Move over, Idaho!

Sorry, I’m out of gift articles, but here’s the link: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/23/us/oklahoma-nonbinary-student-superintendent.html

“In his three years as state superintendent for Oklahoma’s public schools, Ryan Walters, a former high school history teacher, has transformed himself into one of the most strident culture warriors in a state known for sharp-edged conservative politics.

“Following the death earlier this month of a 16-year-old nonbinary student a day after an altercation in a high school girls’ bathroom, gay and transgender advocates accused Mr. Walters of having fomented an atmosphere of dangerous intolerance within public schools.

“In his first interview reacting to the death of the student, Nex Benedict, Mr. Walters told The New York Times that the death was a tragedy, but that it did not change his views on how questions of gender should be handled in schools.

“‘There’s not multiple genders. There’s two. That’s how God created us,’ Mr. Walters said, saying he did not believe that nonbinary or transgender people exist. He said that Oklahoma schools would not allow students to use preferred names or pronouns that differ from their birth sex.”

<<SNIP>>

“The Oklahoma Legislature is currently considering a bill to prohibit residents from changing their sex designation on birth certificates, and another to require public schools to adopt the policy that gender is an ‘immutable biological trait’ and bar the use of alternative preferred names or pronouns. Another proposal, known as the Patriotism Not Pride Act, would prevent state agencies from displaying flags or symbols in support of gay and transgender people.”


SMDH

Unbelievable. Cruel and controlling. SMDH too.

Yeah. A friend of mine lives on a reservation in OK, and her daughter is gay. They are very worried.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/23/2024 11:21PM by Beth.

The cruelty really is the point with shitbags like Walters, isn't it? And all with concerned fools claiming "it's to protect the children!"

And it also answers *why* kids beat Nex to death; they thought they were doing a good thing by Walter's "standards." Doesn't help that Walters idolizes a stochastic terrorist ("Libs of TikTok," the assholes responsible for harassing trans folks, teachers, and sending bomb threats to hospitals).

Don’t get me started on Libs of TikTok. Raichik has harmed innumerable people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libs_of_TikTok

ETA “ In January 2024, Raichik was appointed as an adviser to the Oklahoma State Library Committee, despite not being an Oklahoma resident, a librarian, or an educator.[152] The committee is tasked with reviewing material reported to them and advising schools on age appropriate media.”



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/23/2024 11:29PM by Beth.

I'd sooner leave a toddler alone with cookies and a lit blowtorch than appoint people like Raichik to any position of authority. The fire would cause less damage.