We are watching the #okleg house interim study regarding Sex Education and the Sexualization of Minors. All sponsors of this study are known for introducing anti-2SLGBTQ+ legislation.
Wow, we are already starting off on hateful rhetoric.
The first speaker, David Pickup, is a licensed psychotherapist in Texas and California who endorses conversion therapy. He states that nobody is born gay or transgender.
Pickup moves on to talk about pornography in schools.
The first speaker, David Pickup, is a licensed psychotherapist in Texas and California who endorses conversion therapy. He states that nobody is born gay or transgender.
Pickup moves on to talk about pornography in schools.
The speaker is sharing blatantly false information about our 2SLGBTQ+ communities. 
Rep. Mauree Turner: Do you practice conversion therapy on your clients?
David Pickup: There is no such thing as conversion therapy. That’s a term coined by LGBTQ activists. We practice “reparative therapy.” We do not torture people. We don’t force them to go to therapy.
David Pickup: There is no such thing as conversion therapy. That’s a term coined by LGBTQ activists. We practice “reparative therapy.” We do not torture people. We don’t force them to go to therapy.
The speaker is now defending the use of what he calls “reparative therapy” aka conversion therapy.
He states that young children who don’t have good relationships with their father turn out to be 2SLGBTQ. Pickup says that what he is doing cannot possibly be wrong.
He states that young children who don’t have good relationships with their father turn out to be 2SLGBTQ. Pickup says that what he is doing cannot possibly be wrong.
Next speaker is Jenni White, who is the co-founder of Restore Oklahoma Public Education (ROPE).
White: Teen birth rates have reduced 57% in our state but there’s an increase in STIs. She says this is the result of students being taught more than abstinence only education.
White: Teen birth rates have reduced 57% in our state but there’s an increase in STIs. She says this is the result of students being taught more than abstinence only education.
Jenni White states that her organization, ROPE, is concerned about how parental influence on their children’s lives are being undermined by public schools.
Rep. Andy Fugate: It’s worth nothing that Oklahoma is in the top 5 states in sexually transmitted infections. States with the worst STI rates have one thing in common: abstinence only sex education.
Next speaker is Audrey Werner, a school nurse based in Texas who warns of the dangers of sex education.
She is the author of a book that “gives parents the tools to raise pure children in this sexualized culture.”
She is the author of a book that “gives parents the tools to raise pure children in this sexualized culture.”
Rep. Sherri Conley, who introduced multiple library and classroom censorship bills because she believed parental influence was being undermined by public schools, asks Audrey Werner for policy recommendations to protect children.
Audrey Werner says her time at the STI clinic showed her that sexual violence and the rise of STIs was exploding…but doesn’t make the connection that informed and inclusive sex ed and healthy relationship classes could prevent this.
Rep. Mauree Turner: What is supposed to be the outcome of this interim study?
Rep. Danny Williams: The goal of this study is to find out the cause and effect of sex ed in our schools and to protect children. We didn’t come in with an agenda.
Rep. Danny Williams: The goal of this study is to find out the cause and effect of sex ed in our schools and to protect children. We didn’t come in with an agenda.
Rep. Mauree Turner: There have been homophobic and transphobic things said earlier. The rhetoric here has been very damaging to the folks here and those watching online.
Rep. Turner was interrupted twice by another representative when making their statement.
Rep. Turner was interrupted twice by another representative when making their statement.
The last speaker said they have not seen a correlation between sexual violence and inclusive sex education.
Rep. Mauree Turner restates that their pronouns are they/them after being misgendered during an interim study targeting sex ed and our 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
They were met with a pause of silence and blatantly ignored.
They were met with a pause of silence and blatantly ignored.
Closing statements were made by Rep. Danny Williams. He said the presentations were very informative and respectful.
One of the worst interim studies I have ever witnessed.
One of the worst interim studies I have ever witnessed.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
