Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) signed an executive order Tuesday that clearly defines male-female sex based on the biological reproductive system.
A press statement from Stitt’s office said he is the “first governor to issue an executive order to boldly stand with women.”
The order defines a “female” as a “natural person … whose biological reproductive system is designed to produce ova,” and a “male” as a “natural person … whose biological reproductive system is designed to fertilize the ova of a female.”
A “mother,” according to the order, is defined as “a female parent of a child or children,” while a “father” is defined as “a male parent of a child or children.”
The order defines “sex” as “that natural person’s biological sex, either male or female at birth.” It states that all government schools and agencies are to identify individuals as either male or female.
Government agencies are also authorized to provide services “in single-sex environments where biology, privacy, and personal dignity are implicated,” according to the executive order.
Stitt said about his Women’s Bill of Rights executive order:
I am taking decisive executive action to ensure the true definition of the word woman, meaning a biological woman, is what guides the state as we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the safety, dignity, and sanctity of women across Oklahoma. As long as I’m governor, we will continue to protect women and ensure women-only spaces are reserved solely for biological women.
Stitt was joined at the signing ceremony by Independent Women’s Voice, a group that developed the model legislation that helped create the Women’s Bill of Rights Executive Order.
All-American swimmer Riley Gaines, an advisor for IWV, also attended the signing ceremony.
She said in a statement:
Biological differences must be respected in the law to ensure female-only spaces have a future. It is sad that such basic truths must be spelled out to ensure equal protection, but I applaud Governor Stitt for taking decisive action today. Establishing common language by way of the Women’s Bill of Rights is a way of saying enough is enough: Oklahoman women deserve equal opportunity, privacy, and safety, and this order will help deliver it.
In its coverage of the executive order’s signing, The Associated Press (AP) headlined that “transgender rights” are being “targeted” in Oklahoma.
AP referred to the biologically-based definitions of “male” and “female” as “narrow definitions” and said they were being used 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.”
The news wire described IWV as an “anti-trans group” and Gaines as “a former University of Kentucky swimmer known for criticizing an NCAA decision allowing transgender swimmer Lia Thomas to compete against her in a women’s championship race.”
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Susan Berry, PhD is national education editor at The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Kevin Stitt” by Kevin Stitt.
