- HB1219 has passed the Oklahoma House and would impact the LGBTQ+ community
- HB1219 would forbid pride flags from being displayed at state agencies or buildings, including public colleges and universities
- HB3130 seeks to restrict gender-affirming care for both minors and adults and is moving through the House
HB1219, written by Rep. Kevin West, has passed the Oklahoma House on March 11 and would prohibit the display of LGBTQ+ flags on government property, including public colleges and universities. The bill prohibits any state agency from using government funds to endorse, promote, organize or recognize Pride Month “or any event with a similar theme.” This ban applies to educational campaigns, social media posts, and public campaigns as well. Another bill by West, HB3130, is also moving through the House.
HB3130 would restrict gender-affirming care for both adults and minors. The bill “prohibits state funds for all gender transition procedures.” The bill also forbids any state agency, subdivision, employee, contractor or public institution to “facilitate, refer or encourage the provision of such procedures.” The bill forbids “contracting with any entity that knowingly performs or promotes such procedures.”
Any state employees that violate the rules in this section risk immediate termination and loss of benefits.
Cole McAfee, executive director of Freedom Oklahoma, said in a statement provided to The Independent View that the language of HB3130 appears to “disrupt any entity that receives state money and provides gender-affirming care to transgender people of any age.”
Much of HB3130 amends multiple statutes that govern the medical field in Oklahoma, including the Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act and the Oklahoma Osteopathic Medicine Act, so that referring a minor for gender-affirming care is considered unprofessional conduct.
Gender-affirming care is defined in the bill as surgeries on the genitals or chest, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones “or other drugs used to suppress or delay normal puberty or to promote the development of feminizing or masculinizing features consistent with the opposite biological sex.”
“There’s also a proposed amendment from Rep. Maynard which would ban gender-affirming mental health care,” McAfee said.
This amendment, proposed by Rep. Cody Maynard, strikes Division 1 of Section 8 of HB3130, which states that gender transition services do not include mental health counseling. It was filed on March 11.
HB3130 is moving through the House and has advanced through committee.
