The state of Oklahoma is nixing nonbinary options on birth certificates.
Last week, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law that specifically prohibits a "nonbinary" option on birth certificates.
Experts say the policy is the first of its kind nationwide.
The move comes on the heels of an executive order issued by Stitt last year, which barred transgender individuals from changing their gender on their birth certificates. “I believe that people are created by God to be male or female,” he stated at the time, invoking his Christian faith. “There is no such thing as nonbinary sex.”
Now he’s taking things one step further, ensuring that no nonbinary options will be available to Oklahoma residents.
However, critics say the policy "solves" a problem that didn't really exist in the first place (most states only allow "male" and "female" on birth certificates anyway) and is a perfect example of the virtue-signaling behavior that the bill's supporters so often complain about.
So how did the controversy begin in the first place?
Following the Science?
The bill was reportedly prompted by a lawsuit filed by a nonbinary individual against the Oklahoma State Department of Health. The nonbinary plaintiff was seeking to make a formal change on their birth certificate, and state officials initially refused to offer a nonbinary option.
The health department eventually relented, and issued the state's first nonbinary birth certificate.
However, news of this historic moment didn't sit well with lawmakers, who rushed to oppose the policy. A month later, the executive order banning changes to birth certificates was issued.
Only 15 states in the United States allow a nonbinary option on birth certificates, although that will increase to 16 in July, courtesy of a new Vermont statute.
In making this change, Oklahoma lawmakers say they’re simply following the science. “People are free to believe whatever they want about their identity, but science has determined people are either biologically male or female at birth," stated Oklahoma Representative Sheila Dills, who sponsored the bill in the House.
But critics point out the policy is also, in part, a religious one, as it stems from traditional Christian beliefs that God created man and woman, gender is intrinsically linked to genitals, and that He doesn’t make mistakes.
Opponents React
As you might imagine, LGBTQ and nonbinary rights advocates aren’t happy.
Human Rights Campaign senior counsel Cathryn Oakley didn’t mince words:
"Prohibiting nonbinary identity markers is just another attempt to erase the identity of transgender and nonbinary people. This goes against the views of the vast majority of Oklahomans, and people across the country."
Oklahoma City Representative Maureen Turner, the U.S.’s first openly nonbinary legislator, expressed their disappointment on Twitter:
Activists say that the new law will not only hurt Oklahoma’s nonbinary community, but also transgender people born in Oklahoma who will no longer be able to change their birth certificate to match their gender identity. From housing to employment, that can cause a lot of problems.
“My Social Security card and my birth certificate don’t match. I am looking for a job now. It brings up a lot of questions,” explained Rowan Fowler, whose birth certificate doesn’t match her gender identity due to the executive order issued by Gov. Stitt.
“What genitalia I was born with is no one’s business but mine and my doctor at this point. These are embarrassing questions that no one should have to answer.”
What Comes Next?
The policy is indicative of the latest battle in the so-called "culture wars" – this one a nationwide wave of legislation restricting gender identity and expression.
If the popularity of Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill – and the subsequent copycat laws that sprouted up across the country – is any indicator, more states may soon propose similar birth certificate restrictions.
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department recently announced that passports will soon have a nonbinary gender ‘X’ available, setting up a potential clash between national and state governments.
What do you think?
Are lawmakers truly following the science by banning gender changes and nonbinary options on birth certificates? Or is this a blatant shot aimed at the transgender and nonbinary community?
71 comments
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Stephanie A Willey
This law and all like it currently working their way through the various state legislatures are all based in two now defined motivations. One, a sad and complete ignorance of science and medicine. The other, a long, organized movement dedicated to authoritarianism, corporate control of government, and the end of democracies. Religious Dominionism is the current political tool driving these populist ideas. Real individual freedom is at peril. No one will be free until everyone is free.
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Daniel Gray
the only one who is ignorant here is you.
