Fighting Back With Information: All Rise! and Oklahomans for Equality Team Up to Bring Valuable Legal Insights and Vital Resources to a 2SLGBTQIA+ Community Under Attack

As the Social Terrain of the United States continues to shift at the federal, state, and local levels, 2SLGBTQIA+ attorneys in Oklahoma are fighting back against authoritarianism with information. Recently, All Rise! Founder & Attorney, Jeremy Otis, and All Rise! Legal Intern, Jesse Leaneagh, were asked to lead the charge in that fight. Jesse Leaneagh, in particular, has devoted an overwhelming amount of time and energy to this project, and All Rise! continues to be extremely impressedwith his willingness to give back to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community (while completing his final year at the University of Tulsa College of Law and while working another internship in immigration law at Latitude Legal Alliance). 

Jeremy Otis and Jesse Leaneagh were honored to be chosen by the Allied Attorney Group at Oklahomans for Equality to compile a list of Post-Election Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for 2SLGBTQIA+ folks living and surviving the Trump and Stitt administrations in Oklahoma. There is so much at stake, politically, but the most important thing our community can do right now is integrate, insulate, and inform. Our state legislators are positively GIDDY for the opportunity to oppress their 2SLGBTQIA+ constituents, especially Okies who identify as transgender. AllRise! will not stand idly by and allow these prejudiced politicians to be the only voice in the room. We are here, we are queer, and we are LOUD. 

In addressing the most pressing issues for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Oklahoma, All Rise! was asked to tackle the following issues: gender-affirming healthcare; housing discrimination; labor discrimination; risks to same-sex marriage; gender markers on official government documents; etc. In answering these extremely important questions, Jeremy and Jesse and the rest of the OKEQ Allied AttorneyGroup have attempted to provide as many educational resources possible.However, the document is, unfortunately, doomed to change. As our community is acutely aware, Trump's attacks on American values are relentless, to say the least. The situation changes daily, literally at the whims of a damn-near unstoppable authoritarian force. Jeremy, Jesse, and All Rise! have made a solemn pledge to Oklahomans for Equality to continue updating thesePost-Election FAQs as often as we possibly can, so that you have access to the most up-to-date information and resources. 

It's important to remember that All Rise!, like you, has absolutely no idea what is going to happen next. For that reason, alone, these Post-Election FAQs simply cannot substitute for individually tailored legal advice. However, we hope the document can provide general guidance for 2SLGBTQIA+ Okies who are in desperate need of some direction and insight. 

Stay strong, Oklahoma, and spread the word!

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