'The boogeyman': OK bill to bar state agencies from showing support for LGBTQ+
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - A House Committee is sending a Republican-led bill to the floor that would bar state agencies from showing support for Oklahoma's LGBTQ+ community.
House Bill 3217, authored by Representative Kevin West, R-OKC – the same lawmaker who authored the anti-Critical Race Theory law passed in 2021 – prohibits any funding on behalf of a state agency to promote pride.
The bill states no state funds may be used by any agency to develop, organize, administer, engage in, promote, or endorse any activity, including any event, initiative, official communication, social media post, educational program, or public campaign, that aims to promote or recognize Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Pride Month or any event with a similar theme.
"That threatens not only federal funding, but also just the safety and well-being of folks in our state," said the Executive Director for Freedom Oklahoma, Nicole McAfee. "This bill is meant to ensure that queer and trans and intersex folks cannot be served by the state and that state agencies have a speech shield so they feel they can't speak to our communities in a way that we need."
McAfee further explained Oklahoma is actively creating a system in which state agencies can't adequately serve the LGBTQ+ community.
Rep. West said the intention behind this legislation is to look out for his constituents.
"It was the fact we were seeing a lot of state agencies, primarily on their websites having something about pride on their scroll," said Rep. West. "Every time I would get a constituent call or see it myself, we would start calling OMES or the Governor's office and get that taken down."
During the House State Reports Committee Wednesday morning, a majority of members voted for an amendment that would change the phrase from "no state funds" to "any funds" on behalf of a state agency.
"Historically, Americans have stood for traditional values, including that the proper long-term relationship is one man and one woman committed together for life. These values are originally rooted in the Bible," said Representative Jim Olsen, R-Roland, in favor of the bill. "Most of my constituents would believe that we should not allow state resources to advocate lifestyles that Americans have regarded as an immoral influence and harmful to those who participate."
News 4 asked Rep. West which state agencies have promoted pride online.
"It's been a little over a year, and I don't remember the exact one. I think one of them was the Health Department," he responded. "That one is probably the most prominent that I'm aware of."
The OSDH is unclear of what Rep. West is referencing, therefore we cannot offer a specific comment. We remain focused on serving Oklahomans throughout the state through a variety of services. We will adhere to any bill that is made law through the legislative process.
Erica Rankin, Oklahoma State Health Department Public Information Officer
Rep. West said the bill is more so of a preventative measure and he doesn't have clear data to indicate state agencies are actively promoting the LGBTQ+ community.
"I just want to get that on a level playing field. If you put something out there that's religious in nature, it would almost guarantee a lawsuit. We're not seeing lawsuits on this, but it is a divisive message. Not all Oklahomans unify around that. My overall intent is really just to get the focus on what the services they provide are. That's what Oklahomans want to see when they go to these websites," he stated.
Rep. West doesn't foresee any lawsuits coming about if this bill is signed into law.
I think that us LGBT people, Oklahomans have too often from the state been told we don't belong here, that we don't deserve equal rights and equal access and equal support. I think even as we see these bills, it's just important to remind queer and trans and intersex folks that we've always existed in the state and we will always exist in the state, and that we have every right to be served by state government in the same way that any other citizen is. If LGBTQ+ adults in Oklahoma all lived in one area, we would be the third largest city in the state, but we don't. We live everywhere across the state. We work across the state, including in state government, and we deserve to be served just like any other constituent.
Nicole McAfee, Freedom Oklahoma Executive Director
Another part of the proposal would prohibit "sexually oriented" flags from being flown on state property.
According to Rep. West, the prohibition would also impact public schools.
Pride flags can be displayed in the classroom, but not outside the school site, said Rep. West.
Representative John Waldron, D-Tulsa, told KFOR he thinks the proposal will take the state into dangerous territory.
"I didn't see a lot of evidence this bill was necessary. As it was amended, we got into some dangerous expansions. I don't think it's conservative to make people choose what is permissible and not permissible in a public setting. I think that's a threat to freedom of speech for all of us," said Rep. Waldron. "[House Bill] 1775 was all about... unfamiliar territory. There's not a lot of clarity."
He added the lack of data behind this bill is concerning and essentially "chasing after shadows and our legislation is pandering to a segment of the public."
Rep. Waldron said members of the legislature targeting the LGBTQ+ community through proposals is just another form "politics."
"They shouldn't be subjected to some kind of selective discrimination by a state that's going to pick winners and losers in terms of what you can say and what you can't say and who gets represented and who doesn't. Oklahoma should stand for all Oklahomans," stated Rep. Waldron. "It's not a responsible use of the taxpayers' time or money in the legislature."
Rep. Waldron was unable to give a clear answer on whether or not he believes the bill can make it to the Governor's desk.
He does plan to introduce an amendment to the bill that would prohibit confederate flags from being flown on state property.
Rep. West said he's open to the idea of including that in this legislation.
"I think we shouldn't go after any flags, practically speaking. We should not be picking winners and losers. But if we're going to start, then let's have a full debate and let's do one that's fair and let's not single out one community that's already targeted badly enough in this state," said Rep. Waldron.
As the legislation stands, there is no penalty to those who disobey the language.
However, Rep. West said if he sees a number of state agencies push the boundaries of the bill, he will impose a fine.
"I'm hopeful just having this in statute will correct it. But if there are multiple violations, people continue to do that, then we'll address it," he stated.
Currently, who will have oversight of tracking state funding and private sector funding on behalf of the state to promote pride is unclear, according to Rep. West.