Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt issued an executive order requiring state agencies to define individuals based on their biological sex at birth.
The order describes a "woman" as a "person whose biological reproductive system is designed to produce ova" and a "man" as a "person whose biological reproductive system is designed to fertilize the ova of a female." It also includes the definitions of "boy," "girl," "father" and "mother."
The executive order requires all state agencies to provide "governmental services in single-sex environments where biology, privacy and personal dignity are implicated" and requires public schools, public utilities and prisons to use these legal definitions to determine a person's gender.
Prisons and other correctional facilities are directed to provide dedicated facilities for men and women, respectively. Likewise, schools are directed to provide dedicated restrooms and locker rooms for boys and girls, respectively.
2079 by Verónica Silveri on Scribd
Stitt is the first governor to issue an executive order legally defining both sexes. He claims this is intended to uphold "the Women's Bill of Rights."
The governor added that these "decisive" measures are taken to protect and "ensure that the true definition of the word 'woman,' which means biological woman." He added that "as long as I am governor, we will continue to protect women and ensure that women-only spaces are reserved for biological women only."
I was proud to sign an executive order establishing a Women’s Bill of Rights here in Oklahoma. We are doing everything we can to safeguard women’s spaces.
Thank you to my friend, @Riley_Gaines_, for your presence and advocacy! @IWV pic.twitter.com/aKP61kUHaF
— Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) August 1, 2023
The executive order contains language from two stalled bills
The governor's order is made up of language from two bills that are currently awaiting approval in the legislature. Jessica Garvin, who is also a sponsor of one of the bills, told The Epoch Times that these bills were drafted "originally by bipartisan groups working with the Independent Women's Forum."
The order will only be in effect only during Stitt's term of office. After it will become ineffective. Garvin is hopeful that the bills will move forward and be approved by the state legislature next year.
Riley Gaines, the famed NCAA swimmer and women's rights activist, sat alongside Stitt as he signed the executive order. Gaines described the order as a "law that defines sex-based terms such as 'woman.'" She thanked the governor for being the first to take "decisive action and safeguards women's privacy, safety and equal opportunities."
So honored to stand alongside Governor Stitt as he signed an Executive Order on the Women's Bill of Rights, a law defining gender-based terms like "woman." Stitt is the first governor to take decisive action and safeguard women's privacy, safety and equal opportunities.
So honored to stand alongside Governor Stitt as he signed an Executive Order on the Women's Bill of Rights, a law that defines sex-based terms like "woman"
Stitt is the first governor to take decisive action and safeguard women's privacy, safety, and equal opportunities. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/bZBJvxepLh
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) August 1, 2023
