Oklahoma governor’s order bars state from recognizing trans, non-binary people

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed an executive order August 1 requiring state agencies to use only “male” and “female” as the gender assigned at birth. 

The policy, which also extends to state-based educational institutions, calls for agencies to use the gendered terms when compiling statistics, effectively erasing trans individuals from data. The order also requires both male and female locker rooms in schools.

The governor’s order was laced with offensive terms and deliberately rejected transgender and non-binary individuals.

“‘Female’ when used in reference to a natural person shall be defined as such a person whose biological reproductive system is designed to produce ova,” the executive order noted. “‘Male’ when used in reference to a natural person shall be defined as such a person whose biological reproductive system is designed to fertilize the ova of a female. ‘Woman’ and ‘girl’ shall refer to natural persons who are female. ‘Man’ and ‘boy’ shall refer to natural persons who are male.”

The law follows a widespread pattern of attacks on transgender rights, including in areas such as bathroom use, gender-affirming care, and sports inclusion. Oklahoma made a similar move last year when the state moved to bar individuals from obtaining a gender-neutral marker on birth certificates, though the state has also approved policies against trans student-athletes and gender-affirming care for youth. The state also barred trans individuals from using the bathroom in accordance with their gender identity.

“I am taking decisive executive action to ensure the true definition of the word woman, meaning a biological woman, is what guides the state as we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the safety, dignity, and sanctity of women across Oklahoma,” Stitt said in a written statement. “As long as I’m governor, we will continue to protect women and ensure women-only spaces are reserved solely for biological women.”

This is just one more case of attacks against transgender individuals, in an attempt to erase the community as a whole.