Freedom Oklahoma Statement on House Committee Passage of SB 615, SB 9

April 13, 2022

OKLAHOMA CITY – Today the House State Powers Committee voted to advance SB 615 followed by the House Judiciary-Criminal Committee advancing SB 9. Both of these further make 2SLGBTQ+ people, especially trans, Two Spirit, and nonbinary kids, unsafe and at risk for criminalization as a result of our identities. In response, Freedom Oklahoma issued the following statement: 

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

“There aren’t words to convey the blend of fear and exhaustion that 2SLGBTQ+ Oklahomans are carrying right now. Each day there seems to be a new attack, a new set of the most powerful elected officials in the state using their platforms to spread dangerous misinformation, a library, a school, a counselor made unsafe. This isn’t representative democracy, this is a full-scale attack on 2SLGBTQ+ Oklahomans, and it’s terrifying. 

While the legislature pats themselves on the back for the advancement of SB 1138, which claims to address bullying in schools, the simultaneous advancement of SB 615, which makes parents and guardians privy to any and all information between counselors and students, shows us that they have no interest in protecting the students most bullied and most vulnerable. 2SLGBTQ+ students deserve safety, and instead a committee of grown adults decided that they would take steps to ensure they are even less safe. For the second year in a row, Rep Danny Williams is advancing legislation that threatens to out students to their parents. This is potentially life-threatening legislation for students in non-affirming households. While the author brushed off that harm, we know how very real it is. 

SB 9 harkens to a time many 2SLGBTQ+ folks thought was behind us.The fact that Gubernatorial staff are promoting extremist talking points suggesting that adults who support young people maintaining access to 2SLGBTQ+ representation are a danger to young people reminds us when they cannot silence us or force us back into the closet they will resort to criminalizing our very existence.Similarly, SB 9’s House counterpart, HB 4013, seeks to chill speech and limit access to resources related to 2SLGBTQ+ identities for minors. In the instance folks are not adequately afraid of engaging in those discussions, the threat is criminalization in the sex crimes statute. This is appalling and unacceptable, and a dangerous time to return to. 

We know the impact this legislation has on 2SLGBTQ+ Oklahomans. Instead of seeing ourselves represented, we see bills amended to escalate the harm. None of this is acceptable. None of this should be normal. We have always been here. We belong here. Without the constant threat to our safety simply for living as our authentic selves.”

We know that stories amplifying attacks on 2SLGBTQ+ people have a measurable negative impact on mental health. For 2SLGBTQ+ affirming mental health support, please contact Trans Lifeline (877-565-8860), the Trevor Project (call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678), or the LGBT Hotline (888-843-4564).