OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Tuesday directed state agencies to use narrow definitions of “female” and “male,” in the latest attack on transgender rights in a state that already has laws targeting bathroom use, health care and sports teams for transgender people.
Stitt signed the executive order flanked by women from the anti-trans group Independent Women’s Voice, including Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer known for criticizing an NCAA decision allowing transgender swimmer Lia Thomas to compete against her in a women’s championship race.
“Today we’re taking a stand against this out-of-control gender ideology that is eroding the very foundation of our society,” Stitt said. “We are going to be safeguarding the very essence of what it means to be a woman.
“Oklahomans are fed up with attempts to confuse the word ‘woman’ and turn it into some kind of ambiguous definition that harms real women.”
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In addition to requiring state agencies and boards to define the words “female” and “male” to correspond with the person’s sex assigned at birth, the executive order also includes definitions for the words “man,” “boy,” “woman,” “girl,” “father” and “mother.” The order specifically defines a female as a “person whose biological reproductive system is designed to produce ova” and a male as a “person whose biological reproductive system is designed to fertilize the ova of a female.”
It also directs schools and other state agencies to use these definitions when collecting vital statistics and further directs schools to provide dedicated restrooms and locker room facilities for boys and girls, respectively.
Stitt’s order, dubbed “The Women’s Bill of Rights” by its supporters, is the latest Oklahoma policy to attack the rights of transgender people and is part of a growing trend in conservative states. Stitt signed a bill earlier this year that made it a crime for health care workers to provide gender-affirming medical care for minors, and has previously signed measures to prohibit transgender girls and women from playing on female sports teams and prevent transgender children from using school bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity.
“This executive order is neither about rights, nor is it about protecting women,” said Nicole McAfee, executive director of Freedom Oklahoma, which supports the rights of trans people. She called it a “thinly veiled attack” that codifies discrimination against transgender women.
House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson accused the governor of using “partisan, polarizing politics” to further divide Oklahomans.
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“Once again, the Republican supermajority continues their government overreach by infringing on the rights of citizens,” said Munson, and Oklahoma City Democrat.
Stitt’s action comes during legal battles in neighboring Kansas over the meaning of a state law that Republican legislators also christened “The Women’s Bill of Rights,” which rolled back transgender rights. It was based on language from several anti-trans groups, including Independent Women’s Voice.
Stitt also previously signed an executive order prohibiting any changes to person’s gender on birth certificates.
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This story has been corrected to remove reference to Oklahoma not allowing people to change their gender on their driver’s licenses.
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Associated Press reporter John Hanna contributed to this report from Topeka, Kansas.
The Oklahoma Sooners rallied from 11 points down in the fourth quarter for an incredible win over Auburn 27-21 on Saturday. OU scored 17 unanswered points to come away with the improbable win.
Brent Venables and Oklahoma are now 4-1 heading into the first of two bye weeks they’ll have during the regular season. With Texas on the other side of this bye, it’s a good opportunity for OU to get healthy and work on some of the many issues this team still has.
With the win, the Sooners moved up two spots to No. 19 in the latest Associated Press Top 25. The Sooners
They’re eighth out of nine SEC teams in the AP Top 25 after week five. The conference dominates the rankings with four of the top five teams and six of the top ten. ]
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Texas dropped to No. 2, as Alabama’s heart-pounding win over Georgia was enough to jump the Crimson Tide over the Longhorns into the No. 1 spot in the eyes of the voters. Texas also has a bye week coming up, sitting at 5-0.
Elsewhere in the SEC, Tennessee moved up to No. 4 and Georgia fell to No. 5 after the loss to Alabama. Missouri sits at ninth, Ole Miss is No. 12, LSU is at No. 13, and Texas A&M hangs on to a ranking at No. 25.
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Oklahoma kicker Zach Schmit endured a tough two years.
In 2022 and 2023, the Oklahoma City product connected on 27-of-39 field goals, including a host of crucial kicks late in tight games.
