More legislation filed to restrict transgender people this year than ever before
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — This week supporters honor Transgender Awareness Week and raise awareness for the transgender community ahead of the 11th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, this Sunday.
This year, more than 150 bills were introduced that aim to curb the rights of transgender people across the country. Oklahoma is home to 10 of these bills.
More legislation has been filed to restrict trans people this year than at any other point in the nation’s history.
Oklahoma’s lawmakers have introduced nearly 10% of our nation’s anti-transgender bills this year, so far, four have been successfully signed into law by Governor Stitt.
“Last session was one of the toughest sessions we have ever faced in the midst of countless attacks against trans youth, especially in our state,” Policy Director for ACLU Oklahoma Cindy Nguyen said. “From banning children from using the restroom that best aligns with their gender identity to taking away life-saving best practice medical care for trans and non-gender conforming children.”
Earlier this year, the state passed a bill requiring student-athletes, up to a collegiate level, to play on sports teams matching their biological sex, meaning transgender women would have to compete on the boy’s team.
Oklahoma also passed a gender marker ban, preventing one from updating the gender assigned to them on their birth certificate to what they identify with.
Nguyen says our legislature continues to attack the most vulnerable among us.
“Children who are receiving gender-affirming care and are surrounded by people in their life who support their gender identity face a 52% decrease in suicidal thoughts and 48% decrease in suicidal attempts,” Nguyen said. “Trans youth are seven times likely to attempt suicide. These life-saving measures that are being banned by our legislature.”
This week supporters celebrate Transgender Awareness week to bring awareness and address ongoing issues the transgender community faces.
“The week is a space to mourn the trans siblings that we’ve lost whether we know their names or just know that the fact that so many of them die before we get to know them or acknowledge who they are,” Nicole McAfee, executive director of Freedom Oklahoma. “And gather the solidarity and disrupt the policies which in and of themselves are violence.”
Oklahoma organizations and community members will gather this Sunday at the Diversity Center of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City to celebrate the 11th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.
According to the founder, Gwendolyn Ann Smith, "Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. With so many seeking to erase transgender people, sometimes in the most brutal ways possible, it is vitally important that those we lost are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice,”
The event will begin at 6 p.m. Sunday afternoon with a candlelight vigil life celebration to honor those who have passed.
For support call the Trevor Project Hotline at 1-866-488-7386.