State of Oklahoma Archives: on Families & Children


Josh Breechen: Allow religious discrimination by child welfare agencies

Legislative Summary: SB1140: Children; prohibiting requirement for private agencies to participate in certain placements; prohibiting certain actions based on religious or moral convictions.

Human Rights Campaign analysis:  HRC condemned a bill that would allow child welfare organizations--including adoption and foster care agencies--to turn away qualified Oklahomans seeking to care for a child in need, including LGBTQ couples, interfaith couples, single parents, married couples in which one prospective parent has previously been divorced, or other parents to whom the agency has a religious objection.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 33-7-7 on May/3/18; State Sen. Josh Breechen voted YES; Passed House 56-21-23 on May/3/18; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/11/18

Source: Human Rights Campaign on Oklahoma SB1140 voting records May 3, 2018

Brad Henry: Family anchors us and reminds us of what is truly important

We gather in this historic chamber as men and women of different backgrounds, different hometowns, and different points of view--yet, we are bonded by a common commitment to serve the great people of Oklahoma.

We shoulder tremendous responsibilities: to build a first-class education system; to cultivate economic opportunity; to ensure affordable, accessible health care; to nurture a society in which families and individuals can live in safety, peace and prosperity.

The journey toward these goals requires a compass to keep us on a steady course. I am grateful for my own compass: my faithful family. Family anchors us and reminds us of what is truly important and why we chose a path of public service.

Source: 2009 State of the State address to Oklahoma legislature Mar 2, 2009

Ervin Yen: Has pressed for increasing vaccinations of school children

Yen said his opposition to the medical marijuana issue and his support of childhood vaccinations "could have been factors" in his defeat. "I wouldn't be surprised if they were." Yen has pressed continuously for increasing vaccinations of school children in Oklahoma.
Source: OKC Friday on 2022 Oklahoma gubernatorial race Jul 6, 2018

Ervin Yen: Allow religious discrimination by child welfare agencies

Legislative Summary: SB1140: Children; prohibiting requirement for private agencies to participate in certain placements; prohibiting certain actions based on religious or moral convictions.

Human Rights Campaign analysis: HRC condemned a bill that would allow child welfare organizations--including adoption and foster care agencies--to turn away qualified Oklahomans seeking to care for a child in need, including LGBTQ couples, interfaith couples, single parents, married couples in which one prospective parent has previously been divorced, or other parents to whom the agency has a religious objection.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 33-7-7 on May/3/18; State Sen. Ervin Yen voted YES; Passed House 56-21-23 on May/3/18; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/11/18

Source: Human Rights Campaign on Oklahoma SB1140 voting records May 3, 2018

Kevin Stitt: Vaccination should be between a parent & their pediatrician

Much of the debated focused on how the candidates would manage the executive branch, oversee the budgeting process and approach specific policy issues. But it also waded into social issues, including abortion, parental rights and gun control. Neither candidate, however, seemed to want to press these issues as campaign focal points.

Stitt refused to say whether he would apply a litmus test for any state Supreme Court pick to ensure they would support laws that rein in abortions.

Responding to a question on media coverage suggesting he opposed immunizations for children, Stitt said he and his wife had all their children vaccinated and that he doesn't intend to overhaul any state laws. "All I've said is that vaccination should be between a parent and their pediatrician," he said. "I don't support changing any law whatsoever and I have the same opinion as my opponent."

Source: KGOU (NPR) on 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial debate Sep 25, 2018

Kevin Stitt: We know God gave kids to parents--not the government!

In Oklahoma, we listen to parents, because we know God gave kids to parents--not the government! We expanded the equal opportunity scholarship to provide more choices for low and middle income families. We know education is not one-size-fits-all, and I pledge to support any legislation that gives parents more school choice, because in Oklahoma, we need to fund students, not systems!
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Oklahoma legislature Feb 7, 2022

Mary Fallin: Disallow adoptions in LGBT homes

Oklahoma's Republican Governor Mary Fallin signed abnill that permits religious organizations to exclude same sex couples from adoptions, angering gay rights groups, who said it was a license to discriminate against gays and lesbians.

