Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is the first governor in the country to issue an executive order defining people by their biological sex at birth as either “male” or “female.”
In a ceremonial signing on Tuesday, Stitt signed an executive order to adopt a so-called “Women’s Bill of Rights” that was based on model legislation developed by Independent Women’s Voice, a conservative advocacy group. Two bills containing similar language were introduced during the legislative session, but neither passed.
The order defines people by their biological sex at birth — male or female — and defines biological sex as being equal to one’s reproductive system. Stitt says it also seeks to ensure women’s spaces are only accessible to biological females.
“No men are going to go into women’s prisons in the state of Oklahoma,” Stitt said. “No men in women’s domestic shelters. No men in women’s locker rooms. No men in women’s bathrooms. No men in women’s sports.”
In a press release, Freedom Oklahoma, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, said the order will not protect women but instead create civil rights violations and subject both cisgender and transgender women to increased scrutiny and harassment.
“This Executive Order is neither about rights, nor is it about protecting women,” said Nicole McAfee, Executive Director of Freedom Oklahoma. “It is a thinly veiled attack on codifying discrimination against transgender women.”
McAfee characterized the order signing ceremony as “a blatant celebration of transmisogyny from the Governor’s office.”
The ceremony featured a number of women who threw their support behind it, including former college swimmer Riley Gaines.
A former All-American, Gaines competed against trans swimmer Lia Thomas and has become an outspoken opponent of transgender women and girls competing in women’s sports – making frequent appearances on Fox News.
Stitt said his office is prepared to defend the order from potential litigation.
“You'll always have some crazy groups that come in and try to sue on common sense legislation or executive orders,” Stitt said. “So we'll be prepared for it.”
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