A few weeks ago, the Lost Ogle published a piece about Oklahoma State Representative (and probable part-time Hell House ghoul) Danny Williams, who authored HB 1888 which would prohibit any public body from conducting gender or sexual diversity training or counseling in Oklahoma. Because he’s a conservative, of course.
Like many of these idiotic laws that never get passed, it was easy to assume that this was another attention-seeking bill that fell by the wayside in favor of something twice as dumb—this is Oklahoma, after all—but, instead, it looks like it’s making a broad reappearance as right-leaning lawmakers try, once again, to get it passed, this time as a Senate Bill hidden in legislation regarding the Red River.
“Those things should be discussed and looked at outside of government because we are not qualified to deal with it,” said Williams on the House Floor.
HB1888 was effectively shot down on the House floor earlier this month. Currently Senate Bill 267 is up for House Committee review. That piece of legislation initially was a bill that would set up a Red River Boundary Commission, but it has been amended and completely changed by William. The language from HB1888 put in its place going against traditional procedure.
Meant to stop the mandating of sexual or gender identity diversity training by public institutions, let’s be very honest and very clear here: this bill is very much part of this state’s proud anti-gay agenda and, deftly, Williams is doing a great job in carrying on this Okie tradition!
But, much like what’s currently going down in Georgia, a new generation of young Oklahoma politicians—like Rep. Mauree Turner, for example—are taking over and, thankfully, not taking guff from these old white men any longer.