? The pup's a cutie, too ;)

• The most anti-LGBTQ Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives barely eked out a win over his primary opponent in Illinois. He now faces (no exaggeration) a Republican whose a devout Neo-Nazi.

• Cell phone video shows a gay teen in Oklahoma getting his head bashed into a school locker by a bully.

• For the first time in decades the National Rifle Associations has a net negative approval rating.

• Included in the undercover recordings of Cambridge Analytica executives was one of the top ranking bosses suggesting spreading gay rumors about candidates was an effective method of bringing them down.

• Political analyst Stu Rothenberg spoke to several insiders who predict the Democrats will win between 30-45 seats in the House during the fall mid-term elections, more than the 24 seats needed to take control.

• In a somber Instagram post, insanely handsome Superman star Henry Cavill shares the news that his facial hair is, sadly, no more. #ShavedButNotForgotten

#ShavedButNotForgotten

A post shared by Henry Cavill (@henrycavill) on Mar 21, 2018 at 2:10am PDT

Oklahoma State Senate Approves Bill That Would Allow Adoption Agencies To Discriminate Against Same-Sex Couples

A bill working its way through the Oklahoma legislature would allow religious-based adoption agencies to discriminate against same-sex couples, single people and non-Christians.

The Oklahoma state Senate just passed Senate Bill 1140 by a vote of 35-9.

According to the Associated Press, SB1140 would "cover child-placing agencies that block adoptive parents who do not meet the agencies’ religious or moral standards."

Check that last part - "moral standards."

The bill now heads to the state House where the Republicans hold a huge majority of 73-28.

Clearly, the effect of the legislation will be to keep children from loving homes.

The Human Rights Campaign issued a statement which read in part:

“Bills such as SB 1140 are a clear attempt to solve a ‘problem’ that simply doesn’t exist while enshrining anti-LGBTQ discrimination into law,” said Marty Rouse, national field director for HRC. “If lawmakers in Oklahoma truly wanted to help find permanent homes for the children in the child welfare system, they wouldn’t be focusing on narrowing the pool of potential parents, which only hurts those kids. HRC calls on the Oklahoma House to reject this needless, harmful bill.”

Research consistently shows that LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in the foster care system, as many have been rejected by their families of origin because of their LGBTQ status, and are especially vulnerable to discrimination and mistreatment while in foster care. SB 1140 will only exacerbate the challenges faced by LGBTQ young people.

This bill is similar to SB 375, which passed in the Georgia State Senate last month.

Since Donald Trump's election, several states including Alabama, South Dakota and Texas have passed similar laws.

Former Oklahoma "Family Values" State Senator Requests And Is Denied Release Pending Sentencing For Child Sex Trafficking

On Thursday, former Oklahoma state Sen. Ralph Shortey, who pleaded guilty to child sex trafficking in connection to meeting a 17-year-old boy at a motel for paid sexual favors, asked Judge Timothy Deguisti to release him pending sentencing.

According to police investigations, the teenager apparently needed money and offered sex acts in exchange for money. Shortey showed up with marijuana and condoms.

Shortey's lawyer based the request for release predicated on Shortey not being a flight risk due to having a wife and his four children who are all homeschooled.

Judge Deguisti denied the request and had Shortey taken into custody.

Shortey, an anti-LGBT, "family values" Republican acted as Donald Trump's Oklahoma state campaign chair during the 2016 presidential election.

(source)

News Round-Up: November 17, 2017

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk of the Day: Sean Andrew Sanders

• A Navy pilot drew a big penis in the sky and everyone is talking about it.

• If you ever get down about a mistake or misstep you've made lately, remind yourself that at least you're not this guy:

• Congrats to Allison Ikley-Freeman, an openly lesbian married woman who was just elected to Oklahoma state senate in a district that Donald Trump won in last year's presidential election.

• Remember this Australian couple who said they would divorce if marriage equality came to Australia? No word yet on whether they intend on following through on that...

• “I love my body/I love my skin/I am a goddess/I am a queen,” sings Jessie J on her latest single, "Queen." The self-empowerment-themed mid-tempo is from her upcoming album R.O.S.E. (Realizations, Obsessions, Sex and Empowerment). Listen below.

Oklahoma: Former "Family Values" GOP State Senator Ralph Shortey Planned Bareback Sex With Male Teen Prostitute

Why does it seem it's always the "family-values Christians" that end up being that which they attack so viciously?

You'll recall former state Sen. Ralph Shortey was found in a room at a Motel 6 with a teenage boy on March 9. It was later deduced that he had offered the boy cash in exchange for "sexual stuff."

Apparently, "sexual stuff" meant having bare back sex and ejaculating in the teen's "boy p***y."

From NBC affiliate KFOR in Oklahoma City:

Ralph Shortey, a Republican from Oklahoma City who represented the state’s 44th senate district, was charged last week in Cleveland County with three counts relating to child prostitution. He turned himself in last Thursday and has been out on bond since.

He faces three felony counts of engaging in child prostitution, engaging in prostitution within 1,000 feet of a church and transporting a minor for prostitution or lewdness. Friday was his initial court appearance and the judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Court documents lay out lurid messages that were sent between the teen and Shortey. WARNING: The court documents in the link below contain GRAPHIC, DISTURBING and ADULT language. Reader discretion is strongly advised.

Shortey served as Donald Trump’s state campaign chair during the GOP primary.

Married to a woman with three children, the former state senator faces up to 25 years in prison.

You can read the affidavit below. Click the image to enlarge.  Warning - ADULT language.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

Surprise! Oklahoma Legislature Kills Two Anti-LGBT Bills

It's not often we get good news regarding LGBTs in Oklahoma.

