“Trans Lives Matter” Protesters Occupy Oklahoma Capitol Building to Fight New Bills
A group of over 100 "Trans Lives Matter" protesters arrived at Oklahoma's State Capitol building Monday to stand up against a series of bills that would ban gender-affirming surgery and care for young people.
The demonstrators from Oklahomans For Equality and from Freedom Oklahoma occupied the interior rotunda of the building, which is open to the public as a tourist attraction. Videos shared on social media show them chanting "Trans lives matter" loudly and holding up signs.
Their protest was against several bills introduced in the 2023 Oklahoma legislative session championed by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt. These would limit transgender health care to residents under 26.
"Bullard files bill prohibiting genital mutilation of youth under 26," a statement on the Oklahoma Senate website reads. "Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, recently filed Senate Bill 129, also known as the Millstone Act, to prohibit Oklahoma doctors from providing gender transition procedures or referral services relating to such procedures to anyone under the age of 26."
Stitt delivered the first State of the State address of his second term Monday, and among other things, criticized gender-affirming care for young people—such as hormone therapies (many of which are reversible) and surgery.
"Minors can’t vote, can’t purchase alcohol, can’t purchase cigarettes… We shouldn’t allow a minor to get a permanent gender altering surgery in Oklahoma," the governor said, insisting the bills are meant to protect the state's youth.
Oklahoma has a long history of anti-LGBTQ+ laws. In March of last year, Stitt, backed by conservative lawmakers, announced a ban on transgender student athletes competing in women’s sports. In September, a group of Oklahoma students sued the state over its law that prohibits transgender students from using the bathroom corresponding with their gender identity in schools. And in October, Stitt signed a bill to withhold COVID-19 relief funds from one of the state's largest hospital systems unless it stopped providing gender-affirming medical care to those under 18.
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