Oklahoma State Capitol. (Photo by Jimmy Emerson, from Flickr)
Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed into law Senate Bill 2, a bill which would restrict transgender girls from playing on school sports teams that match their gender identity. The measure passed the Oklahoma House last year and by a 37-7 vote in the state Senate last week.
In addition to S.B. 2, the state legislature is also moving forward two additional bills that target the LGBTQ+ community: S.B. 9, a bill that would expand definition of obscene materials to target the LGBTQ+ community, and S.B. 1100, a bill that would eliminate inclusive gender markers from official documents.
Data shows that 75% of Oklahomans support expanding LGBTQ+ rights including protections from discrimination, contradictory to the governor’s actions.
“Last year, Oklahoma Senate President Greg Treat rightly called S.B. 2 a solution in search of a problem. Nothing has changed, yet Governor Stitt and Oklahoma legislators have sadly decided that harming Oklahoma’s most vulnerable children and their families is worthwhile if it’s politically helpful with the extreme elements of their base. It’s only March, and 2022 is on track to be the worst year on record for introduction and enactment of anti-transgender legislation,” said Human Rights Campaign State Legislative Director and Senior Counsel Cathryn Oakley.
“Other Republican governors have chosen to follow the facts to their logical conclusion – just last week Republican governors in Indiana and Utah vetoed legislation similar to S.B. 2, citing the wellbeing and mental health of transgender kids, the lack of any problem with transgender youth participation in sports, and potential litigation. Instead, Governor Stitt has chosen discrimination over the well-being of everyday Oklahomans. The Human Rights Campaign strongly condemns his actions,” Oakley added.
