Kathryn Oakley, Senior Director of Legal Policy, Human Rights Campaign; During the public comment portion of the meeting, Walters' reckless direction to Oklahoma schools to defy new federal regulations and potentially jeopardize hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds was made: made a statement.
“Mr. Walters, yesterday you directed schools in Oklahoma to defy federal civil rights laws.
I know you may no longer have a lawyer in your department, but let me explain to you why this is a lawless, discriminatory, and devastating directive. In addition to Oklahoma's constitutional obligations, Oklahoma must comply with federal civil rights laws, including Title IX. Last week, the U.S. Department of Education, after three years of careful review and compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act, issued a final rule that is consistent with decades of case law and the U.S. Supreme Court in Bostock v. Clayton County, ensuring that schools: I made it easy to understand. Gender-based discrimination also includes LGBTQ+ youth.
Board member Walters said if Oklahoma schools refuse to comply with federal law, the state will definitely spend a lot of money on lawyers and Oklahoma risks losing hundreds of millions in federal funds. will be exposed to. As the people in this room know, less funding for Oklahoma's education is the last thing Oklahoma needs.
Please understand this. If Oklahoma schools do not follow federal civil rights laws, they are choosing to invest in Ryan Walters' political career at the expense of their students, not in the future of Oklahoma students. Masu. Ryan Walters, you are failing students at the University of Oklahoma. Dear Board Members, now is the time to take action. Doing the right thing for LGBTQ+ students means doing the right thing for all Oklahoma students.
Nex Benedict deserved more recognition. Oklahomans deserve better. ”