The bill written by Republican Sen. Greg Treat provides legal protections to faith-based agencies that won't place children in LGBT homes because of religious or moral convictions or policies. Fallin's action drew support from Oklahoma's Catholic bishops. "The new law will bring more adoption services to the state and allow crucial faith-based agencies to continue their decades-long tradition of caring for Oklahoma's most vulnerable children," the bishops said in a statement.

The adoption law goes into effect Nov. 1.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle on 2018 Oklahoma governor race May 12, 2018

Mary Fallin: Allow religious discrimination by child welfare agencies

Legislative Summary: SB1140: Children; prohibiting requirement for private agencies to participate in certain placements; prohibiting certain actions based on religious or moral convictions.

Human Rights Campaign analysis: HRC condemned a bill that would allow child welfare organizations--including adoption and foster care agencies--to turn away qualified Oklahomans seeking to care for a child in need, including LGBTQ couples, interfaith couples, single parents, married couples in which one prospective parent has previously been divorced, or other parents to whom the agency has a religious objection.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 33-7-7 on May/3/18; Passed House 56-21-23 on May/3/18; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/11/18

Source: Human Rights Campaign on Oklahoma SB1140 voting records May 11, 2018

Scott Inman: Against religious discrimination by child welfare agencies

Legislative Summary: SB1140: Children; prohibiting requirement for private agencies to participate in certain placements; prohibiting certain actions based on religious or moral convictions.

Human Rights Campaign analysis: HRC condemned a bill that would allow child welfare organizations--including adoption and foster care agencies--to turn away qualified Oklahomans seeking to care for a child in need, including LGBTQ couples, interfaith couples, single parents, married couples in which one prospective parent has previously been divorced, or other parents to whom the agency has a religious objection.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 33-7-7 on May/3/18; Passed House 56-21-23 on May/3/18; State Rep. Scott Inman voted NO; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/11/18

Source: Human Rights Campaign on Oklahoma SB1140 voting records May 3, 2018

T.W. Shannon: Use TANF funds to publicize benefits of marriage

Everyone's talking about marriage this week. So it's hard to blame speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives T. W. Shannon for wanting to get in on the action with a bill to divert federal funds for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to fund a series of public service announcements touting the benefits of marriage to single parents.

House Bill 1908, authored by House Speaker T.W. Shannon, would take money designated to help needy families and divert it to a campaign promoting marriage. The bill passed the House and was sent to the Senate this week.

The bill, if it becomes law, would create a public service campaign as part of the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative and utilize federal TANF funds, to promote marriage as a tool against poverty.

TANF--Temporary Assistance for Needy Families--was designed to help low-income families on a temporary basis. The bill would take funds from families and put it into advertising telling single parents the benefits of marriage.

Source: The Bilerico Project on 2014 Oklahoma Senate race Mar 29, 2013

Kevin Stitt: Ban all gender transition surgeries & therapies for minors

We must protect our most vulnerable - our children. After all minors can't vote, can't purchase alcohol, can't purchase cigarettes… We shouldn't allow a minor to get a permanent gender altering surgery in Oklahoma. That's why I am calling on the Legislature to send me a bill that bans all gender transition surgeries and hormone therapies on minors in the state!
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Oklahoma legislature Feb 6, 2023

Nathan Dahm: Allow religious discrimination by child welfare agencies

Legislative Summary:SB1140: Children; prohibiting requirement for private agencies to participate in certain placements; prohibiting certain actions based on religious or moral convictions.

Human Rights Campaign analysis: HRC condemned a bill that would allow child welfare organizations--including adoption and foster care agencies--to turn away qualified Oklahomans seeking to care for a child in need, including LGBTQ couples, interfaith couples, single parents, married couples in which one prospective parent has previously been divorced, or other parents to whom the agency has a religious objection.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 33-7-7 on May/3/18; State Sen. Nathan Dahm voted YES; Passed House 56-21-23 on May/3/18; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/11/18

Source: Human Rights Campaign on Oklahoma SB1140 voting records May 3, 2018

  • The above quotations are from State of Oklahoma Politicians: Archives.
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Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026