Freedom Oklahoma responds to announcement Gov Stitt will sign transmisogynist Executive Order Tuesday Aug 1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2023
Oklahoma City, OK – After another special session convening in which Governor Stitt saw his vetoes overridden, the trans exclusionary organization Independent Women’s Voice issued a press release announcing that Governor Stitt will hold a ceremonial signing of an Executive Order on Tuesday 8/1, to uphold sex based discrimination in Oklahoma, with language similar to the language that we saw move in SB 408 and HB 1449 from Senator Garvin and Representative Hasenbeck this session. On the signing of this executive order, Freedom Oklahoma issued the following statement:
“Today Governor Stitt is going to claim he cares about women, while signing policy authored by an organization that has opposed both the Equal Rights Amendment and the Paycheck Fairness Act. This Executive Order is neither about rights, nor is it about protecting women. It is a thinly veiled attack on codifying discrimination against transgender women. This bill does not protect women, but instead opens the door for further civil rights violations that open all women to being harassed and targeted as they have their femininity assessed and judged by a public who feels increased permission to police gender. We know that this Executive Order, like the legislation we saw from this same organization this session, is not rooted in what is best for women or even clarity within the law, rather it is a blatant celebration of transmisogyny from the Governor’s office.” said Nicole McAfee, Executive Director of Freedom Oklahoma. “Two Spirit, transgender, and gender nonconforming people have always been in Oklahoma. And we’ll always be here. While we won’t pretend to be surprised that the Governor is engaging in yet another blatant attacks on our community, we will continue to act with urgency towards the future where all 2SLGBTQ+ people have the safety to thrive.”
SB 408 and HB 1449, with language from the organization Independent Women’s Voice did not advance to the Governor’s desk in the 2023 session, and on Monday July 31, the organization sent a press release announcing the Governor would instead advance the transmisogynist policy via Executive Order, which he would sign at a ceremonial event Tuesday August 1.
Pronouns:
Nicole McAfee, they/she
Freedom Oklahoma is the state's only dedicated 2SLGBTQ+ advocacy organization, and works each day to build a future where all 2SLGBTQ+ people have the safety to thrive. You can learn more about Freedom Oklahoma at https://www.freedomoklahoma.org/.
###