The first openly gay mayor of The Village has resigned only two months after being elected due to escalating threats and harassment.
In a letter shared on the Twitter platform, Adam Graham said, “It was an honor to serve and it’s my great privilege to break boundaries, but I no longer felt safe to serve in my capacity as Mayor.”
Graham, who was elected as The Village mayor in May and previously served as a city councilmember, wrote, “Since 2018, I’ve fought against ageism, racism and homophobia at every step. I was proud that The Village was ready for a young voice and for new ideas.”
“Unfortunately, certain elements of the population have recently become emboldened to pursue threats and attacks bordering on violence,” he continued. “In the last month, I’ve been followed home from meetings, threatened while walking my dog, harassed at Starbucks and have had my tires slashed.”
Graham also explained about a May 28th incident, which he had an exchange with the police officers from Nichols Hills, a nearby town.
“This resulted from an incident two months ago where I stood up against Nichols Hill Police targeting The Village residents,” he wrote. “I will never apologize for standing up for the people I was elected to serve. I will never understand why some officials are more concerned with representing the interests of Nichols Hills than the interests of their constituents.”
Graham claims he told the officers to get out and informed them that they could not give traffic tickets within the city limits of The Village. Body cam footage was used as evidence to back up Graham’s pleas.
Graham concluded his message by noting that he could not continue to serve in the aftermath of the incident.
“Unfortunately, these malicious, bad-faith attacks are escalating and I no longer feel safe to serve in my capacity as Mayor,” he shared. “It’s with a heavy-heart that I tender my resignation effective immediately.”
Graham said, “I now plan to go back to being a private citizen who will work to make sure the best possible people are elected to service in city government.”
Should have stayed in the closet. We don’t need to hear he was gay ? This is how the LGBTQ community thinks they can do and say anything they want. We don’t need to hear who’s gay and who is not.
Just keep ur pie hole shut! It’s better to do so
Dude wasn’t going around with a megaphone announcing he was gay, he didn’t have the words “I am a gay man” stitched into the back of his suit, he was just ok with people knowing he was into men instead of women. You should have just stayed off the internet. We don’t need to hear your stupid opinions while you hide your face and he doesn’t.
This is America, fuckstick, everyone has the right to be who they are without twerps that get their feelings easily hurt threatening violence on them.
200% AGREE!! We DO NOT need to know that he’s the first “openly GAY” mayor. He wore it like a pride badge and therefore invited the distain. Do your job! That’s how you gain the respect and approval you seek. NOT by announcing to everyone that you like men instead of women by CONTINUALLY reminding us that you’re “Openly gay”.
We don’t CARE!!!
I couldn`t have said it better We are tired of these people pushing in our faces what sex they prefer We don`t do it and we aren`t interested in what you do in your bedroom
I hate to say it Colin …but I agree with you. When will gay men learn to stop telling everyone that they are gay…knowing how hateful people are in this world. Gay men need to know that not everyone is going to like or accept them and sometimes it is better to stay in the closet. Singer Gene Simmons once said…when you are gay and start telling everyone that you are gay…then the focus goes off your other accomplishments and people then start to concentrate on the fact that you are gay. They will make it the entire focus…instead of saying he’s a great singer…actor…politician or whatever career choice is made. Gay men need to know that this world has not changed and hate still exists. I feel sorry for him…because I think he lived in the world of “gay” where he only associated with other gay people…or gay friendly people….and was not living in the reality of the real world. When you are in a top position…you have to deal with every type of person…not just gay people. I would say more…but I hope I have made my point to gay men….stay in the closet and say nothing…just do your job.
Its to bad that u cannot get out there and serve your community without idiots getting involved & making the agenda about “gay” not what it really is. Thank you for trying to do the job you were elected to do. How unfortunate for your city, as I’m sure u had great plans to make it great again! Maybe if u put a female blow up doll in your bedroom, they wouldn’t question the great job u would do! It breaks my heart how stupid some can be!
Good Luck & God Bless!
That’s oklahoma for ya!! The Bible belt where so called “Christian people” love everyone!! NOT! Only if you are straight and go to church. You can sin and sleep with the preacher and as long as you ask for forgiveness then you’re good in there book. How dare you be gay or lesbian because then you are going straight to hell. I thought “Christians are suppose to accept any person!! It sure ain’t that way in Oklahoma. They aren’t nothing but a bunch of high class hicks that think they are better than anyone else. I live in oklahoma and know that for a fact. I’m so sorry you had to deal with that. Who cares who you sleep with as long as you do your job. I feel so bad for you.
Signed, not a Christian!
He was elected as the village idiot.
Gay? I’m not! Should have kept your bungehole ways to yourself!
Don’t all mayors and politicians get threats all the time?
While I abhor the existence of the threats and attacks, I firmly believe that Gays in general are more concerned with their sexual status than anything else and should not serve in any political capacity. (I have personal evidence of this attitude with family members and friends).
We saw this in Houston when we had a Lesbian Mayer. Everything she did and spoke about was to further the Gay agenda, all through her term. Every time she would speak over the news she was pushing the Gay Agenda, Most Americans don’t really care what your sexual preference is but when you continue to push your agenda on our children and try to shove you bullshit lifestyle (monkypox is a good example} on the rest of us then we push back and then they all fall back on there packaged answer, racist, homefob, no we really arn’t, we just get tired of you trying to justify your life style to everyone.
