statement on the censure of Rep Mauree Turner

Rep Mauree Turner was censured by the Oklahoma House of Representatives on March 7, 2023. We made statements about the censure in real time across social media, and wanted to put that information into a blog post for people to access information about this undemocratic act meant to silence 2SLGBTQ+ Oklahomans.

Today, the OK House of Representatives voted to censure Rep Mauree Turner and remove them from their Committee Assignments. We don’t have words to convey our anger at what those in power in the Oklahoma House did today to Representative Turner and our entire 2STGNC+ community. Their policy, the increased hostility and number of troopers present, members escorted out of meetings by sergeants at arms so they won’t have to talk to trans constituents, are all actions which have made it perfectly clear that they do not welcome us in the building. That we are not the Oklahomans they are making policy for, not the Oklahomans whose safety they value or even consider. Now they are trying to silence the only nonbinary member of the legislature. And further, demand an apology to the law enforcement officers who continue to be hostile and oppressive to our community members, for the simple act of empathy. They can put censures on the record, remove people from committee assignments, station themselves outside of offices of friendly members to intimidate us, have troopers stationed in meetings we attend, follow our every move in the building. They can surveil us, they can make it clear we’re unwelcome, but they cannot silence or erase Two Spirit, transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming Oklahomans. We have been and will always be here. We have faced this state sanctioned violence before. We stand in solidarity with Representative Turner who risks their life, their safety, and their peace of mind each day they enter their building to show up for us and with us. Today’s censure was reprehensible and we unequivocally condemn it and the untrue telling of events that accompanied it.

If you're heading to the Capitol, we recommend using the buddy system, and having a mechanism, such as ACLU's mobile justice app, to record hostile interactions at the ready.