ID: digital collage with a picture of Sylvia Rivera, arms outstretched, a brick, along with glittery elements and the word “June” along with a Freedom Oklahoma logo.

If you know me, you know I love a list. I love an extended metaphor. I love an involved caption. I love something that becomes a ritual, a practice, a habit. I really love something that combines all of those things together.

So last year, when I was dreaming up a way to celebrate pride, I made an incomplete list of things that felt like pride to me: organizing alongside comrades. Having Al Delgado capture a photo and feeling truly seen and celebrated. Chosen family. My current haircut by Hannah Gordon Wilburn. Lifting at Empowerhouse Gym and always being uplifted in that community space. Challenging the status quo, even and especially as it limits our own capacity to reimagine and build something better. Communicating mostly through memes. 2SLGBTQ+ art and seeing trans and queer representation out in my world and my city through that art. Watching folks marvel at the art while sitting in one of the cocooned spaces at Party at Factory Obscura. Stepping foot in Culture Hub. Expanding my knowledge and understanding of 2SLGBTQ+ history. Going to the Boys of Oklahoma knowing CCR and hearing not only no f-slur, but also seeing queerness celebrated from the main stage. Organizing with Home Base OK. Working across movement spaces. Film photos. Every time Zitta Nails makes my hands feel like the perfect works of miniature art (aka every time she does my nails). Seeing how far the reach of our love and grief extends. Sharing meals. Expanding friendships. Early morning accountability texts with Marina. Sharing space. Fighting the cops in our streets, in our communities, and in our heads. Voice memos with Katrina. A hug from AC. Growing the work at Freedom. The welcoming collaborative joy that is working with Cherokee Nation on systems that better serve and welcome all 2STGNC+ Cherokees. A loving mic set up by Nate. Listening to Mo and Solas banter (lovingly bicker). Radicalizing one another.

And while I could repeat calls to action, reminders that pride is not a pageant but a radical act of defiance and specifically anti-cop, I’m going to offer you another list, and invite you to make your own.

In 2026, pride to me feels like: a freshly healed Mary Oliver tattoo on my thigh. Getting to see folks I wasn’t sure would still be here celebrate a birthday. Offering someone sunscreen. Seeing myself captured by someone else in a way that reflects my gender euphoria. Threading a needle (like literally but also figuratively). Seeing someone I know is reading a queer book I love. Have you eaten? Showing up with Big Truck breakfast tacos. Chai lattes and co-working at Second Story Books. Let me go with you? Did you make it home? I’ll pick you up. Bisexual lighting. Practicing conflict with comrades. Being in a space where folks are masking. Birkenstocks and socks. Adding another plate to the sled at Empowerhouse. Settling in for a movie at Oklahoma Film Exchange. Family dinners in Mo’s backyard. Eating Nate’s latest perfected baked good. I think you’d enjoy this. Finishing another glue stick while I junk journal. Finding the perfect sticker to fill the open space on a water bottle. Folding zines. Letting myself be celebrated. Refusing to give into arbitrary and unconstitutional demands to stand during the prayer and pledge at the State Capitol. Having all 3 of my cats cuddle with me at the same time. Making bad art. Sharing my art with friends. Sharing my art with strangers. Writing collaboratively in mediums that are beyond my comfort zone. Giving public comment during public meetings. Dreaming with friends. Writing down goals for how I’m getting stronger. Making lists. Being part of Freedom Oklahoma’s evolution. Being part of my own evolution. Taking a picture every time I stop and notice the sky. Refusing to give into despair. Loud enthusiasm. Abolition geographies, as an expansive practice. Knee length denim shorts. Still every manicure by Zitta and every haircut by Hannah. Expanding who is in this work to build a better future with me. Speaking futures and visions and dreams out loud. Poetry. Loving one another. Radicalizing one another. Shifting our resource priorities. Sharing. Asking one another to do better. Reading queer history. Practicing trans futurism. Hoping. Writing. And doing. All in the name of solidarity, of revolution, of pride.

To everyone working to build a future where 2STGNC+ folks have the resources, community, and safety to thrive across Oklahoma, throughout Indian Country, and everywhere we call home: Pride is a revolution, not a parade! All we have is each other!

Cole

The most recent Resource Tracking Report produced by Funders for LGBTQ Issues shows that for every $100 awarded by U.S. foundations in 2023, only 3.5 cents supported transgender, gender non-conforming, and nonbinary (TGNCNBi) communities, which was a decrease from 4.6 cents per $100 awarded in 2022. And in a state like Oklahoma, we know those disparities hit even harder. Even in our own communities, we have work to do to get folks to choose the safety of 2STGNC+ people over their own comfort and proximity to power. It’s why we’ve seen efforts pop up to fundraise on the concept of more moderate approaches to LGB+ advocacy, even as it’s the most marginalized and excluded trans folks under attack.

