Republican lawmakers in Oklahoma have censored a non-binary Democrat lawmaker for harboring a fugitive.
The Daily Caller reports that the Democrat lawmaker prevents authorities from questioning a trans-rights activist by keeping the individual in the reps office.
Democratic Rep. Mauree Turner, who uses they/them pronouns, will be removed from all committees they sit on unless a formal apology is issued to the people of Oklahoma and law enforcement for shielding the activist from the questions that need to be asked. The Associated Press reports that Turner began to protect that activist during a protest at the state Capitol.
Transgender activists stormed the State Capitol in Oklahoma during Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitts State of the State address in February. The protests continued as the GOP tried to pass a bill banning gender-affirming care from being provided to minors in the Sooner State.
The Daily Caller reported that one protest got particularly intense when a protestor poured water on a lawmaker and got into an altercation with law enforcement at the state capitol. The Associated Press reported that the trans activist was then shielded behind the doors of Turners office during the remainder of the protest.
Highway Patrol Trooper Eric Foster spoke with the Associated Press and said: When we go up to the representatives office, we were not allowed in, even opening the door.
Speaker of the House Charles McCall aimed at Turner: I will not allow members of the House of Representatives to use their assigned offices and official positions to impede law enforcement from carrying out investigations or making arrests in the state Capitol.
Turner has refused to apologize so far over this. Turner insists that the office is a safe space for all the folks in all communities that seek refuge from hate and that Trans people dont feel safe here, according to the Associated Press.
House Democratic Leader Rep. Cyndi Munson defended Turner and said the censure move was ridiculous and embarrassing. Munson spoke with the AP and said:
Its clear theyre trying to silence a member who does not think like them, act like them, dress like them, who challenges their positions, especially when they are running legislation to harm people in our community.
Members of the two parties are butting heads over this situation, and it will be interesting to see what they say next about each other.
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