Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Puts Temporary Stay On Senate Bill Banning Gender Transition Care For Minors

The Attorney General's office has put a temporary stay of enforcement on Senate Bill 613, a bill that bans gender transition care for minors. The Governor today said he is disappointed with that decision. 

According to the law, any health care provider found to have violated this prohibition will be subject to licensure revocation and will be guilty of a felony. 

Legal Director for the ACLU of Oklahoma, Megan Lamb said a group of families with transgender adolescents and medical providers who support this medically necessary healthcare filed this lawsuit challenging SB 613.

The ACLU is challenging this bill because they believe it unfairly targets transgender youth and the healthcare they need, in violation of their rights under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Lambert said this decision means that, for now, minors can still access gender affirming care.

"We filed a challenge to 613 to senate bill 613 saying that these laws are discrimination against transgender youth in Oklahoma," said Lambert.

Meanwhile, Governor Kevin Stitt said in a press conference, his team is working to make sure this law is enforced.

"Let me be very clear, Senate Bill 613 was passed, I signed it, I will not allow transgender surgeries to happen to minors in Oklahoma,” said Governor Stitt. “I want to be very clear to Oklahoman's I believe we have a duty and an obligation to protect kids against mutilation from surgeries from permanent altering surgeries and I always follow it up with this comment if you are an adult and you want to have permanent altering surgeries you can go do that.”

Attorney General Drummond's office said their intention is to enforce the law.

“The attorney general’s office continues to fulfill its duty to defend senate bill 613,” Drummond's statement said. “A temporary stay of enforcement simply allows more time to mount the strongest possible defense"

Lambert said she's hoping this temporary stay isn't just temporary.

"It really is too early to read too much into what that may mean down the line, but right now we are just incredibly grateful trans youth can access the essential medical care," said Lambert.

Lambert said that for them the next step is to wait on the state's responses. She said there may be some back and forth and then there is a hearing set in the summer. 

To read more about the bill click here. 

Any person affected by these restrictions on gender-affirming care should reach out to intake@acluok.org or https://www.lambdalegal.org/helpdesk.