But even with disinvestment and underinvestment, we’re rewriting the story of trans futures through cross-liberatory work in the present, right here in Oklahoma.
This Give Out Day, we're inviting you to Give Out for Freedom, and invest in Freedom Oklahoma's continued work to build the future where we all have the safety to thrive, everywhere we call home.

Another legislative session is over and (thankfully) there are no plans announced for any sort of special session. As we looked back on what moved this year, of the more than 300 bills we tracked this session, 13 became law, including 4 particularly harmful to 2SLGBTQ+ community members, especially 2STGNC+ community, SB 904, HB 3586, HJR 1032, and HB 1225.

Expanded Attacks on Health Care for Trans Folks - SB 904

by Sen Todd Gollihare and Rep Erick Harris, effective with emergency upon being signed by the Governor May 12, 2026

Passed the House 77-14, Senate 39-8

was shucked to become anti-trans policy in March 2026

Bans the use of public funds from being granted, paid, or distributed to any entity for gender confirming care for trans people of any age
Ends Medicaid coverage for any care related to gender transition for anyone of any age
Bans state properties, facilities, or buildings from providing gender confirming care (surgical care, puberty blockers, hormones, or other drugs used to affirm gender) to trans folks of any age
- This is causing immediate harm to folks who receive care at state facilities such as OU Health and OSU Medical Center.
- Immediately ended any gender affirming care treatment for trans folks incarcerated in state facilities.
Criminalizes state officers or employees found in violation of the provisions of the amended statute
Does not include mental and behavioral health in the definition of gender confirming care

For folks impacted by SB 904, some folks are looking to private providers for care, including in-state providers such as Planned Parenthood Great Plains, Diversity Family Health, OKEQ Health Clinic, as well as telehealth providers such as Folx, Plume, True U, and QueerMed.

Prioritizing the Political Opinions of Adults Over Safety of Trans+ Kids -

HB 3586

by Rep Erick Harris and Sen Kristen Thompson, effective Nov 1, 2026

Passed the House 75-15, Senate 39-7

Expands opportunity for 2SLGBTQ+ youth to be placed in foster or adoptive homes with adults who would openly deny them affirming space
Enshrines right to discriminate against trans kids in OK statute without being held liable for the abuse inflicted
Includes language being pushed by hate group The Heritage Foundation

Denying Trans Folks Accurate Drivers Licenses -

HJR 1032

by Rep Kevin West and Sen Michael Bergstrom

effective Feb 26, 2026

Passed the House 70-16 in 2025, Senate 38-8 in 2026

Repealed administrative rules that allowed for gender marker corrections on Oklahoma Drivers Licenses.
Without the rules in place, legislators said they believed OK Drivers Licenses could no longer be updated to provide accurate gender markers going forward.

Denying Trans Folks Born in OK Accurate Birth Certificates -

HB 1225

by Rep Kevin West and Sen Michael Bergstrom

effective with emergency upon being signed by the Governor May 5, 2026

Passed the House 70-17, Senate 37-8

Bans gender marker corrections on birth certificates issued by Oklahoma from April 2022 onward
Despite the ex post facto date in the bill, the Senate author stated on the record no plan or procedure to retroactively enforce the bill

With only 13 bills of those we tracked that passed, we also escaped a lot of bad policy becoming law. And while that’s always worth celebrating, here are a few particular bills we’re glad did not become law this year. Some bills that (thankfully) we can celebrate NOT becoming law: Expanding restrictions for trans folks with regard to access to bathrooms, domestic violence services, and campus housing - HB 3242, by Rep Toni Hasenbeck and Sen Ally Seifried, Passed the House 74-17, and out of Senate committee 15-2. Was eligible to be heard on the Senate floor, but was not heard before they adjourned sine die. Censorship of State Employees for any communication to 2SLGBTQ+ folks - HB 1219 by Rep Kevin West and Sen David Bullard Passed the House 74-17, and out of Senate committee 5-2. Was eligible to be heard on the Senate floor, but was not heard before they adjourned sine die. Expands Youth Gender Affirming Care Restrictions to Include Banning Affirming Mental Health Care with Aiding and Abetting Criminalization - HB 3130 by Rep Kevin West and Sen David Bullard, Passed the House 71-21, and not heard in Senate committee.

Freedom Oklahoma does not have an in house litigation team. This means nothing here is legal advice, and that we aren’t able to directly challenge any of these harmful policies in court. While folks have asked about legal challenges to the bills directly harming trans folks, at present, there are no filed cases by civil rights litigation organizations challenging these bills. If that changes, we’ll let you know.