OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) 鈥 Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Tuesday directed state agencies to use narrow definitions of 鈥渇emale鈥 and 鈥渕ale,鈥 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 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 to compete against her in a women鈥檚 championship race.
鈥淭oday we're taking a stand against this out-of-control gender ideology that is eroding the very foundation of our society,鈥 Stitt said. "We are going to be safeguarding the very essence of what it means to be a woman.
鈥淥klahomans are fed up with attempts to confuse the word 鈥榳oman鈥 and turn it into some kind of ambiguous definition that harms real women.鈥
In addition to requiring state agencies and boards to define the words 鈥渇emale鈥 and 鈥渕ale鈥 to correspond with the person's sex assigned at birth, the executive order also includes definitions for the words 鈥渕an,鈥 鈥渂oy,鈥 鈥渨oman,鈥 鈥済irl,鈥 鈥渇ather" and 鈥渕other.鈥 The order specifically defines a female as a 鈥減erson whose biological reproductive system is designed to produce ova" and a male as a 鈥減erson whose biological reproductive system is designed to fertilize the ova of a female.鈥
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 鈥淭he Women's Bill of Rights鈥 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 , and has previously signed measures to prohibit transgender girls and women from and prevent transgender children from that correspond to their gender identity.
鈥淭his executive order is neither about rights, nor is it about protecting women,鈥 said Nicole McAfee, executive director of Freedom Oklahoma, which supports the rights of trans people. She called it a 鈥渢hinly veiled attack鈥 that codifies discrimination against transgender women.
House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson accused the governor of using 鈥減artisan, polarizing politics鈥 to further divide Oklahomans.
鈥淥nce again, the Republican supermajority continues their government overreach by infringing on the rights of citizens,鈥 said Munson, and Oklahoma City Democrat.
Stitt鈥檚 action comes during legal battles in neighboring Kansas over the meaning of that Republican legislators also christened 鈥淭he Women鈥檚 Bill of Rights,鈥 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 prohibiting any changes to person's gender on birth certificates.
___
This story has been corrected to remove reference to Oklahoma not allowing people to change their gender on their driver's licenses.
___
Associated Press reporter John Hanna contributed to this report from Topeka, Kansas.
