LGBT Advocates Were Told Bill Was Dead Tuesday Morning, Hearing or Vote Now Scheduled for Tuesday Night
Oklahoma Republicans have just pulled a fast one on LGBT equality advocates, and it’s shameless.
“Leadership in the Oklahoma State House of Representatives informed Freedom Oklahoma today that SB 1619 – a bill targeting transgender youth with segregated bathrooms – will not move forward this session,” Freedom Oklahoma said in a statement received by NCRM earlier today.
That same bill – SB 1619 – is now slated for a vote tonight by the Oklahoma House counterpart of the committee that passed it last week on a 20-15 vote, Fox 25 reports.
The bill itself is ludicrous.
As NCRM reported last week, SB 1619 is a “religious freedom” bill that would would allow students or their parents to claim they have a “sincerely-held religious belief” objection to sharing restrooms and locker rooms with transgender children. If it were to become law, the bill would force school systems to provide facilities to students of faith that ban transgender students. Making matters more complex, single-user facilities would not, under the law, be an acceptable accommodation. The bill is drafted as an “emergency” measure, allowing it to become law immediately if the governor signs it.
Stay tuned for more.
UPDATE I: 6:39 PM EDT –
The hearing is actually now. You can listen live here:Â
http://www.okhouse.gov/Video/Default.aspx Audio only for the Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget REVISED.
Click on “In Progress” if need be.
They are currently on a short recess.
UPDATE II:
At abut 8:00 PM EDT the committee voted 10-10. Deadlocked, the bill stays with the committee and does not advance to the full House. Stay tuned — not over yet.Â
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This is a breaking news and developing story. Details may change. This story will be updated, and NCRM will likely publish follow-up stories on this news. Stay tuned and refresh for updates.
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Image:Â The New Civil Rights Movement