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Robert James Ruhnke
Mr. gray. You never give evidence, just say that you have it. My how Christian fundamentalist of you. An even when you post a link, you’re just misrepresenting the data. The same way you refute data, take a sentence out of context and then ignore the rest. It’s childish, but ultimately predictable. 🤷🏻♂️
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Stephanie A Willey
Trolls will be trolls
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Daniel Gray
Nope robert I did give evidence its called medical science, the AMA/the CDC/JAMA and a host of others, now if you somehow thing you know better then they do then prove it.
And as for you stephey, nobody needs to know what people call you so why admit it in public.
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tuppennyblue
A good thing too. Babies are born as little boys and little girls!
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Fernand Luc Bergeron
When you are born, you either have a penis or you don't ! They have doctor's there to make the call. If you decide to change sexe, that's your business but now, I can't believe there needs to be a law for this, you cannot turn back time, you cannot accuse the doctors or the hospitals of lying and there shouldn't be an option for this. Sex : male female. That's all folks !!!
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Stephanie A Willey
Intersex babies with indeterminant genitalia are born every single day. Furthermore, genitalia defined physical sex and gender are not the same thing. This is known science.
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Gerard Babin Usmc-Dav
These children are genetic mutations and there are parental causes involved in each. The Bible combined with science still does agree those in opposition to God & Jesus' teachings are using science for political reasons to force acceptance.
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Elga Konietzny
i just offer a opinion frankly i feel so fed up with this whole story,, have people nothing else to do then quabble over this insane issue?? Gay,, Lesbian who gives a darn,,do what you like ,, we all have free will do NOT force your believe on somebody else,, it is a insane drama that takes precedence over everything even our life,, do you not see what is happening,, who do you pay homage to ?? i tell you,, you are walking a very dark path,, this is mocking God,,, Lucifer is mocking God he can NEVER be God for it is God/Goddess who has the power of creation,, Science today is crap for long time already,,there are 2 polarities plus and minus or 1 male principle and 1 female principle that is the template that is science everything in the universe is created with this template creation is sacred God / Source,is sacred,, Love is the highest frequency God/Goddess are 2 principal energies to be balanced in us as we have those energies in us given by God/Goddess, the DIVINE Goddess principle is rising,, get over it,,it is atrocious that we kill,,Humans at one point were angelic humans until the dark ones arrived millions of years ago,, now we live on a Death planet,, everything is chaos,,worshipping Lucifer/Satan,, well,, this old world is in the last death throws,,now comes the day of judgement,,, let the dead bury the dead,,, i know my path,, for i know God/Goddess,, this are my real parents,, i will go home with or without this physical body,,for i choose Love and Oneness,,i live the universal Law,, Gods Law , there is NOTHING to discuss
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
I'm all for trans-rights, but, that's a personal choice. When a child is born, it should be assigned the sex that it's physical attributes show it to be. If the person wants to change that identity later, that's up to them, not their parents.
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Lionheart
I know what you mean Matthew. I friend of mine identifies as a pony. The strange thing is that he insists on eating human food and not hay. I don’t get it 🤷🏼
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David Buck
"This goes against the the views of the vast majority of Oklahomans, and people across the country." Oh really? Have they done a comprehensive survey? I think they might find that the majority of people view the 32-some personal pronoun business bizarre in the extreme. These fringe individuals really need to stop pretending to speak for the majority.
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Antony Karasulas
Absolutely correct move. You are born male or female. You have a little wee wee or a little crack. Those are nature's two options. How you decide to live your life later is another matter entirely.
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Michael Barton
You can look whatever way you want, but there are only 2 genders; with some having both but then they should choose the 1 for health reasons.
Your gender doesn't decide how you dress or what you look like.
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Stephanie A Willey
SCIENCE : FACT: Gender exists and is expressed along a wide spectrum.
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Daniel Ginther
You have rocks for brains
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Daniel Ginther
They are right. Your either a male or female. What you do with yourself has no bearing on anything. If your born with a Penis, your a male, if your born with a Vagina your a female.....End of lesson
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Herbert Moore
Then why not simply enter that P for penis, and V for vagina rather than making it more complicated? Or more simply record the presence or absence of a Y?
