Learn more about Enid, Oklahoma’s controversial city-council candidate in the news report below.
As News9 reports:
An Oklahoma politician is catching a lot of heat but it has nothing to do with his campaign or platform. Instead, it’s the way he runs his business. The politician admits he won’t allow certain people into his business. “If I discriminate, it’s against the people I dislike,” [bar] owner Gary James said. James is accused of discrimination and he doesn’t deny it. “If you come in here with all the metal in your face and a limp wrist, no I don’t really want you in here and my customers damn sure don’t want you in here,” James said.
James, who is also running for a spot on the Enid City Council, is keeping out what he calls “trash” and “people on welfare.” Earlier this week, he told the local paper anyone who wears a hat inside a building is gay, and will be asked to leave. James said he isn’t homophobic or racist. He just refuses to allow anyone who makes him or his customers uneasy inside his business.
“If [people] don’t like my actions or my words they don’t have to vote for me as far as that election goes,” James said.
I’m entranced by this report for two reasons. First, the news footage of Gary James reminds me of the eternal lesson of Archie Bunker: sometimes unapologetic bigots are ridiculously appealing. (At least you know where they stand, forever.) Second, the whole saga seems to herald some post-postmodern usage of the word faggot, which is used not to signify homosexuality but to sum up any diversion from the old-school Okie masculine form. (In Gary James’ world, and bar, straight guys with eyebrow piercings are totally faggots.)
Thank you, Towleroad.
If wearing a hat indoors makes you a faggot, Oklahoma is full of faggots. In fact, everywhere that country music is popular, faggots are to be found in abundance.
Thanks for the reminder of why I left Oklahoma as soon as I graduated high school…
Is it just me or is that reporter totally gay?
“faggots. I use that word a lot!”
It’s always fun when a pair of baggy-pants-wearing teenagers come across as far more mature and worldly than a sixty-something so-called adult.
Oklahoma is the anus of America. It is a serious contender for most backward state. I remember people who believed things like if your car broke down it was because it was possessed by a demon. No joke.
He says he isn’t homophobic, then admits gay people make him uneasy.
What exactly do people like him think homophobia is?
@6, he ain’t afraid of no fuckin’ faggot, shit, he would beat one bloody if it weren’t fer johnny law.
http://garyjamesward4.com/
I have only voted for one tax in Enid, that was for a four foot water line coming into Enid from The Cleo fields.
That tax has been extended until 2042.
I am the candidate that the newspaper does not want.
I am the candidate that the city manager does not want.
I am the candidate that WARD FOUR NEEDS. I can say no to economic development until the streets, sewer, and water is repaired. The city needs to take care of infrastructure and leave business to business men and women.
I have been in Ward four for more years than most have lived in Enid. I care for Ward four.
I need your help. If I can get 51% of WARD FOUR VOTE that would send a powerful message to the people that think they own YOU AND YOUR TOWN.
I will not vote for bullet proof glass in a police station.
I will not vote to buy SUVs, when you have to work hard to buy a car to get to work and pay taxes. You deserve the SUV.
@6. Why would he even say that? Obviously, he is homophobic. At least he should own up to it.
And, what amuses me is that his gaydar is so poor that he would think all sorts of people are “faggots.”
Homophobia: it’s not just for real gay people any more.
No fireworks on the 4th of July – the one holiday ever[sic] American should celebrate
THAT IS JUST WRONG!!!
The confederate flag is a particularly nice touch. James’s tax stance and anti-bulletproof glass stances are just retarded. And how the hell can you pay for an improved infrastructure if you don’t have tax revenues?
Yes, Mr. James, you deserve the SUV. Up your tuchus. (Which means your ass, btw.)
He won’t let in “people on welfare”? I thought everyone in Oklahoma was on welfare! WACKITY SMACKITY DOO!
“Gary James will not vote for any type of wasteful spending.”
“No fireworks on the 4th of July – the one holiday ever American should celebrate
THAT IS JUST WRONG!!!”
I am going to end every Slog post from now on with WACKITY SMACKITY DOO!
@13 It should be obvious that by “people on welfare” he means “the ethnics”.
Oh god. I was born in Enid. Left when I was 5 in 1971 and haven’t been back.
Another reason to live here.
He looks likes someone’s grandma.
You have crap streets going to the fairgrounds.
Boom, roasted.
Hey Paul (at 15),
If you do decide to end every Slog post with “Wackity Smackity Doo”, you should send Patton Oswalt a few bucks as a polite gesture.
Thank you, Peter Greyy! We were wondering if that was a quote. You are a joke-crediting encyclopedia, plus you will soon be able to tell me what Joan Rivers looks like close-up.
I sometimes think modern day Oklahoma is the punishment the rest of us get for what was done to Native American Tribes
I’ve been to Enid, OK. The town looks like an Aurora/Puyallup mix, but from what I gather there is a lot of oil money there.
He’s got his terminology mixed up. Wearing a hat indoors makes you a mannerless asshole, not gay.
He will appeal to a lot of folks in that town for this. I found it very interesting that at the end of the news story the anchor reminded everyone that while racial discrimination is against the law in Oklahoma, sexual identity discrimination is not.
Just in case anyone is wondering where Gary James the Bigot is, he lost his city council race. He got a grand total of 80 votes and finished third.