Oklahoma promotes stories of Christian ‘detransitioners’ in gender-affirming care case

Multiple Oklahomans said they mistakenly sought hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgeries, including one who said they just needed a better understanding of God’s love and Christian teaching, according to statements the state filed in response to a lawsuit challenging a ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

Oklahoma lawmakers recently banned gender transition surgeries and other drug and hormone treatments. Five families of transgender youths sued the state in federal court, arguing the ban discriminates based on sex and transgender status.

Last month, the state filed sworn statements from multiple Oklahomans and doctors who oppose gender-affirming health care, including those who say they "detransitioned" after believing their treatments were harmful and against God's wishes.

One of the written testimonies was from Laura Smalts, a Mustang resident who said she began identifying as a male at age 25, received hormone treatment and had a double mastectomy out of state. But a Christian radio broadcast convinced her she needed to stop identifying as a man.

More: Five transgender youths file lawsuit, saying Oklahoma health care ban is unconstitutional

"I experienced a vision of Jesus reaching into my pit with an outstretched arm, asking me to leave everything and follow him," Smalts wrote. "I trusted him, and I walked away from everything I had known: my job, my partner of almost eight years, my financial security, and my entire transgender identity. I lived with my parents over the next few months as I detransitioned back to living as a woman."

Smalts also has authored a book called “Transgender to Transformed” and was a witness in an Arkansas trial last year on that state’s gender-affirming care ban.

The state filed statements from other "detransitioners" who blamed therapists for pushing their parents to let them undergo hormone treatments.

"Gender transition procedures amount to a false chemical or surgical promise that these chemicals or surgery will bring lasting peace to what is truly causing body dysphoria," wrote Lawton resident Zoe Hawes, who began to transition at age 17.

The state’s response to the lawsuit also includes statements from doctors and references to some studies claiming there is no consensus on the safety and efficacy of hormone treatment and surgeries for minors.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, along with its Oklahoma Chapter, have publicly opposed the state's ban.

"Our organizations strongly oppose any legislation or regulation that would discriminate against gender-diverse individuals, including children and adolescents, or limit access to comprehensive evidence-based care, which includes the provision of gender-affirming care," the organization said in a statement. "Any discrimination based on gender identity or expression is damaging to the socioemotional health of children and families as evidenced by increased risk of suicide in this population."

Arkansas judge overturns that state's ban on gender-affirming care

Last month, an Arkansas federal judge rejected that state's gender-affirming care ban, which gave opponents of Oklahoma's ban hope for a similar ruling.

"The evidence showed that (gender-affirming care) improves the mental health and well-being of patients and that, by prohibiting it, the state undermined the interests it claims to be advancing," wrote U.S. District Judge James Moody in overturning the Arkansas ban.

Some of the youths challenging Oklahoma's ban have made similar claims that gender-affirming care improves mental health.

One of the young people in the Oklahoma case started to “bloom once he began receiving treatment and living as a boy; he is euphoric to be who he is,” the lawsuit states.

Other youths were described as regaining the confidence to interact with others, hold down a job, try out for a theater program, and experience “drastic improvement” in their mental health.

Gender-affirming care has become a political flashpoint in many Republican states in recent years, and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt called for a ban at the beginning of this year’s legislative session.

Republican lawmakers responded with Senate Bill 613, which immediately banned gender transition surgeries and implemented a six-month phase-out of other drug and hormone treatments.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has agreed not to enforce the ban while the preliminary injunction is pending.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Detransitioners argue against trans health care in Oklahoma