- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✖ State-enforced
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Legal, but banned for minors
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- Varies by Region
- Age of Consent
- Unknown
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Public Opinion
Public opinion surveys in Oklahoma have pointed to a varied attitude towards LGBTQ+ individuals.
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Same-sex marriage in Oklahoma is legal.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Oklahoma is state-enforced.
Current status
Since Jul 1, 1987
State-enforced
In 1987, House Bill 1476 came into effect in Oklahoma requiring HIV/AIDS education to state that homosexual activity is a primary responsible cause for contact with the HIV/AIDS virus. The law was never repealed. This would be the first education law censoring LGBTIQ+ topics in the United States.
Right to change legal gender in Oklahoma is legal, but requires surgery.
Current status
Since Jun 18, 2024
Legal, but requires surgery
On June 18, 2024, the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court's decision to dismiss a group of transgender women's objections to the state law and executive order prohibiting the alteration of legal gender. The court described the state's action as a "policy in search of a purpose" The state subsequently appealed to the United States Supreme Court.
Until Nov 7, 2021
Legal, but requires surgery
Oklahoma requires proof of surgery before changing birth certificates.
Gender-affirming care in Oklahoma is legal, but banned for minors.
Current status
Since May 1, 2023
Legal, but banned for minors
Minors under the age of 18 are unable to receive gender affirming care of all forms, making it a felony for those who try to do gender affirming care for minors. Adults over the age of 18, are able to receive gender affirming care in Oklahoma.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Oklahoma is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
There was a civil suit in 2021 against the Oklahoma State Department of Health regarding the use of a neutral gender marker which resulted in the gender neutral marker being allowed. However, a law has now been signed to ban gender neutral markers and strictly allow male and female markers.
LGBT discrimination in Oklahoma is no protections.
Current status
No protections
No protections from discrimination exist based upon sexual orientation or gender identification.
LGBT employment discrimination in Oklahoma is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Jun 15, 2020
Sexual orientation only
President Trump's Department of Justice and the EEOC revoked protections for gender identity in employment discrimination. No statewide protections exist.
Sexual orientation and gender identity
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has ruled that “[A]llegations of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation necessarily state a claim of discrimination on the basis of sex”, and are barred by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This ruling applies at both the state and federal levels. No statewide protections exist.
Gender identity only
In a landmark decision, Democratic President Obama's EEOC ruled that gender identity was included under Title VII protections from the Civil Rights Act (originally written to protect people based on sex discrimination). No statewide protections exist.
LGBT housing discrimination in Oklahoma is no protections.
Current status
No protections
This state does not provide any legal protections from discrimination based upon sexual orientation or gender identification.
However, the Human Rights Campaign states, "The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires grantees and participants of HUD programs to comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity.
HUD also prohibits inquiries regarding the sexual orientation or gender identity of a prospective tenant or applicant for assisted
housing in every state (March 2012)."
However, the Human Rights Campaign states, "The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires grantees and participants of HUD programs to comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity.
HUD also prohibits inquiries regarding the sexual orientation or gender identity of a prospective tenant or applicant for assisted
housing in every state (March 2012)."
Same-sex adoption in Oklahoma is legal.
Current status
Legal
Any adult of at least 21 years of age can adopt. Married couples can adopt jointly. Second parent adoption is also allowed if the couple is married.
Intersex infant surgery in Oklahoma is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
In Oklahoma's ban on gender-affirming care for minors a specific exemption is made for intersex individuals.
Serving openly in military in Oklahoma is lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.
Current status
Since May 6, 2025
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
Midday on May 6th, 2025, the Supreme Court issued an order allowing the Trump administration to enforce its ban on transgender service members while the court reviews their case.
Legal under federal United States law
On the evening of March 18th, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes blocked the implementation of Trump's executive order banning transgender people from the military. The judge said that not only was the order unconstitutional but “a solution in search of a problem.”.
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
On January 27th, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that bans transgender people from serving in the military.
On February 10th, 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth filed in court a memo relating to President Trump’s executive order from the previous month.
From then until March 18th, 2025, The U.S. military prohibited transgender individuals from enlisting and ceased providing or supporting gender transition procedures for service members.
On February 10th, 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth filed in court a memo relating to President Trump’s executive order from the previous month.
From then until March 18th, 2025, The U.S. military prohibited transgender individuals from enlisting and ceased providing or supporting gender transition procedures for service members.
Legal under federal United States law
In 2021, former President Joe Biden removed then-former President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military.
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
The Trump administration enacted a new policy barring individuals with a "condition" known as "gender dysphoria." from serving in the military.
Legal under federal United States law
In 2011, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed by the Obama Administration. Former President Obama allowed members who were dishonorably discharged under DADT, to receive an honorable discharge.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell under federal United States law
Don't Ask, Don't Tell was the historic compromise signed by President Bill Clinton authorizing people who are LGBT to serve in the military provided they didn't disclose sexuality. The law also removed the ability for others in the military from asking for a service member's orientation.
Blood donations by MSMs in Oklahoma is legal.
Current status
Since May 11, 2023
Legal under federal United States law
The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
Banned (less than 6-month deferral) under federal United States law
The FDA announced changes to the blood donor eligibility policy in April 2020, reducing the MSM deferral period from 12 months to 3 months. The change came amid the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, where blood was needed urgently.
Banned (1-year deferral) under federal United States law
After a series of recommendations, the FDA has moved to a 12 months deferral.
Banned (indefinite deferral) under federal United States law
Starting in 1983, the United States implemented a full ban on blood donations from gay men. The primary justification for the ban was the perceived high risk of HIV transmission, with health regulators identifying men who have sex with men (MSM) as a significant risk to the safety of the blood supply.
Conversion therapy in Oklahoma is varies by region.
Current status
Since Jun 10, 2021
Varies by Region
Norman, Oklahoma is the third most populous city in Oklahoma. Concurrently, it is the only region to ban conversion therapy through an ordinance. The Norman City Council voted on Jun 29 2021 unanimously and around 100 citizens joined in support of the initiative.
State law supersedes local laws and the ban is at risk of being rendered defunct if state legislatures were to nullify it's legitimacy.
In 2022, a bill was under consideration to prohibit the restriction of conversion therapy in the state.
State law supersedes local laws and the ban is at risk of being rendered defunct if state legislatures were to nullify it's legitimacy.
In 2022, a bill was under consideration to prohibit the restriction of conversion therapy in the state.
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#167
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