But this past Thursday, the Republican-controlled state Senate voted down a bill that would have blocked local municipalities from passing their own ordinances that would protect LGBTs from housing and employment discrimination.

Oklahoma has no statewide protections for LGBT citizens.

Republican state Sen. Josh Brecheen, who authored the bill, said his intent was to protect the "sincerely held religious beliefs" of Oklahomans. But the state Senate gave the legislation a thumbs down by a vote of 25-18.

Clearly those lawmakers have seen what happened over in North Carolina and Indiana when anti-LGBT laws were passed.

A second measure, which would allow businesses to discriminate against LGBTs, was withdrawn after Brecheen's bill went down.

Oklahoma Restaurant To Transgender Customers: Don't Be Caught In Wrong Restroom

Oklahoma restaurant owner Bob Warner, of the Steak and Catfish Barn, is in the spotlight for a controversial message (above) he recently posted for his customers.

The sign, posted at the entrance of the restaurant, reads: “We do not have a transgender bathroom. So don’t be caught in the wrong one.”

Warner says the sign isn't anti-transgender. He's just protecting his business:

“We have a lot of redneck guys that come in here, truck drivers and everything," said Warner. "They’re big husky guys, and I said ‘Man alive! If their wife or their little girl walked in that bathroom and a man followed them in there, I wouldn’t have a restaurant’.”

Paula Schonauer says she feels the sign reads as a threat. "That sign has an implied threat, a threat that's very real to me."

While Schonauer disagrees with the messaging, she does feel it's a teachable moment, saying, "It's an opportunity to show sometimes what transgender people deal with on a daily basis, unfortunately."

Watch the report from local affiliate KFOR below:

Oklahoma Police Recommend 3 Prostitution Charges For GOP State Senator

Oklahoma state Sen. Ralph Shortey with Donald Trump Jr.
(pic via Facebook)

Police in Moore, Oklahoma, are recommending 3 prostitution-related charges against Sen. Ralph Shortey, who was found in a motel room alone with an underage teen.

Those charges include soliciting prostitution of a minor, prostitution within 1000 feet of a church and transporting for the purpose of prostitution.

Employees at the Motel 8 in Moore say a person by the name of "Ralph Allen Shortey" checked in on March 9 around 12:20AM, and asked for a room with two beds.

Just 30 minutes later, the employee said that police arrived at the motel in response to a “welfare check” and discovered the juvenile male and an adult male in the same room.

Text messages between Shortey and the teen are being investigated.

Shortey, who has been married to his high school sweetheart since 2002, was the state chair of President Donald Trump’s campaign during the primary season.

Pam Pollard of the Oklahoma Republican Party has issued the following statement:

“The Oklahoma Republican Party takes all accusations against elected officials seriously, especially when the welfare of a minor is involved. We have reached out to Senator Shortey for comment and have not heard back from him at this time. We await the report from law enforcement on whether charges will be filed.”

(source)

News Round-Up: December 14, 2016

Some news items you might have missed:

• The brilliant indie film Moonlight received 6 Golden Globe nominations which means even more of the world will be exposed to one of the best movies I've ever seen. If you haven't seen it yet, GO!

• Scientists are downloading and copying government climate data as quickly as possible out of fears a Trump administration might destroy any info showing the reality of climate change.

• Politico is reporting that upwards of 20 GOP Electoral College members are considering not casting their votes for Donald Trump on December 19th. The most EC members to change their votes in one year was 6 in 1808.

• More from the Electoral College - 40 members have asked for an intelligence briefing before December 19th regarding information that Russia actively moved to help elect Donald Trump.

• Oklahoma lawmakers have approved a bill that would require businesses to post anti-abortion signs in their bathrooms.

• Following an acclaimed 4 night concert production at City Center this past October, Jake Gyllenhaal heads back to Broadway in Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday In The Park With George for ten weeks at the Hudson Theater.

Norman Becomes First Oklahoma City To Pass LGBT Protections

Norman, Oklahoma - home of the University of Oklahoma - has become the first city in the state to adopt protections for LGBT citizens.

Via LGBTQ Nation:

The Norman Transcript reports that the council voted Dec. 22 for the resolution that affirms that sexual discrimination can include gender preference and sexual identity.

Freedom Oklahoma Executive Director Troy Stevenson, since federal law will apply and trump municipal law, it was not necessary to adopt an ordinance.

“As the first city in our great state to fully protect all of its residents, Norman has set a precedent for every municipality in Oklahoma and a challenge to our state legislature to follow suit,” Stevenson said.

Council member Lynne Miller said the city’s civil rights ordinance has been on the books since 1986 and that Norman was affirming that all of its residents have a right to equality.

Oklahoma Teacher Tells Pre-K Student To Stop Being Left-Handed Because Satan Is Left-Handed

An Oklahoma teacher allegedly told a pre-K student to stop being left-handed because it's "sinister" and the devil is left-handed.

From News Channel4 in Oklahoma:

Zayde, like most kids in Pre-K, is learning how to read and write. And like his mom, Alisha, Zayde is a lefty. “From picking things up to throwing things, to batting, to writing, to just coloring you’d do at home with him, he’s always, always used his left hand,” Alisha Sands said.

That was until last week at homework time. Alisha asked him why he was writing with his right hand, not his left. “I just asked ‘Is there anything his teachers ever asked about his hands?’ And he raises this one and says this one’s bad,” Sands said.

Alisha sent the teacher a note and got a strong response. It was an article calling left-handedness “unlucky,” “evil,” and “sinister.” It even says “for example, the devil is often portrayed as left-handed.” Alisha couldn’t believe it. “It breaks my heart for him because someone actually believes that, believes my child is evil because he’s left handed, it’s crazy,” Sands said.

What the hell? I have many friends who are great teachers - I can't imagine any of them coming up with this nonsense.