Jason has been after me for months to write an article
for this site. I kept putting him off thinking what
can a married straight woman contribute to a GLBT
website. I can't give GLBT advice. But I am a part of
the GLBT community so I decided to use this column to
introduce you to other people that are part of that
community.
I will interview a different person each month. That
person may be GLBT or straight. If you would like to
suggest a person for me to interview or have any
comments or questions feel free to email me at sherri@mcpride.org
This month's interview is with myself so you can get
to know a little about me. And I don't think I have a
split personality or do I?
Your name - Sherri Butler
Age - 46
Birthday - January 18
Gender - Female
Sexual preference - Straight
Significant other - Harold, we've been married 13
years.
Any children - 26 year old son, Coy and 24 year old
daughter, Kristi. Also two grandchildren, Kayla - 6
and Jayden - 2
Hometown - McAlester, but grew up in Ft. Worth, Texas
What was your childhood like - Miserable, I was very,
very shy and my father was an alcoholic.
Hobbies - Reading, crafts, riding my motorcycle, and
camping
Career - Designing ads for the newspaper
Favorite town - Oklahoma City.
Favorite drink - Pina Colada
Favorite food - Seafood
Favorite holiday - It's a tie between Halloween and
Christmas
Favorite song - Unchained Melody
Favorite performer - Matthew Heath-Fitzgerald
Favorite drag queen - Ginger Lamar
Favorite person - My granddaughter, Kayla, I love
going shopping and spending time with her.
What person do you admire the most - The officers of
McPride - that they are brave enough to let their
names be used in the McAlester News-Capital and
represent McPride in the public.
Tattoos or piercings - I have a tattoo on my calf,
across my chest and on my ring finger - they all have
red roses in them.
Are you a member of McPride - Yes, I'm the
vice-president
How did you find out about McPride - Two friends
invited me to the very first meeting.
What is your philosophy about life - Live and let
live. Live your life the way you want it to be.
Fondest memory - Taking care of my grandson during the
first two weeks of his life.
Biggest regret - I didn't divorce my first husband
sooner.
Have you ever had your fortune told - Yes, she told me
to quit thinking so much and listen to my heart.
What most people don't know about you - That I tried
to ride a bull in a high school rodeo and was on the
Castleberry High School Rodeo Drill Team.
What would you like to tell the McAlester and the
surrounding area - Don't let movies, television shows
or the internet mislead you. Form your own opinion of
GLBT people. I bet someone you know and like is gay,
you just may not realize they are. It may be a friend,
family or neighbor.
Sherri: Tell me a little about yourself.
Me: I was born in McAlester but was mostly raised in
Ft. Worth, Texas. I grew up in an all adult mobile
home park. I have two younger brothers. I was very shy
and did not make friends easily.
At 18 I married my first real boyfriend not long after
he got out of the Air Force basic training. A week
later we moved to Clovis, New Mexico. We spent four
years there and both of my children were born at
Cannon Air Force Base Hospital.
We also lived in
McAlester, Goldsboro, N.C. and Bossier City, La.
before moving back to McAlester where we ended up
getting divorced. A year later I met Harold then found
out what real love was. We married on Valentine's Day
in 1992. I have been working at the News-Capital for
11 years.
Sherri: Why are you a part of the GLBT community?
Me: I grew knowing a family member was gay but it was
not talked about. When I was in my 30's that family
member started introducing me to some of it's friends.
I was very comfortable with those people and that
helped me overcome some of my shyness. I find that a
lot of GLBT people are much less judgmental than
straight people. As I made more GLBT friends, I
started attending parties and other events with them.
Just try to keep me away from the Get Along Gang's
Spring Fling or Fall Ball camp outs.
Sherri: How did you get involved with McPride?
Me: Two of my friends invited me to go with them to a
meeting to see about organizing the GLBT community in
the McAlester area. Why they invited me I have no idea,
unless they forgot that I was straight. I liked what
the group was going to try to accomplish and decided
to become part of it.
Sherri: How did you become an officer?
Me: I was named Social Events Coordinator after
organizing a Holiday Party, last December. In
September when the vice-president position came open,
I was voted by the members to fill that position. That
has been my greatest honor ever.
Sherri: Have you ever been involved with other groups
in this area.
Me: Yes, I was a member of KAST for a few years, I
started out doing props and moved my way up to
Directing. I directed the summer children's shows for
3 years and also directed Harvey.
I was also a team
leader for the March of Dimes Walk America. I was the
Entertainment Committee chairman for two years for the
Cancer Society Relay For Life.
Sherri: Does your husband support your involvement
with McPride?
Me: He joined McPride a few months after I did. He is
a very big supporter and very helpful to the group. He
is kind of our protector and all around handy man.