As a result, Brent Venables brought Tyler Keltnerin from Florida State to compete with Schmit, and Keltner won the starting job.
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But life has many twists and turns.
Keltner had to miss OU’s trip to Auburn, putting Schmit back in the spotlight for the Sooners’ first SEC road game.
And Schmit was nails.
He was trotted out for a 24-yard kick after an illegal motion took a touchdown off the board late in the third quarter to cut the lead to 14-10.
Then Venables needed Schmit to make one more kick, a 39-yarder, to heap the pressure back on Auburn.
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Schmit came through again, extending OU’s lead to 27-21, forcing the Tigers to go the length of the field.
Payton Thorne came crashing back down to earth after the turnover-prone Auburn quarterback enjoyed a smooth first three quarters, and the Sooners hung on for a crucial road victory to head into the bye week 4-1 on the year and 1-1 in conference contests.
“A great story of redemption,” Venables said after the win. “… We needed him every step of the way. Him nailing that. We’re up by three and now up by six and Auburn has no timeouts. A field goal and everything changes in their play selection. Who knows?
“… But it didn’t matter. Zach was ready.”
When he stepped up for his crucial kick, his own story of redemption was the farthest thing from Schmit’s mind.
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“It was another opportunity to step up and help the team,” Schmit said. “Like I told them in the locker room, I’m not worried about my own success in this game. But my main goal is to help the success of the team.
“… For me, it’s about the redemption of this team, making sure we bounce back from the Tennessee loss and making sure we go into this bye week with a lot of headway, 4-1 and in a good position. That’s what it’s about to me.”
Regardless of how things play out on the field every Saturday, Venables is a big believer in who Zach Schmit is.
This week, he was named as a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy, college football’s academic Heisman.
Schmit’s a fighter, too.
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Though he didn’t win the placekicking job out of fall camp, he battled with Keltner throughout the spring and the summer to help the team.
“I was really thankful for his courage that he has shown,” Venables said. “He could have easily just quit, wasn’t on scholarship. He’s going to be incredibly successful in the business world. … Really, a cool moment to celebrate him and a great example for all of us.”
Schmit hasn’t run from his struggles, either.
He’s aware of everything, the good and the bad, which has only given him a bigger appreciation for Venables.
“Through the ups and downs, he’s been by my side consistently,” Schmit said. “He always tells us that he’s in the A-gap with us. A lot of people in the media can see that and say that’s kind of cliche, but for him it’s what he means.
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“He took a lot of flak because of me, but to continue to have trust in me and faith in me and put me back out this week shows me the type of man he is. Not even head coach, but just the man and the father figure (he is) for this team.”
The Sooners won by six points, a pair of field goals.
Saturday’s heroes — Kip Lewis, Michael Hawkins Jr., J.J. Hester and Schmit — soaked in the locker room scenes before OU left Auburn to get back to work during the bye week.
“It was awesome,” Schmit said. “… Especially when you win on the road in a (hostile) environment, especially coming back from 21-10. I’d assume every one wrote us off at that point, so to be able to do that shows what type of team we have in that locker room.
LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) – Also in Lawton, members of the local chapter of the Oklahoma Council of the Blind joined members statewide for the state convention at the Hilton Garden Inn.
The event featured plenty of resources for the visually impaired including things such as the state library for those with disabilities, different tech to assist those with daily tasks or even those looking into getting a seeing-eye dog.
The current president of the state organization she hopes the event continues to grow.
”We bring all these things in to one spot for people to be able to benefit from it and we’re hoping to get, every year, we get more and more,” said Elaine Boykin. “We have a number of new people here this weekend and it’s great. It really is.”
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The event included a welcome by Mayor Stan Booker, a proclamation from Representative Daniel Pae, and a tribute to the late Kay Love, former president of the Oklahoma Council of the Blind and the founder of the Lawton chapter.
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