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Rev Mark D
Gosh, I was wondering when we will be seeing a "them" choice on the birth certificate form...now we won't be able to in OK.
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CB Cuff
Being that it's a 'birth' certificate, the criteria is pretty straight forward. The non-binary identity isn't something that can be put under a microscope. Maybe a chronological age could be used (like medical consent) allowing an individual to present as non-binary legally. A mentally/physically stable 12 year old can accept or decline medical intervention in Canada without religious or government interference. There are many folks that believe that is still too young an age to make such decisions. Two parties on the topic; those that see sexual identity as necessary in everyday life, and those we call Freethinkers.
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Nicholas J Page
How can you change an official document,?
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Rev. RJ Levesque Jr
Male and female ONLY! Not knowing what sex you are, or thinking you are a different sex than you actually are is a MENTAL ILLNESS PERIOD!!!! About time we start to confront the mental illness in this country rather than applaud it!
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Stephanie A Willey
Rev, you really need to read the DSM 6 and 7. Gender Dysphoria is most definitely NOT a mental illness. Good Lord, the levels of ignorance of known science I see in this forum simply boggles the mind !!!!
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Stuart Lee Danielson
Mayo Clinic:
"Gender dysphoria is the feeling of discomfort or distress that might occur in people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth or sex-related physical characteristics."
"A diagnosis for gender dysphoria is included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a manual published by the American Psychiatric Association. The diagnosis was created to help people with gender dysphoria get access to necessary health care and effective treatment. The term focuses on discomfort as the problem, rather than identity."
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Tom Boocher
So God created man in his (man's....not God's) own image, in the image of GodS (plural) created he (an absolutely singular God OF gods) him; MALE and FEMALE created he them.
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Stephanie A Willey
Man created God in his own image so as to force and maintain control over populations
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Daniel Ginther
When you add or delete words from the word of God, you do what Satan did....Nice
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Lucille Rivera
I believe birth certificates should state the biological state of the child - male or female - at birth. Even when a child is born with both genitalia a decision has to be made by the parents for the sex of that baby. What an adult chooses later on is indeed their right and I support people in their choices, but legal documents should not be amended. We are living in a world that likes to change facts and I can't get behind that. There should be no shame in who you were when you were born or who you have chosen to become, but that choice should not be hidden. If the reasons are about healthcare or housing issues or any other complication, then that's what should be addressed. We've all had to fight for rights in one way or another through the centuries - this generation wants to hear yes to their demands and special interests regardless of majority opinion or biological fact
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Lady Celynia
I honestly think we need a new word. One is born male, female or intersex. Anything that comes after birth during life is generally emotion and feeling. Today Bobby feels very male, but tomorrow he may feel very non-binary. Next week, one may feel essentially female and start the process to live as a female for several years, however, one may also change one’s mind at any point. Having a new word negates the whole issue. I was born female, spent a good part of my childhood as a tomboy, then embraced my inner woman. For many years I was female. At present (after menopause) I feel very asexual. Also, parents should not make these types of decisions for their children. Biology at birth should go on the birth certificate. It need never be changed, more for legal reasons than anything else.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
It's about time. God has been producing nonbinary children for thousands of years. It's nice they are finally being recognized.
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Daniel Gray
Ok what the ones crying about this dont seem to understand is that over 50% of Oklahoma has been ruled to be NATIVE AMERICAN LAND https://www.npr.org/2020/07/09/889562040/supreme-court-rules-that-about-half-of-oklahoma-is-indian-land which means that the decision from the Gov effects less then half of the state as the rest of the state must abide by Tribal Law, and we as Native Americans do not believe in this lie of there being more then one sex. So complain all you want to Stephanie, as it wont do you a bit of good as if you are oklahoma, chances are you are governed by OUR laws, not the left wing ones and claims out of DC.
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Stephanie A Willey
Generally speaking, Native American beliefs describe and define five genders, not two.
