Thread by @CindyNguyenOK

We are at the #okleg hearing for SB3XX (transgender healthcare ban).

Sen. Treat (author) said he never walked the halls of OU Health or OU Children’s personally and just heard about the gender affirming care they provided this June.

Sen. Hicks asks Sen. Treat if he is aware of the American Academy of Pediatricians stance on gender affirming care.

Sen. Hicks asks if our legislature if going to ignore best practices medical care supported by numerous medical associations.

Sen. Hicks asks Sen. Treat: If the emergency clause is passed (meaning it becomes effective as soon as Governor signs it), what will happen to the hundreds of trans children who are already under the care of OU Health?

Sen. Hicks: Are we experiencing a physician, nurse, and healthcare shortage? What is the impact of the legislation on our state’s already strained healthcare system?

Sen. Floyd: Are you telling parents they can’t approve medical care for their own children?

Sen. Treat: Yes, this is a life altering decision.

This is the same senator who introduced several abortion bans, forcing people to give birth, which I’d say is also life altering.

Sen. Kirt: What options will be available for physicians to care for their trans patients if this bill passes? This bill will exclude medical therapy and interventions approved by the DSM.

Sen. Hicks: Is it true that OU health primarily provides puberty blockers which is reversible? Then why is the language in this bill so broad to restrict care?

There have only been 5 gender affirming surgical procedures done at OU Health.

Sen. Brooks: This will increase suicidal ideation and attempts. If I had a child with a medical condition and there are medically accepted forms of treatment, is that a good thing?

Sen. Treat: People should make these decisions at the age of maturity.

Sen. Kim David: Are you aware that there are two leading transgender physicians who have concerns with gender affirming medical care?

Would love to know which physicians Sen. David spoke to if any.

Sen. Hicks: If we’re concerned with irreversible procedures done to children, are we including circumcision?

Sen. Treat: No.

Sen. Boren: Everyday I see how my faith is weaponized to harm others. Every time we do something mildly progressive, we have to pay a bigot tax. Bigotry manipulates political power and resources and forces people to assimilate to the dominate culture.

Sen. Hicks: I’ve spent my life working in suicide prevention and have lost a dear friend. We know when anti-trans bills are introduce, there is an 85% increase in negative mental health outcomes.

Sen. Merrick: We should reject all of the ARPA funds and not increase our debt to the federal government. It doesn’t serve the greater good of saving this country and reinstating our sovereignty.

Sen. Young: I hope Oklahomans are watching and seeing that the senate is trying to push their own political agenda when we are supposed to be focused on giving out ARPA funds.

Sen. Hamilton: I don’t trust OU Health or OU Children’s Hospital. He mentions “genital mutilation.”

The gallery erupts in disapproval of the language used. We are told to stay quiet.

Sen. Jett: Gender affirming surgery is a cash cow. OU Health is taking advantageous of children and families. We need to send a clear message and pull their funding.

Transgender healthcare ban (SB3XX) passed the senate with emergency clause 31-13. It now moves to the house.