Awe poor baby… got his feelings hurt? well you can’t shove your lifestyle in peoples faces and expect everyone to accept it…
Some of these comments are appalling. I’m ashamed FOR the people who are writing them.
Thank you, Mr. Graham, for representing the people of this state who voted for and elected you. I’m sorry for the people who think it’s appropriate to harrass and threaten an elected official, or anyone else, for that matter. Obviously, they are the minority or you wouldn’t have been elected in the first place but they have obviously also been taught that bullying is more effective in getting their way than being a decent human being.
I hope your future is bright and good things are soon to follow this disheartening situation.
Should’ve stayed in the closet. Good advice for all fags.
That’s oklahoma for ya!! The Bible belt where so called “Christian people” love everyone!! NOT! Only if you are straight and go to church. You can sin and sleep with the preacher and as long as you ask for forgiveness then you’re good in there book. How dare you be gay or lesbian because then you are going straight to hell. I thought “Christians are suppose to accept any person!! It sure ain’t that way in Oklahoma. They aren’t nothing but a bunch of high class hicks that think they are better than anyone else. I live in oklahoma and know that for a fact. I’m so sorry you had to deal with that. Who cares who you sleep with as long as you do your job. I feel so bad for you.
Signed, not a Christian!
Your view on Christianity sadly has gotten skewed. I apologize if some so called “Christian” caused this animosity. First of all there are Christians all over the world. We are to love and accept everyone. However we are not to accept or give in to their ways or temptations if they are not in accordance with scripture and nature. Adulterers are not ok in my book. If they do not turn away from their ways, they too will not have the best eternity. Jesus sat down at the table with sinners. Why? To teach them the err of their ways. Love the sinner, not the sin. Forgiveness is a two way street. We all sin, everyday. Anyone who says otherwise is a true hypocrite. The forgiveness is always there if we ask but we have to stop doing the things we are guilty of. It is called repentance. It is not to be used as a way out every time we repeat doing something wrong. At some point, God stops listening unless we do our part. Whether you believe in a higher power or not, there is no refuting nature. Other than occasional, very occasional anomalies, there are only two genders, made for two purposes…Procreation and to be opposite help meets for one another. Not one can do it without the other. There is no form that works without some type of participation from both genders. I agree, there are snobs and hypocrites in the Church and they are no better than any other sinner out there and will be punished. However there are snobs and hypocrites in all facets of life. We are supposed to live as Christ. He said “I came to minister, not to be ministered to”. He did not think highly of himself but was ridiculed by those who did. We should be His way. Please think before you group every Christian into one group. High class? My family and I work full time blue collar jobs, drive older cars than most and live in a small house. We don’t try to keep up with the Jones’ and couldn’t if we wanted to and could care less. We are from Alabama, but we are not hicks. My family and I just try to do the best we can with the lives we were blessed with. Again, I am sorry that so called “Christians” in your area have made such a bad impression on you. God bless you and your family and may a true Christian light shine unto you in the future.
If the mayor was straight and the same issues with police, vandalism to his tires and escalating threats (real or paranoia) happened it wouldn’t be news. The fact that the gay angle was used vs police run-ins, vandalism, and possible threats to report this story is exactly what’s wrong with the media and the lgbtq community….look at me!, look at me!
It’s simply a cry for help. The mayor obviously isn’t strong enough to weather the storm.
What is wrong with elected officials and teachers these days? Why is there first agenda now to share their personal lives and biased views with everyone? Shut your mouth, do your job! Serve all the people, teach all the kids without your personal view, society standards and vices getting in the way. I do not believe in the whole alphabet society. Being gay should not be treated as a minority, it isn’t a race. You are that way by choice and should not get any special treatment, protection or use it as a reason to be heard. Their is really only one race…HUMAN. Their are only two natural genders…FEMALE AND MALE. Two men are not designed to be together, two women are not designed to be together. Prove me wrong with DNA, nature and procreation. Think about it; what if everyone was gay? Life would cease to exist in less than a century. Again prove me wrong. My grandfather used this analogy. You can’t put anything together with just with two bolts or two hex nuts. You have to have a bolt and a nut. If you try it will just fall apart. Even inanimate objects follow the true laws of nature.
It’s complete crap that someone would go to the extent of making threats over someone’s sexuality. He didn’t go around yelling from the rooftops that he was gay.
I’m a Christian Conservative Libertarian and whatever 2 consenting adults do behind closed doors is between them. It’s none of my damn business and helps in no way whether I agree with it or not.
If you have an issue with it fine, but to bully someone makes you no better than the Left. You’re just an idiot.
Another loser who is now a permanent victim, just like all the Nazi’s he adores.
Hey man God really loves and wants to save you but hates your lifestyle. He sees it as an abomination. Also, those who condemn you are so guilty for we are all sinners in need of a Savior, Christ the Lord.
Looks to me like he was more worried about letting everyone know his sexual orientation than actually doing his job.