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Daniel Gray
And Stephey you are so full of it your eyes are brown. You DO know that I am Cherokee Indian and am a proud member of the Wolf Clan of same with my name being on the roster of the BIA in DC and being able to trace my family clear back past the Dawes Roll (you call that the trail of tears) And not once have I hear of ANY native American clan/tribe/nation ever saying there are more then 2 sexes...male and female.
If you think you can then name the tribe/clan/nation and when they started this myth. I wont hold my breath waiting for you to reply.
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John P Maher
HEAR, HEAR WILLEY, SHE IS RIGHT ON, CORRECTO MUNDO
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Marcyline Hughes
Instead of calling it male or female we could just put what genitilia the child is born with. That was no one has hurt feelings.
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Stephanie A Willey
Why should it matter at all what genitalia a child is born with ?
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Lionheart
It shouldn't matter at all, unless the person wants to be able to give birth later in life🤰. I have very cleverly noticed that it's best for those who want to give birth have, in general, what is commonly called female genitalia, and it seems that having a uterus also can help. 🤭
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Timothy Lee Stewart
Good morning,
Male/Female,
Stephanie A Willey May 11, 2022 at 06:57 am Why should it matter at all what genitalia a child is born with ?
My response, Exactly! There are medical differences between male And female anatomy, ever so slight. How confused the doctor might be. Do you really want to confuse him at that moment in time where saving your life is critical? Now back to Stephanie's response.... It shouldn't matter if you want to be a teapot or a giraffe. But don't you think it would be a good thing to understand the difference between the two before you sit on a stove with a mouth full of water? Don't you think that should be learned before making a mistake and trying to fix it later. 🤔. Is it not the same as the government or Doctor making the decisions for the child the same as the parents making the decisions before they truly know what their spirit tells them. As with reincarnation, there's a good chance we have all been both sexes in a previous life and it's a good chance that some energies keep coming back because they never learn to be happy just being who they are born to be🤔
Yep it's just a thought, ULC Minister, T. Stewart You are here because you joined a Universal Consciousness of Life Belief Church. Or are just Trolling to get attention? Open mind and Open Heart Be Blessed
Just
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Robert Gagnon
Male or female, and once in a great while both. The duplication of life relies on one of each sex to procreate. With the exception of inchworms and single cell creatures. So life itself is binary. So each person is male, female or morphadite. Now with those two options this means humans can be gay, straight, or bi. There are no other options. No one can change their sex completely. Only their appearance. If they want children, it still requires something from each sex. It amazes me how so few parents have decided to let their children decide that they are something other than what they were created. As these un-guided people grow up believing they are something other than what they were created, their parents who were absent when they were needed, now demand everyone else accept this illusion. But reality eventually catches up to everyone. Sometimes it's misery other times suicide. It's sad, but true. Being gay or bi is not easy, but ignoring reality, or mutilating yourself to foster an illusion, rarely leads to a truly happy life. In fact what I have observed is non-binaries spend more time justifying their beliefs, than being productive or contributing to mankind.
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Demetri D Smith
My thought on this is that it's a simple question....which genitalia was your child born with? Male or female? You check the appropriate box on the paper....when they are old enough to decide how they want to sexually identify (without any outside coercion) then they can. Only God can judge you, not another human.
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Demetri D Smith
My thoughts on this,...feel free to agree or disagree, we all have our own opinions. When babies are born the paperwork requires you to basically say if said child was born with male or female genitalia. So you mark male or female depending what genitalia they have. When they are old enough to decide for themselves (without any outside coercion) how they would like to be described then they can.... I believe God is the ONLY one who can judge us, not another person.... I agree we all have the right to choose how we want to live our lives...
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Richard Darwin Richards
God created Adam and Eve , end of story!
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Lionheart
And your evidence is where? I assume you have some scientific genetic evidence to prove your claim, Richard, or was your remark purely a comical statement? It was....right?
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Doctor Loyal
Think what you want, but don't try to convince me that any alphabet soup combination of imaginary mental aberrations should differ from Genesis.
