Freedom Oklahoma Statement on SB 615 Passage by Oklahoma Legislature
May 19, 2022
OKLAHOMA CITY –The shucked version of SB 615, which establishes a system of bathroom gender policing and bans trans, Two Spirit, and gender diverse students from the ability to just go to the bathroom while at school, had its first substantive hearing in the Legislature today in the Senate followed immediately by a hearing in the House. In spite of hours of questions and answers that failed to justify the cruelty of the bill and evaded its obvious legal problems, SB 615 ultimately passed by a vote of 38-7 in the Senate and a vote of 69-14 in the House. In response, Freedom Oklahoma issued the following statement:
The following is attributable to Nicole McAfee, Freedom Oklahoma Executive Director:
“Oklahoma kids deserve the safety to envision a future for themselves. They deserve to know the adults in their lives will act with their best interests at heart, especially those charged with the power of policymaking. Instead, Oklahoma students, especially trans, Two Spirit, and gender diverse students, are yet again being bullied by our lawmakers. Trans identities are minimized to extremist talking points to move policy for the sake of cruelty. If this bill becomes law, there will be consequences measured in very real harm to the students whose safety this bill puts at risk. And we won’t forget those who allowed this harm to pass.
Today we heard repeatedly that this bill is intended to “protect” trans students. Let us be clear, not only does this policy make trans students unsafe, it creates a hostile, unsafe environment for all students. This policy requires trans students to be regularly outed at school, to possibly unsafe contacts, targeting their ability to continue using the bathroom as needed, relegating them to either separate facilities or creating scenarios where trans girls may be forced to use a bathroom with boys and trans boys forced to use a bathroom with girls. This bill creates possible scenarios where trans students are regularly outed in their communities, any time a parent or guardian in a district questions *if* a student is using the bathroom assigned to them by law, or alleges complaints of noncompliance with a school board or the State Board of Education.
There is no question this bill is unconstitutional. It is absolutely a violation of Title IX. We know it could very well create Title II violations at districts across the state. Ultimately, it will cost the state hundreds of millions in business dollars, unimaginable costs in litigation and attorney fees, further brain drain as educators, school administrators, and school counselors refuse to be complicit in this harm, and very likely the lives of some of the most vulnerable children in our state whose ability to imagine a future for themselves is erased by political grandstanding that furthers misinformation, fear, and hate about who they are.
Trans students cannot be targeted for their gender. They have every right to use the bathroom that is consistent with who they are. This bill would demand schools act in opposition to legal standards and best practices to keep students safe, all for policy that a cabinet member is moving to shift political pressure away from questioning his personal ethics.
To the trans, Two Spirit, and gender diverse kids who woke up or ended their day to find their legislature again attacking their identities: you deserve better than this. You deserve safety and celebration. You deserve to go to school and use the bathroom and learn and live here without incident, and without bullying by grown adults who are supposed to represent you. 2SLGBTQ+ people have always been here. We have used the bathrooms that correspond with our gender in schools, at the Capitol, and everywhere else, without causing harm and without incident. We deserve the dignity to do just that. We deserve the safety to thrive here in Oklahoma. This fight isn’t over, and we won’t stop until all 2SLGBTQ+ kids are safe.”
“We take care of us. Our liberation will not be bound in the laws that come out of this body. But it will be bound in how we show up for one another when this body does the worst. Time and time again. - Rep. Mauree Turner, debating against SB 615” Blue background with starburst designs, red border around the quote, Freedom Oklahoma Logo
We know that stories amplifying attacks on 2SLGBTQ+ people have a measurable negative impact on mental health. To access 2SLGBTQ+ affirming mental health support, 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).