the actions of the board violate Oklahoma Law and deny these students’ civil rights. This is also a direct violation of the Oklahoma Parents’ Bill of Rights.
The Oklahoma Equality Law Center along with the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice jointly filed suit against State Superintendent Ryan Walters and the entire State Board of Education, on behalf of a student for the violation of the Oklahoma Administrative Procedures Act, violation of their rights under the Equal Protection clause of the Oklahoma Federal Constitutions, for gender discrimination under Title IX, and for a violation of the Oklahoma Parents’ Bill of Rights.
“Administrative overreach and interference from the state as it relates to raising children in Oklahoma must stop,” said the Executive Director of Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice. “This lawsuit sends a strong message that Oklahomans will not tolerate the government interfering with their private family affairs. Parents know what's best for their kids, and we are willing to stand up for that bedrock principle.”
In fact, the actions of the board violate Oklahoma Law and deny these students’ civil rights. This is also a direct violation of the Oklahoma Parents’ Bill of Rights.
The founder of the Oklahoma Equality Law Center noted: “This should concern all parents and all Oklahomans. If Ryan Walters can succeed in removing the rights of parents in this family, there will be no safeguards against doing so against any Oklahoma parent.”
Leslie Briggs, Legal Director of Oklahoma Appleseed Center stated: “When we talk about parents’ rights, we are talking about all parents. We can’t decide that we only want to protect certain ones.
That is discrimination under the law and an intentional exclusion of some of the most vulnerable students in Oklahoma. He finalized by saying that: “Schools should be safe and affirming for all Oklahoma students and our intention with this lawsuit is to ensure inclusion, fairness, and equality are priorities for the government of Oklahoma.”