The fight to protect health care for trans kids is not over
photo collage featuring scenes from the SB 3 hearing. To the left, someone listening outside a lobby in the Legislature holds a sign behind their back "Trans People Belong Here". In the top right, Lauren Brazzle Zuniga makes a sign on pink posterboard reading "Trans Kids Deserve Best Practice Medical Care" during Dyke Night at Alibis. In the lower right, a group gathers, including many people in white medical coats, outside of the House gallery after the passage of SB 3.
This is not a moment for statements that try to hide the real harm and pain our community is experiencing as a result of targeted, compounding attacks from the Oklahoma Legislature and Governor over these last several months. I often remark how resilient 2SLGBTQ+ folks in Oklahoma are. The truth is we have to be. Whenever trans and queer folks from outside the state visit, I often hear them shocked at the art, culture, community we create together. And I know that is because so many of us have felt so deeply isolated and attacked here at some point in our lives. I know it’s because we focus our rage on building and release our pain and find joy in art. We organize–protests, mutual aid fundraisers, dyke nights, pride events, moments of visibility and remembrance, vaccination events, clothing swaps, bicycle rides, hikes, public comment…we’re incredible, we’re beautiful, and so many of us are profoundly exhausted.
Last Tuesday, to the surprise of almost no one, Governor Stitt signed a bill creating immediate restrictions on providers at the Roy G Biv Clinic at OU Health and their ability to provide best practice medical care for trans kids. As we parse through needs and next steps, we remind current patients first and foremost to look to your doctor, not your government, for medical next steps. Please continue to go to appointments you’ve made at OU Health unless you receive direct contact from your provider instructing you otherwise. And know that if you’re facing a gap in care, you can reach out to us. We’re doing all we can to connect with providers on how to make sure people get the care they need without creating more immediate targets for the Oklahoma Legislature.
Read our full statement on the passage of SB 3xx, here
Last Tuesday’s signature came with a statement we’ve now heard from too many Oklahomans in positions of power suggesting that the priority in 2023 will be a continued attack on transgender people, starting with a more comprehensive ban on best practice medical care. We don’t know if they’ll use past proposals which threaten to criminalize parents or providers, we don’t know if they’ll advance bans for people under 21 or under 18. What we do know is that we’ll fight them every step of the way. Because transgender people, of all ages, deserve access to best practice medical care. Doctors deserve to be able to provide best practice medical care to their patients, including their patients who are transgender kids. Parents deserve to make decisions in concert with medical providers and their kids that center the health, well-being, and joy of their young people. In and beyond Oklahoma.
We know that in the face of this news, some folks might be waiting for the news about who is coming to help. We will continue to lobby organizations with litigation departments to invest capacity and energy in response on the ground in Oklahoma. And, as so many of us know too well, too often folks who don’t feel the urgency of living here feel comfort in telling us that we can wait until things are worse for them to help. We’re not waiting. We’re caring for one another. We’re saving our own community. We’re showing up for you and with you in all of the ways we can, because for too many of us, the worst is already happening.
Our team recognizes what a great privilege it is to get up each day and do this work with you. It’s because of generous support of donors in Oklahoma, from Oklahoma, and those beyond Oklahoma who believe in the future where all 2SLGBTQ+ Oklahomans have the safety to thrive that we have the resources we do to fight.
We want to offer the reminder that 2SLGBTQ+ affirming crisis support exists from such entities as Trans Lifeline (877-565-8860), the LGBT Hotline (888-843-4564), and the Trevor Project (call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678).
We see you. We love you. We’re in this fight with you for the long-haul. Until safety. Until liberation.
In Solidarity,
Nicole McAfee
they/she'
Executive Director, Freedom Oklahoma