A transgender group stormed the Oklahoma Capitol on Monday. The Oklahoma Daily reported that about 150 people entered the government building to protest the two bills that would restrict them from gender-related medical care.
Trans Lives Matter stormed and occupied the Oklahoma capital today pic.twitter.com/iKd0D1wFz1
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) February 7, 2023
The group displayed trans flags and banners with phrases such as "we are not a threat so stop making us a target" or "stop healthcare bans on trans," reported Newsweek. On the other hand, they expressed their disagreement with Senate Bill 129, which would prevent those under 26 from undergoing gender reassignment surgeries, as well as Senate Bill 112. According to this project, minors would be prohibited from undergoing treatment to change their sex in the future.
The goal is to protect young people
The drafts, submitted by Republican legislators, have the support of the state's governor, Kevin Stitt. In fact, the protests at the state Capitol took place on the same day that Stitt gave his State of the State address, in which he supported Senate Bill 122, stating that this measure is designed to protecting young people: "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," he said in statements reported by Newsweek.
For Jim Olsen, the Republican legislator who is leading one of the bills, this draft would protect young people who, often unconsciously, undergo these surgeries that can cause them major medical problems:
It's irresponsible for anybody in health care to provide or recommend life-altering surgeries that may later be regretted. Performing irreversible procedures on young people can do irreparable harm to them mentally and physically later in life.
