Freedom Oklahoma Statement on House Passage of HB 4245

March 23, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Nicole McAfee, Executive Director, 830-334-1660, nicole@freedomoklahoma.org

OKLAHOMA CITY -The Oklahoma House again spent time today to advance a fear-mongering attack on transgender children. HB4245, authored by Representative Toni Hasenbeck, is one of many attempts this session to push trans youth out of public life, at the expense of their mental health and physical wellbeing. In response to the passage of this legislation from the House, the same as 2021’s SB 2, Freedom Oklahoma issued the following statements:

The following statement is attributable to Nicole McAfee, Executive Director of Freedom Oklahoma: 

“Transgender girls are girls. Representative Hasenbeck’s effort to suggest otherwise does not change that fact. HB 4245 does nothing to advance its stated goals of supporting women’s sports. It is political grandstanding at the expense of the mental health and physical well-being of some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, specifically transgender and Two Spirit children. We know that transgender kids join sports teams for the same reasons we all do–a sense of belonging, a chance to build leadership skills, an opportunity to be in community, and to benefit their emotional and physical well-being. With all of that information on the table, a majority of members in the Oklahoma House of Representatives cruelly and pointedly decided today to take all of those opportunities away from transgender kids. We have been clear that this legislation, if passed, will cause irreparable harm to kids who only want to be treated with dignity and fairness. Transgender and Two Spirit kids have always been here. Transgender and Two Spirit kids belong. In Oklahoma. In sports. Everywhere. ” 

Pronouns:

Nicole McAfee: they/she

We know that stories amplifying attacks on 2SLGBTQ+ people have a measurable negative impact on mental health. We ask that stories covering this topic include information to access 2SLGBTQ+ affirming mental health support, such as Trans Lifeline (877-565-8860), the Trevor Project (call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678), and the LGBT Hotline (888-843-4564)