Oklahoma Senator proposes hateful transgender restroom law

Oklahoma State Sen. Joseph Silk (R-Broken Bow) has proposed a state law that is a mean spirited attack on transgender Oklahomans. The bill, SB 1014, says, “It shall be unlawful for a person to use a gender-specific restroom when that person's biological gender is contrary to that of the gender-specific restroom.” Sen. Silk's previous claim to notoriety is a statement last year effectively endorsing discrimination against LGBT citizens. 

Similar proposals are popping up across the country, for example in Virginia, where critics say a proposal would lead to the inspection of school student genitalia to make sure they are using the right restroom. The proposals follow closely in the heels of the defeat of an LGBT protection ordinance in Houston, TX, that focused on transgender bathroom useage. 

Sen. Silk’s proposal carries no penalty, although through amendments and rewriting, penalties could be added in the political process.

The Tulsa World reported, “Toby Jenkins, executive director for Oklahomans for Equality in Tulsa, said the bill is aimed at transgender individuals.

“He called the measure mean-spirited and a violation of personal privacy.

“’Sen. Silk is making a mountain out of a molehill in trying to shun and discriminate against citizens and our families,’ Jenkins said.”

Tulsa’s KJRH quoted Tulsa attorney and transgender woman Alyssa Bryant saying, “I can't say that I'm surprised; there were similar bills proposed nationwide in other states last year.”

According to an article on the ACLU of Oklahoma website, “Brady Henderson, legal director for ACLU Oklahoma, said measure would be unenforceable without serious violations of personal privacy.

“’I don’t think Oklahomans want to face the possibility of law enforcement officials being authorized to examine their genitals when they go to the restroom,’ Henderson said.”

Enid News and Eagle Senior Writer Jeff Mullin, in an opinion piece, said, “The Legislature convenes Feb. 1 facing a budget shortfall of more than $900 million. State agencies have already been told to cut their budgets for the current fiscal year by 3 percent, and there’s no telling what next year’s budget will look like.

“It is comforting to know Sen. Silk is so concerned about the state’s financial crisis that he is trying to ensure that, if the state continues to go down the toilet, it will at least go down the proper one.”

Watch The Gayly and our website www.gayly.com for continuing coverage of SB 1014 and other vengeful anti-LGBT bills in the Oklahoma legislature.

The Gayly – January 17, 2016 @ 7:30 a.m.