On March 7, the Oklahoma House voted to censure (or publicly express strong disapproval of) Democratic non-binary state Rep. Mauree Turner for allegedly harboring a fugitive following a recent confrontation between trans-rights activists, a lawmaker and state troopers that led to one arrest, KFOR reported.
The previous week (on Feb. 28), a protester threw water at Republican state Rep. Bob Ed Culver, following the House's passage of HB 2177a bill to ban gender-affirming care for minors.
House Speaker Charles McCall said of Turner in a statement, "This member knowingly and willfully impeded a law enforcement investigation, harboring a fugitive and repeatedly lying to officers, and used their official office and position to thwart attempts by law enforcement to make contact with a suspect of the investigation."
The Oklahoma voted 81-19 to censure and strip Turnerthe state's first and only non-binary elected representativeof their committee assignments.
In a joint statement that Windy City Times received, GLAAD and Freedom Oklahoma criticized the censuring of Turner.
Freedom Oklahoma Executive Director Nicole McAfee said, "We don't have words to convey our anger at what those in power in the Oklahoma House did today to Representative Turner and our entire 2STGNC+ community. Their policy, the increased hostility and number of troopers present, members escorted out of meetings by sergeants at arms so they won't have to talk to trans constituents, are all actions which have made it perfectly clear that they do not welcome us in the building.
"We stand in solidarity with Representative Turner who risks their life, their safety, and their peace of mind each day they enter their building to show up for us and with us. Today's censure was reprehensible and we unequivocally condemn it and the untrue telling of events that accompanied it."
GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis added, "Lawmakers in Oklahoma and across the country continue to double and triple down on their discriminatory and dangerous rhetoric and behavior against their state's citizens. Transgender people are under attack by extremists who are baselessly trying to limit their private, best practice healthcare.
"Every Oklahoman and every American should be outraged that lawmakers are working overtime to target people, including their own colleague. Lawmakers chose to censure Rep. Turner and threaten to further silence them. This is shameful oppression in a place where democracy, dialogue and decency should be paramount and where every citizen and lawmaker should feel safe and heard."
A video of the Feb. 28 incident is at kfor.com/news/oklahoma-legislature/ok-house-censures-rep-mauree-turner-for-hiding-fugitive-in-office/ .