GLAAD, FREEDOM OKLAHOMA RESPOND TO CENSURING OF REP. MAUREE TURNER, OKLAHOMA’S FIRST AND ONLY NONBINARY LAWMAKER, WHO HELPED A TRANSGENDER PROTESTOR IN THE CAPITOL

Freedom Oklahoma: “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. 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.”

GLAAD: “Lawmakers in Oklahoma and across the country continue to double and triple down on their discriminatory and dangerous rhetoric and behavior against their state’s citizens. Transgender people are under attack by extremists who are baselessly trying to limit their private, best practice healthcare. Every Oklahoman and every American should be outraged that lawmakers are working overtime to target people, including their own colleague. Lawmakers chose to censure Rep. Turner and threaten to further silence them. This is shameful oppression in a place where democracy, dialogue and decency should be paramount and where every citizen and lawmaker should feel safe and heard.”

(March 7, 2023 – Oklahoma City, OK and New York, NY) – GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, and Freedom Oklahoma, the only statewide 2SLGBTQ+ advocacy organization, are speaking out about the censuring of nonbinary state Rep. Mauree Turner, following the rough arrest of a transgender protestor at the state capitol.

On Feb. 28th, protestors speaking out against a bill to ban insurance coverage for so-called “gender transition procedures” were escorted out of a House floor hearing. A lawmaker claimed that a protestor threw water after encountering him in the rotunda after the floor vote. Video of the protestors, one of whom is a transgender man, shows the much larger state trooper throwing the protestor to the floor of a stairwell, handcuffing him behind his back as he was face down. [VIDEO HERE VIA KFOR]

Today, Republican House leaders announced a censure of Rep. Mauree Turner, Oklahoma’s first and only nonbinary elected representative, claiming Rep. Turner “impeded law enforcement” by helping one of the protestors in their office, claiming they “harbored a fugitive.” House majority leaders are also demanding an apology from Rep. Turner, or they will lose their committee assignments. Rep. Turner said today they will not apologize: “I think an apology for loving the people of Oklahoma is something that I cannot do.”

Statement from Freedom Oklahoma Executive Director Nicole McAfee: 
“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. 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.”

Statement from GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis:
“Lawmakers in Oklahoma and across the country continue to double and triple down on their discriminatory and dangerous rhetoric and behavior against their state’s citizens. Transgender people are under attack by extremists who are baselessly trying to limit their private, best practice healthcare. Every Oklahoman and every American should be outraged that lawmakers are working overtime to target people, including their own colleague. Lawmakers chose to censure Rep. Turner and threaten to further silence them. This is shameful oppression in a place where democracy, dialogue and decency should be paramount and where every citizen and lawmaker should feel safe and heard.”

Late last year, Oklahoma lawmakers voted to withhold federal COVID-19 funds for mental health treatment unless facilities stopped providing best practices healthcare for transgender people. Every major medical association supports healthcare for transgender people as safe and lifesaving (statements here).

In October, a donut shop was firebombed in Tulsa after hosting an art show featuring drag performers, one of more than 141 attacks and threats against drag events and venues.

Nearly 400 anti-LGBTQ bills are pending around the country, approximately 300 of which specifically target transgender Americans and youth. The Equality Federation is tracking all state-level bills affecting LGBTQ people in 2023 at this link: https://www.equalityfederation.org/state-legislation. 

Last week, Tennessee passed a ban on best practice healthcare for transgender youth, as well as a ban on drag performances where children are present – despite zero evidence of harm. The Tennessee legislature continues to consider additional anti-LGBTQ legislation. 

Lawmakers in Utah, South Dakota, and Mississippi have also passed and signed into law anti-transgender health care bans this year.

###

About Freedom Oklahoma
Freedom Oklahoma is the only statewide 2SLGBTQ+ advocacy (about 2S) organization on the ground in Oklahoma, working in community to fight an increasing volume of attacks in an especially difficult political environment, while organizing power to build the future where all 2SLGBTQ+ Oklahomans have the safety to thrive.