Mauree Turner censured by Republicans in Oklahoma after she harbored fugitive during trans protest
America’s first non-binary Muslim lawmaker was censured and stripped of assignments for harboring a fugitive friend accused of attacking a police officer during a transgender rights protest.
During the protest, the fugitive, Austin Ross, is accused of throwing water at Rep. Bob Ed Culver, R-Tahlequah, after the passage of HB 2177, a bill that bans gender-affirming child care.
Another protester, Savannah Mitchell, was stopped and arrested during the protest.
The vote of no confidence means Rep. Mauree Turner, who uses they/them pronouns, will be removed from all committee assignments unless the second-term lawmaker issues a formal apology, including to the Highway Patrol, which provides security at the capitol complex.
Turner, the first openly nonbinary Muslim elected to the Oklahoma Legislature, said Tuesday that won’t happen as Republicans continue to work to strip trans people of their rights.
Austin Turner, an Oklahoma resident, took refuge in the office of a Democratic lawmaker after he was accused of assaulting an officer and a representative of the Republican Party.
On Tuesday, Rep. Mauree Turner, who uses they/them pronouns, refused to apologize for harboring Ross.
“I think an apology for loving the people of Oklahoma is something I can’t do,” said Turner, an Oklahoma City Democrat, flanked by several fellow Democrats. “It’s something I actively refuse to do.”
Last week’s protest heated up when a protester was accused of throwing water on Culver and fighting with a police officer, throwing more water in the process, before being arrested.
Culver said KFOR that his decision to press charges against Ross was not because of water being thrown at him, but because of a state trooper. The representative said that he will fully cooperate with the investigation.
Ross was arrested in Ponca City, Oklahoma, on Tuesday. He accused him of trying to prevent officers from arresting Mitchell by grabbing the hands of a deputy sheriff.
Authorities said Ross was able to escape from the capitol complex due to a lack of manpower.
Officials said Ross was inside Turner’s legislative office after the melee subsided.
“When we went up to the representative’s office, we were not allowed in, not even when we opened the door,” said Highway Patrol Trooper Eric Foster.
Ross shown during the February 28 protest, was arrested a week after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Austin is accused of trying to stop officers from arresting another protester, Savannah Mitchell, shown here
Mitchell was arrested while protesting the passage of a law banning gender-affirming child care in Oklahoma.
The vote of no confidence means Rep. Mauree Turner, who uses the pronouns they/them, will be removed from all committee assignments unless the second-term lawmaker issues a formal apology.
Turner’s complaint comes as Republicans across the US are pushing proposals that LGBTQ rights advocates say seek to erase the legal existence of transgender people and restrict the expression of non-binary, gender fluid, or non-binary people. who act as drag.
In Oklahoma, recent efforts by the GOP-controlled Legislature to ban gender-affirming health care for trans children and pass other anti-trans laws, including banning insurance coverage for gender-affirming care for people of all ages, have led to demonstrations. at the Capitol.
House Speaker Charles McCall said in a statement that the House supports enforcement of the law.
“I will not allow members of the House of Representatives to use their assigned offices and official positions to prevent law enforcement from conducting investigations or arrests at the state Capitol,” said McCall, R-Atoka.
But Turner, who is African-American and represents a diverse constituency that includes Oklahoma City’s Asian business district, said one of his goals is to make sure everyone is welcome on Capitol Hill.
“I simply offer my office as a space of grace and love for all the people from all communities who seek refuge from hate in this building,” Turner said. “Trans people don’t feel safe here.”
House Democratic Leader Rep. Cyndi Munson said the House vote of no confidence was “absolutely disgraceful.”
“It’s clear that what they’re trying to do is silence a member who doesn’t think like them, act like them, dress like them, who defies their positions, especially when they are enacting laws to harm people in our community.” Munson said. .
Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of the national LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD, also condemned the Oklahoma House of Representatives, saying a state house is where everyone, including lawmakers, should feel safe and heard.
“Transgender people are being targeted by extremists who are baselessly trying to limit their best practice and private health care,” Ellis said. “Every Oklahoman and every American should be outraged that lawmakers are working overtime to attack people, including their own colleague.”