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Lionheart
Don't worry about it, Doctor Loyal, I'm sure there will soon be scientific genetic evidence to prove that women came from a mans rib, there was a talking snake, and a talking ass, and one day we will find that many of us have been using Lots wife for salt at the dinner table. Hang in there Doctor, it will be visiting time soon 🤷🏼
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Sandra A Rasmussen
Frankly it doesn’t matter to me if a person wants to be someone or something else-if it’s what you want to do,and you want to go through all the BS to get it done, do YOU!! We are all going to hell in a handbasket anyway, might as well have some fun living your dream!
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John Peter Dugan
I know enough about Biology to know that nature produces all sorts of variations its not male or female but a spectrum from one end to other just because that fact has been hidden throughout history doesnt make it not true, many Doctors will tell you that a lot of baby's are born somewhere in between sometimes and they make a decision sometimes even operating on them so they can check off boy or girl on birth certificates its not what people want to believe its just a fact of nature.
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David Bartlett
Just have the doctor check a box or not check a box labeled "Y-Chromosome Present?"
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Herbert Moore
What need is met in having a male or female designation on the birth certificate, or any other certificate? I am just curious, because I do not have an answer.
XX and XY. God created them male and female. There is no other.
Val, you are wrong. Science knows better. There are 27 X and Y combinations and variations all well known to medicine and researchers.
Wrong, The gods created humanity as a biological continuum where we are subject to biological changes. As Stephanie says, there are various X and Y combinations and the existence of Intersex individuals completely shuts down your argument. Not only that, other people have other views that are not religious and them banning recognition of non binary individuals is a violation of their constitutional rights.
If you are confused about your gender I suggest you look into your underware! Your welcome!
'rambunk': Show me the constitutional rights to which your are referring.
Hey not so fuego, it’s under the “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” if them changing their birth certificate to non binary makes them happy, they should be able to pursue it. If that makes you unhappy, go see shrink and whine to them about it. That’s what they’re there for. It’s part of their first amendment rights, the US is not a theocracy, and religious views shouldn’t get into the way of their existence.
not so robert, at least not according to history and the scotus. but if it makes you sleep better at night then more power to you
So by your logic. If someone decides to identify as a permanently disabled American veteran then the government owes them all benefits included with that standing because they are doing so "under the life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"...
Counter argument... I don't want to be forced to view delusional thoughts under the very same right given by the constitution.
After all under our constitution, your rights end where mine begin.
And now we have a conundrum that cannot be solved without bias, opinion and one's right being exerted over others.
The pursuit of happiness does not include indoctrinating children in your non Christian lifestyles.
The pursuit of happiness also does not include indoctrinating children IN Christian lifestyles. They’re also quite abhorrent in getting in the way of happiness. 🤷🏻♂️
Nope sorry, there are two. male and female. And this according to every medical group in the US starting with the AMA and every medical school. So either they are all liars or you are. Take your choice
How do you explain a person who is born with both genitalia? I grew up with an individiual who had both, was raised as a girl, but because the masculine attributes were so strong, they opted to be male.
Explain that, if you please.
whats the inside? if they have testicals and can produce sperm, they are medically a male. If they have a womb and overies, they are a female and nothing you say or do is going to change that medical fact.
Embryonic mutations - caused by genetic failures inside the mothers womb. These are often caused by alcohol or drug use during pregnancy.
Post your evidence.
Val, get up off your ... back side and read the medical science yourself. Google "how many X and Y chromosomal variations are there". Enjoy the read. And by the way, my statement that there 27 X and Y variations comes exactly word for word from my own Endocrinologist at U of M Medicine.
nope sorry, there are 27 PAIRS, not different ones. If you are going to try and use medicine then make sure you know what you are talking about
Actually, God created all the variations. I don't know why people can't accept that. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150213112317.htm
God created them MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM ALL.
Did you have a particular mythical god in mind Val?
I of course say mythical, being as there is no demonstrable evidence any exist. It would be nice if any of those omnipotent deities the world has created actually showed up and proved to the world they were real.🤷🏼
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yes Val yes everything in the universe is based on this principle