We’re not going anywhere: Oklahoma LGBTQ+ groups react to Trump’s gender policy

OKLAHOMA CITY — President Donald Trump has announced plans to sign an executive order declaring that there are only two genders: male and female. This directive will become the official policy of the United States government effective immediately.

While some 2SLGBTQI+ groups in Oklahoma are expressing their discontent, they also emphasize that they will remain steadfast in their identities.

“As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female,” President Trump stated.

Such a proclamation has drawn applause in certain circles in Washington, D.C. However, in Oklahoma, the sentiment is one of disappointment and dismay.

“Him enacting a two-gender policy is just control and manipulation of the government,” said Bryan Paddack, co-founder of Rural Oklahoma Pride.

Paddack noted that the situation is compounded by Oklahoma’s existing law, which prohibits nonbinary birth certificates. Additionally, the State Department of Health is restricted from amending these documents.

“Oklahoma is consistently at the bottom when it comes to progressive movements. It’s not just progress that we lag behind; we are also at the bottom in terms of pay, education, and quality of life,” he commented.

Oklahomans for Equality released a statement asserting their position on the matter:

“Oklahomans for Equality unequivocally condemns any efforts to roll back protections for transgender, gender-diverse, and two-spirit individuals in our community. Access to accurate government documentation that reflects a person’s gender identity is critical for safety and dignity. Attempts to narrowly define sex as exclusively male or female at the federal level will not erase the existence or resilience of transgender people. Biological diversity naturally includes a broad spectrum of variations in primary and secondary sex characteristics, hormones, and chromosomes. Every major medical organization recognizes that sex and gender exist on a spectrum, and gender-affirming care remains the gold standard for supporting gender-diverse individuals. Despite any actions taken by the Trump administration to undermine progress, two-spirit and transgender individuals in Oklahoma, tribal nations, and across the United States will persist. Oklahomans for Equality is unwavering in our commitment to fight for true equality under the law for all members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.”

In response to the statement from Oklahomans for Equality, Paddack asserted his agreement:

“I have to agree 100%,” Paddack affirmed. “We’re going to persist. We’re going to live. We’re not going anywhere. I think that the 2SLGBTQI community is here to stay. We’re not going to go anywhere, and we’re going to continue to fight this.”