January 2024 Update
ID: "January Monthly Update. www.freedomoklahoma.org/news" on a background image of people marching in the street, one person is wearing a rainbow Pride flag and another is holding up a sign that reads “Yall Means All” with a drawing of Oklahoma in trans pride colors. There are white star doodles on the left and right of the image and the FOK logo is visible.
In 2024, we're shaping our future while honoring our past
Content warning: the following provides a brief discussion of residential schools.
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When things feel overwhelming, I often find myself seeking solace in a combination of fantasy novels and histories. I’ve learned through years in this work that as important as dreaming up our future together, as building it, is digging into deep time, the longer arc of our work, our movements, our stories. Because we carry the stories and traditions of resilient ancestors, who have fought similar fights and overcome, who have shared wisdom and joy and grief and the reminder that it is our collective duty to free one another.
When I think about deep time and temporal shifts, I know that much of that wisdom comes from Indigenous folks in my life, elders and young elders alike. By reIndigenizing the temporal framework, I can still work with urgency while shifting my nervous system out of the constant feeling of being threatened, and gain some perspective. And I seek that perspective from folks who I am in community with, in books, anywhere I can find it. And it was in seeking this exact framework this fall that I read We Are the Middle of Forever edited by Dahr Jamail and Stan Rushworth. My notes app is full of moments that stuck out to me while I was listening to the audiobook, but one of the biggest aha moments I encountered with this book was while listening on the way to the November Meeting of the Oklahoma State Board of Education. As I prepared for the most recent attack on public education, I found myself in the middle of a chapter about the generational impacts of residential boarding schools. I began to think of the genocidal underpinnings of the residential boarding school model, specifically the mantra of Carlisle Indian School founder Richard Henry Pratt, “kill the Indian, save the man.” Here we are, not even 150 years after the genocidal experiment that was the forced removal and assimilation of Indigenous children through the residential boarding school project began, and Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters’s policies could just as easily be summarized as kill the queer, save the children. The latter half already decorates the signs of his loyal followers.
And maybe upon first reading that you don’t understand how any of that could possibly be helpful. And maybe for you, it doesn’t inspire any sense of hope. But, for me, it grounds me in the truth: current efforts targeting 2SLGBTQ+ folks, especially youth, are nothing new. We’re not simply fighting a new wave of transphobia and transmisogyny. We’re fighting the latest effort in a centuries long project that is colonization which includes demands of forcible assimilation to a gender binary and compulsive heterosexuality. Just as we saw at residential boarding schools, current policies attempt to remove trans and queer youth from any sense of community and support, through mechanisms like mandatory outing by school staff, library censorship, single sex sports restrictions, annual gender oaths, limited bathroom access, banned access to gender affirming medical care…it’s a new iteration of old tactics meant to create isolation and despair. And we won’t despair, and we won’t be alone. And we’ll do everything we can together to stop them from stealing a new generation of children.
And by continuing to be in relationship with one another, we know that these policies can and will be defeated. That we can shape our future and honor our past. That we can, as Natalie Diaz suggests, comport ourselves as someone of consequence, no matter the outcome. We may not live to see the fruits of our labor, but we can show up in this moment, in this movement, in this fight for our collective liberation, in a way that not only honors our ancestors, and in a way that is thoughtful of what we want for 2SLGBTQ+ people seven generations from now. As we enter a new year, another legislative session, a new semester, we do so in a spirit of kinship and reciprocity. With the knowledge of our ancestors before us. With a commitment seven generations into the future. With accountability to one another. With a focus on reIndigenizing our work. With intentionality around building a future where we all have the safety to thrive.
In Solidarity,
Nicole McAfee (they/she)
Executive Director
Important Links and updates:
Staff changes in 2024
“After three incredible years serving as the Development & Operations Manager, it is with mixed emotions that I announce my departure from Freedom Oklahoma. This journey has been nothing short of amazing, and reflecting on the progress and achievements of our team, I can't help but feel a profound sense of happiness.
