Securing Liberty PAC

05/27/2023

The Oklahoma Legislature ended regular session yesterday, so we can now finally report that the other major anti-trans legislation SB408, which would have defined one's gender as their s*x assigned at birth and required trans people to only use public facilities matching s*x assigned at birth, did not make it through the session. Thank you to all of you who called, emailed and lobbied to stop this attack on the trans community!

05/02/2023

Today, we want to thank everyone of you who called, emailed, and met with your legislators this year. Also, thank you to Oklahoma Progress Now, Freedom Oklahoma, Love Trans Oklahomans, and all the other grassroots activists who organized and protested this year. While we may not have stopped the gender-affirming care ban altogether, it took everyone stepping up to minimize the harm of what was coming.

When this session began, there were good sources indicating to us at SL PAC that the Gov wanted a gender-affirming care ban on his desk ASAP, and our work slowed that all down. Furthermore, when the first bills were unleashed, the GOP was trying to ban gender-affirming care up through age 25, and there were bills that would have practically ended the care for all trans Oklahomans, even adults.

Through everyone's hard work and persistence, we were able to make a real difference in what eventually made it through the process. The version of SB613 that ultimately passed included clear language that ensured that mental health counseling would not be impacted, and also includes a 6 month wind down period that will protect those already accessing this care while Lambda Legal and ACLU of Oklahoma work on their legal challenge.

To any families whose kids are already getting this care, keep your appointments. Do not voluntarily stop your care in the meantime. This law will be fought in court, and based on how federal courts have been responding to these cases in other states, we believe there is a good chance the law will be put on hold while the litigation is ongoing.

So, while we didn't "win" this battle in the Legislature, your advocacy helped minimize the harm in the short term, and we can still win this war in federal courts. There remains a big need for more public education to push back on the right wing propaganda about this care, and we hope you'll continue to help in that fight.

Let's keep our heads up, and be happy that we were able to accomplish a lot this session, even if it didn't ultimately stop this unconstitutional law. Bigotry remains bad for business, and that messaging is going to have to play a big role in stopping future attacks on trans Oklahomans.

05/02/2023

Gov Stitt has signed SB613. Despite the work of so many people trying to stop this unconstitutional and unamerican attack on the freedom of transgender youth and their supportive parents, we were unable to stop this moving train.

The law bans puberty blockers, hormones, and surgical procedures (which weren't taking place on minors in Oklahoma anyway), for trans kids under 18. The law doesn't ban mental health therapy or social transition for minors. But it is unconstitutional because it singles out trans kids as unable to access otherwise safe and legal treatments afforded to cisgender kids.

We expect Lambda Legal and ACLU to file suit very soon, and the law will likely be put on hold while it is being litigated. It is likely the US DOJ will ultimately join the lawsuit as well. We believe this law will likely be defeated in court, and is likely to be enjoined from going into effect during the lawsuit.

If you or your kids are receiving this care, keep your head up, and continue to keep any scheduled appointments. Do not assume that you can no longer get this care. If you have a kid receiving gender-affirming care, reach out to ACLU Oklahoma and/or Lambda Legal as they could need more plaintiffs in the lawsuits to come.

Don't give up. Stay strong. We'll beat these unconstitutional, unamerican attacks on trans kids. Just because they pass an unconstitutional law, doesn't mean federal courts will allow it to stand.

04/28/2023

Well, the Senate passed SB613 tonight as amended and passed by the Oklahoma House yesterday. The bill bans puberty blockers, hormones, and surgical procedures (which weren't taking place on minors in Oklahoma anyway), for trans kids under 18. The bill doesn't appear to ban mental health therapy or social transition for minors. But it is unconstitutional because it singles out trans kids as unable to access otherwise safe and legal treatments afforded to cisgender kids.

Now the question is whether Gov Stitt signs the bill into law. He's currently vetoed several other bills after issuing an ultimatum to the Legislature that he'd veto everything until they send him another tax cut bill. The Senate moved on SB613 quickly today to try and call his bluff.

If he vetoes, we get one more chance to lobby the Legislature to sustain the veto. If he signs it, or the Lege overrides his veto, then the next step will be legal challenges. We expect Lambda Legal and ACLU to file suit shortly after the law goes into effect. It is likely the US DOJ will ultimately join the lawsuit as well. We believe this law will likely be defeated in court, and is likely to be enjoined from going into effect during the lawsuit.

If you or your kids are receiving this care, keep your head up. If you have a kid receiving gender-affirming care, reach out to ACLU Oklahoma and/or Lambda Legal as they could need more plaintiffs in the lawsuits to come.

Don't give up. Stay strong. We'll beat these unconstitutional, unamerican attacks on trans kids.

04/27/2023

The US Dept of Justice is now joining the fight against trans healthcare bans in the states. We will defeat these laws, even if they pass. However, we should still try to stop them before it gets there in Oklahoma. SB613, which bans gender affirming care for young Oklahomans is heading back to the Senate soon. Contact your State Senator and let them know not only is SB613 a big government intrusion into private health decisions, bigotry is bad for business, but also it will cost Oklahoma taxpayers to defend this unconstitutional law in court. They should uphold their oaths and vote no on SB613. Link to find your State Senator in Oklahoma in the comments.

BREAKING: Today the United States Department of Justice filed a motion to intervene in our lawsuit against Tennessee to enforce the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection in defense of transgender youth.

Tennessee’s Public Chapter No. 1 would require trans youth currently receiving gender-affirming care to end that care within nine months of the law going into effect on July 1st. The law also establishes a private right of action against medical providers providing medically necessary care to trans youth.

This law is not just harmful and cruel. It is life-threatening—and the Dept. of Justice has recognized this today by requesting that the court declare the law to be in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment and temporarily restrain and issue an injunction to prevent the law from taking effect.

Read the press release at https://bit.ly/3AyX6tI.

04/26/2023

And the games continue. Call your State Reps ASAP to tell them bigotry is bad for business. Vote NO on SB 613...

🚨 TAKE ACTION: SB613, a medical ban for transgender youth under 18, was added last minute to today's House Floor agenda. We are asking our supporters to reach out to their Representatives ASAP and urge them to vote "NO" on SB613.

Call or email your Representative. https://action.aclu.org/send-message/ok-gender-affirming-care

04/06/2023

Thank you for speaking up Cliff Hudson!

"This isn’t just conjecture: In a recent survey, 75% of respondents said the politics or political environment in the state would affect their decision to take a job in that state."

We miss out on great executives, exciting creatives and dedicated medical professionals when we don’t make clear that everyone is valued in Oklahoma.

03/31/2023

A message from our Executive Director Brittany Novotny

03/31/2023

Happy Transgender Day of Visibility! 🏳️‍⚧️

Your visibility this session, Oklahomies, has been magnificent. You'll notice that as of today none of the anti-trans bills has made it to Gov Stitt and that's because all of us in the Oklahoma trans community have been visible!

03/30/2023

03/27/2023

United for trans rights.

03/08/2023

On this International Women's Day, we want to highlight Chickasha native, Ada Sipuel Fisher. She was a Black woman denied entry to OU Law in 1946. She sued for the right to attend, and was represented by a young lawyer named Thurgood Marshall. https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=FI009