100 signatures reached
To: Oklahoma Congressional Representatives
Push Back Against Anti-Trans Legislation in Oklahoma
.png)
Oklahoma is passing another anti-trans bill. In their new "Women's Bill of Rights," (HB1449) they legally define a man and woman as biological sex, which opens the doors to revoking more rights for transgender people.
This new bill passes in November 2024. Only 17 representatives opposed it in its final form. Stitt's intention is to take this bill to the stacked Supreme Court. He wants them to overturn precedent and strip us of our legal protections, as they've recently done with other Supreme Court cases.
Putting pressure on compassionate legislators is critical. They should have advocated for us with this bill, and they need to know we are relying on them to speak up for us now. We are planning a rally at the Capitol and we have this ongoing petition as ways for us to get legislators to take notice of our cause. We must do what we can to get them to combat further anti-trans legislation.
Our rally will feel like a typical Pride event, instead of an outright protest. A subverted protest of queer celebration is more powerful than a protest of force and grief. Our events are more for us than them anyway. We just want to be in their face about it so they can see what a peaceful and harmonious gathering really is. They need to see us as real human beings, deserving of the same human rights as them. They want to see us mad, but we will show them queer joy.
In the meantime, strengthening our communities to withstand the harmful effects of these laws is also necessary. We must band together to share in educational and uplifting community events to remind ourselves of the joy and safety that exists despite the despair. We need to start building our own independent network of resources to rely on completely separate from the Oklahoma state government. So few organizations exist to help us, so it's important that we come together and get to know one another in the community. If we are integrated and unified, we are much safer. Let's build a local support system that reaches out to other parts of the state and thrives in spite of hateful legislation.
Please sign the petition today. If you are interested in the rally at the Capitol, follow our movement on Facebook to get involved. You can find our page at Rural Oklahoma Trans Rights Movement.
Why is this important?
A dedicated and hardworking transgender woman was unjustly terminated from Braum’s in Weatherford, OK on July 13, 2024 due to her use of the restroom that aligns with her gender identity, following the implementation of harmful and discriminatory bathroom policies by the management.
Despite local management's support and efforts to advocate for fair and inclusive policies, higher management succumbed to transphobic pressures by the public and enforced rules that violate the rights and dignity of transgender employees. These new policies require transgender employees to use restrooms that do not align with their gender identity, creating uncomfortable and unsafe situations for them.
Such actions not only perpetuate discrimination and intolerance but also contradict the values of equality and respect that our community and state strive to uphold. No one should face termination or any form of discrimination for living their authentic selves and using the restroom that corresponds to their gender identity. While it is true there are federal protections in place such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which requires transgender employees be given access to the common restrooms used by the other employees of their same gender identity, it is important to have state protections for vulnerable communities.
States revoking rights of citizens and standing by discrimination opens a gateway for precedent to be challenged federally. We have seen this happen and result in success in recent Supreme Court cases under the current conservative-leaning Court (for example, the overturning of Roe v. Wade and Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council in recent years).
In a time where efforts are being made to criminalize trans existence, we need compassionate legislators standing beside us fighting for our equal rights to live and occupy public spaces. Trans people deserve basic human rights just like everyone else. They deserve to use the restroom in peace and safety.
By denying an employee the use of common restrooms used by employees who share their same gender identity, Braum's is in direct violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Oklahoma should guarantee its citizens protections from discrimination regardless of gender identity instead of allowing Braum's to get away with this without consequence.