Being a part of the Freedom Oklahoma team has been three years of learning, building, and rethinking and I'm leaving with a sense of accomplishment and joy in my heart. Together, we've tackled challenges, celebrated victories, and worked towards a brighter future for all 2SLGBTQ+ Oklahomans. Together, we have developed programming that has soared to remarkable peaks, and cultivated our social media presence to new heights, garnering Freedom Oklahoma national recognition. While it's a tad bittersweet to say goodbye, I want you to know that my belief in the incredible work we do at Freedom Oklahoma is as strong as ever. It's just time for me to pass the torch (or maybe a glittery scepter) to someone ready for the next chapter.
Thank you for being an essential part of this incredible journey. I leave with a heart full of gratitude and look forward to witnessing the continued growth and impact of Freedom Oklahoma.”
- Christina Chavez Wiestner
Image Description: A cut-out image of Christina on a blue background that repeats "Thank you" multiple times
January Community Groups
As we barrel towards the end of the year, we know community can be extra critical. We’re holding our monthly community gatherings, and we welcome you, whether this is your first or fiftieth. As always, we encourage participants to join us and share their experiences, needs, and joys with the group. We look forward to sharing space in community with others. Please come when and as you are able. We look forward to seeing you there!
Full Schedule:
Teachers, Educators, & School Staff: Tuesday 12/12 4-5:30 PM
Parents, Guardians, & Caregivers: Wednesday 12/13 4:30-6 PM
Students & Youth: Thursday 12/14 4:30-5:30 PM
Image Description: “virtual 2SLGBTQ+ Community Groups Educators, Teachers, & School Staff: Tue, Jan 9th, 4 - 5:30 pm Parents, Guardians, & Caregivers: Wed, Jan 10th, 5 - 6 pm Students & Youth: Thurs, Jan 11th, 4:30 - 5:30 pm” on a color-blocked background in the Freedom Oklahoma brand colors with the Freedom Oklahoma logo.
Do we have your correct information?
Start your new year off right by ensuring you have accurate information in our database! You can change your name, pronouns, contact information, and address, and manage your donation information and email preferences. We don’t want you to miss out on any challenges or celebrations the new year brings. We also want to ensure that we are communicating with you as accurately as possible.
Image Description: "Update your information" in orange text on a dark blue background
Youth Action Month (YAM) 2024
Youth Action Month (YAM) is right around the corner, and we can’t wait to see what young Oklahomans are creating in their communities! ‘But, what is YAM?,’ you say? You can visit the YAM Webpage here.
YAM is a reminder that youth belong in Oklahoma. YAM is cataloged resources, videos, and tips to assist 2SLGBTQ+ young people in finding and using their voice and their power. YAM is modules and activities that provide you with the tools you need to enact change in YOUR community in a multitude of ways. YAM is about celebrating the work young Oklahomans have done and will do in the future to make Oklahoma better for all of us.
Last year we co-published a zine made by Mia Jo that shares her experiences growing up trans in Oklahoma. We also hosted several insta lives showcasing youth-serving organizations that exemplify YAM tools and resources. YAM 2024 is going to be even bigger this year!
If you are a young person interested in social change, please sign up to learn more or to share your work with us! If you’re a youth-serving organization that would like to host a YAM Art night, we want to hear from you, too. Sign up to learn more about YAM 2024 here!
Image Description: YAM 2024 logo on a black background
ICYMI: TheBody article on HIV Decriminalization in OK
Following a community interim study on HIV decriminalization, Freedom Oklahoma Executive Director Nicole McAfee joined Rep Mauree Turner and Mike Webb, a renowned advocate and the Public Health Policy Strategist with the Equality Federation, for a conversation about HIV decriminalization work in Oklahoma.
You can read their conversation in TheBody's 2023 World AIDS Day Coverage here.
Image Description: "Having a virus shouldn't be a crime." Read Mike Webb's discussion with Rep Mauree turner and Freedom Oklahoma Executive Director Nicole Mcafee in “A Candid Look at the State of HIV Advocacy and Decriminalization in Oklahoma” in TheBody