GOP bill targets nonbinary Okla. birth certificates

Oklahoma Republican legislators have moved to no longer allow nonbinary designations on state-issued birth certificates.

After a 7-3 vote Monday in the Senate’s Health and Human Services committee, Senate Bill 1100 passed despite procedural and legislative opposition by Democrats.

The bill is intent on removing the ability of the Oklahoma State Department of Health to accept requests and amend birth certificates to reflect a person’s gender preference.

As part of a legal settlement stemming from a lawsuit filed in 2020, Kit Lorelied, 46, is the recipient of the state’s first gender-neutral birth certificate, where an “X” denotes their sex designation instead of a male or female gender marker.

Nonbinary people do not identify as strictly male or female.

In keeping with the settlement agreement, the department in October issued a nonbinary birth certificate to Lorelied, an Oregon resident.

In November, Gov. Kevin Stitt issued an order barring the health department from issuing nonbinary birth certificates. Now, the legislature is working to remove the option entirely.

“So the answer is yes, the government is going to determine for someone who is of age, a citizen of this country, their ability to determine what they want listed on their birth certificate,” Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City, said during the Senate meeting.

“They can choose male of female,” responded Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, RAdair, the bill’s author.

Bergstrom, when asked if the bill is in opposition to the federal settlement or holds the potential for adverse mental affects and increased suicide risks for

non-gender conforming persons, responded, “No.”

Before the bill was open for debate, opposition was made clear by Sen. Carrie Hicks, D-Oklahoma City.

Hicks brought up a procedural issue, as the bill lacked a co-sponsor from the House, which is required by Senate rules when appropriations are not involved.

Upon the discretion of the committee’s chair, Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, the bill was allowed to be heard. After 15 minutes of conversation and debate, it passed along party lines.

Bergstrom’s bill will now move to be heard before the full Senate.

PAXSON HAWS, THE OKLAHOMAN Oklahoma Republican legislators have moved to halt nonbinary designations on state-issued birth certificates. Shown is a scene from the 2019 OKC Pride Parade.