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More than 100 chanting ‘Trans Lives Matter’ protesters descended on Oklahoma‘s State Capitol building yesterday, occupying the interior rotunda, to protest against a new bill that would ban gender affirming surgery for anyone under 21.
The protesters from Oklahomans For Equality and Freedom Oklahoma started their demonstration outside the building, then moved indoors.
While it remains unclear whether their entry to the building was peaceful, videos show them inside, chanting loudly.
Their protest was against a new bill championed by Republican Governor Kevin Stitt, that bans anyone under the age of 21 from undergoing gender reassignment surgery.
150 protesters chanting Trans Lives Matter inside the Oklahoma State Capitol building yesterday
The protesters from Oklahomans For Equality and Freedom Oklahoma started their demonstration outside the building, then moved indoors
Organizers called it ‘genocide’, claiming restricting youths’ access to the medical care would drive them to suicide.
In his State of the State address last night, Governor Stitt doubled down on his plans to restrict gender-affirming surgery and therapy for minors.
‘We must protect our most vulnerable – our children.
‘After all minors can’t vote, can’t purchase alcohol, can’t purchase cigarettes…
‘We shouldn’t allow a minor to get a permanent gender altering surgery in Oklahoma.
‘That’s why I am calling on the Legislature to send me a bill that bans all gender transition surgeries and hormone therapies on minors in the state!
‘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.
‘I will continue my responsibility to lead, not follow.
‘I ran for this office five years ago because I was tired of seeing other states succeed while ours got left behind.’
The protesters say youngsters should be able to access such medical care, regardless of their age.
It is unclear how many state lawmakers were at the Capitol yesterday when the protesters made their way inside.
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Benjamin Patterson, a trans man who was one of the organizers, told student new outlet OU Nightly he wanted to ‘bring the community together’.
The protesters at yesterday’s rally included students from the local university
It is unclear how many state lawmakers were at the Capitol yesterday when the protesters made their way inside.
The trans protesters chanted and held up signs for news crews
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said minors who can neither vote nor drink should not be able to receive life-altering surgery
He called the state laws ‘genocide’, claiming it would lead to more trans youths taking their own lives.
Zephyr Cove, another protester, said kids should be able to access hormone replacement therapy ‘as soon as they have a sense of self’.
‘You know that as soon as you have a sense of self.
‘These kids shouldn’t be forced to have to deny that just because the people around them won’t listen to them.’
Oklahoma City Police did not immediately respond to inquiries about the protest.
Last year, Governor Stitt signed a bill into effect that bans transgender females from competing in girls’ sports.
The law also bans transgender females from using girls’ locker rooms and bathrooms.
Instead, school students must use the restroom of the gender they were born.
The protesters at yesterday’s rally included students from the local university.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
