GOP Oklahoma lawmaker criticized for transgender comments

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – An Oklahoma lawmaker who helped revive an anti-transgender bill is coming under fire for saying transgender people “have a mental illness.”

Rep. Justin Humphrey made the comment in an email exchange with a woman who was urging him to vote against the bill.

Humphrey defended his comments in an interview Friday with The Associated Press. Oklahoma is one of more than a dozen states where lawmakers are proposing restrictions on athletics or gender-confirming health care for trans minors this year.

Opponents of the bill have expressed concern its passage could lead to the NCAA moving its College Softball World Series from Oklahoma.