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Whispers of ‘insurrection’ when mob of trans activists take over Oklahoma Capitol to try and stop Republican bill

February 7, 2023 | | Print Article

Approximately 150 “Trans Lives Matter” activists from Oklahomans For Equality and Freedom stormed the state capitol building on Monday, in essence occupying the interior rotunda to protest GOP bills that would ban gender surgery for those under 21 years old.

The demonstration started outside and then migrated indoors. The protesters told the Daily Mail that they entered the building peacefully, undergoing security checks, before conducting the demonstration inside. Despite local media calling it a “gathering,” many thought the demonstration seemed to fit the bill for an “insurrection.”

It’s unclear how many state lawmakers were in the building when it was invaded Monday.

Republican Governor Kevin Stitt is leading the way on bills that include a ban on state funds being used for gender reassignment care or surgery for anyone under the age of 18. Senate Bill 129 ostensibly would discipline any doctor who performed such surgeries on anyone under the age of 26. They could face criminal prosecution and lose their licenses over gender-reassignment surgeries.

Organizers of the protest confusingly called the legislation “genocide” and claimed that restricting young people’s access to gender care would drive them to suicide.

Some medical professionals are asserting that the bills will drive doctors out of state.

Governor Stitt gave his State of the State address Monday night and reiterated his support for the bills, calling on the state legislature to pass them.

“We must protect our most vulnerable – our children. After all, minors can’t vote, can’t purchase alcohol, can’t purchase cigarettes… we shouldn’t allow a minor to get a permanent gender-altering surgery in Oklahoma. That’s why I am calling on the legislature to send me a bill that bans all gender transition surgeries and hormone therapies on minors in the state!” he proclaimed.

“As governor, I will never shy away from calling out right from wrong. I will not be intimidated by partisan interest groups or make decisions based on groupthink. I will continue my responsibility to lead, not follow. I ran for this office five years ago because I was tired of seeing other states succeed while ours got left behind,” Stitt declared.

 

The governor signed a bill last year that bans transgender females from competing in girls’ sports. It also bans transgender females from using girls’ locker rooms and bathrooms. Students must use the bathroom of the gender they were born to under state law now.

“We want to make sure that if we’re going to do a procedure like this that is irreversible, then we want to make sure an individual is at their full maturity when it comes to cognitive development,” Republican Senator David Bullard said earlier this year, according to the Daily Mail.

House Bill 101, which was proposed by State Rep. Jim Olsen, would prevent doctors from giving a referral for puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and gender reassignment surgeries for people under the age of 21.

Senate Bill 252 would prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from receiving gender reassignment surgery. Senate Bill 250 would ban medical officials and entities from receiving reimbursement through Medicaid if they offer gender transition services.

The bills are seen as some of the strictest transgender healthcare legislation in the country.

Many saw the “insurrection” for what it was despite what the media was spouting:

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