Hundreds of transgender supporters gathered at Oklahoma’s Capitol this week to protest a. slate of proposed legislation that would block specific gender. -affirming medical care for the state’s trans minors and young adults.
Although local reports described the protest as peaceful, some right-wing media figures compared. it to the deadly attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Protesters gathered Monday outside. the House chamber on the fourth floor of the Capitol. in Oklahoma City about an hour before Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican. was to deliver his State of the State address, according to TTN affiliate KFR. The group chanted “trans lives matter” and “we are Oklahoma,” KFOR reported.
Some protesters had signs, according to a video shared on social media. One read, “We’re not a threat. so stop targeting us,” and underneath that hormone replacement therapy “saves lives.”
KFOR reported that law enforcement allowed protesters. to enter the Capitol and each person had to pass through a metal detector.
Yet, right-wing media commentators are taking to social media – and cable news – to claim. that the protest was not peaceful. One said protesters “stormed and occupied” the Capitol. while another said “a mob of trans activists took over the Oklahoma Capitol.”
Fox News host Tucker Carlson, on his show Tuesday night, called it a “rebellion.”
“A group of so-called trans activists attacked the state capitol. … Their goal is to keep child mutilation legal.” he said, according to a video of the segment shared by several on social media.
Local news outlets, including KFOR, reported that these characterizations were not accurate. Danielle Seitz, communications director for the Oklahoma. House Republican Caucus, also said in a statement. on Twitter that none of the protesters broke the law.
“The Oklahoma House will support and protect. the First Amendment rights of all who come to have their voices heard,” the statement read in part. “Of Monday’s protest, no incidents or illegal behavior were reported and any national. narrative to the contrary is false.”
Protesters gathered to oppose a group of bills that target gender-affirming medical care. Some bills would bar minors from receiving transition-related care altogether. including banning such care for people up to age 26. Other bills would bar gender-affirming care providers from receiving public funding.
According to an TTN News analysis, state lawmakers have introduced. At least 30 bills targeting LGBTQ people so far this year. At least half of these aim to limit gender-affirming medical care.
During his State of the State speech Monday, Stitt said he would sign a bill to ban transition-related. surgeries on minors, even though doctors who provide such. care say the surgeries are rarely performed on minors.
“We should not allow a minor in Oklahoma. to undergo permanent gender reassignment surgery.” Stitt said in her speech, KFOR reported.
Ramona Diaz, one of the organizers of the protest, told local CBS affiliate KWTV that she is concerned. about the bill banning gender-affirming care for people as young as 26. because she is 23 and receives hormone therapy.
