Mauree Turner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mauree Turner
Turner in 2020
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 88th district
In office January 2021 – November 20, 2024
Preceded by	Jason Dunnington
Succeeded by	Ellen Pogemiller
Personal details
Born	Mauree Nivek Rajah Salima Turner 1992 or 1993 (age 31–32) Ardmore, Oklahoma, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	Oklahoma State University

Mauree Turner (born in 1992 or 1993) is an American politician and community organizer. They are a member of the Democratic Party. From 2021 to 2024, they served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Mauree Turner made history as the first openly non-binary person to be a state lawmaker in the U.S. They are also the first Muslim person to serve in the Oklahoma Legislature.

Turner grew up in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Their family had both Muslim and Baptist faiths. They graduated from Ardmore High School and Oklahoma State University. Before becoming a lawmaker, Turner worked to improve the justice system. They also served on the board of the Council on American–Islamic Relations.

Early Life and Education

Mauree Turner grew up in Ardmore, Oklahoma. They went to Ardmore High School. Their family was a mix of Baptist and Muslim faiths. Turner's family sometimes received public help with food. Their father also spent time in prison. After high school, Turner went on to graduate from Oklahoma State University.

Community Work

Before joining the legislature, Mauree Turner was very active in their community. They were a board member for the Council on American–Islamic Relations. This group works to protect the rights of Muslim Americans. Turner also led a program called "Campaigning for Smart Justice." This program was part of the American Civil Liberties Union. It focused on making the justice system fairer. In 2022, Turner joined the board of GLSEN. This organization works to support LGBTQ+ students' rights.

Serving in the Oklahoma House of Representatives

First Term: 2020 Election

In the 2020 elections, Mauree Turner ran for a seat in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. They ran as a Democrat for District 88. This district is in Oklahoma City. Turner's campaign focused on making the justice system better. They also wanted to improve public education and raise the minimum wage.

Turner won the primary election against the person who held the seat before. They were supported by U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar. In the main election, Turner won by a lot against the Republican candidate. They received about 71% of the votes. Other well-known politicians like Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Senator Elizabeth Warren also supported Turner. This election made Turner the first openly non-binary state lawmaker in the U.S. They also became the first Muslim member of the Oklahoma Legislature.

Turner served in the 58th Oklahoma Legislature. During this time, they spoke out against several bills that would make things harder for LGBT people. For example, Turner worked against bills that would stop transgender athletes from playing sports with their gender. Turner has said that the legislature sometimes felt unwelcoming to them. They felt that some lawmakers were not ready to do the real work and acted out of fear or prejudice. None of the fourteen bills Turner suggested were discussed by the Republican-led Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Second Term and Censure

Turner was reelected in the 2022 elections. They then served in the 59th Oklahoma Legislature. In 2023, the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma criticized the Oklahoma House of Representatives. This was because the House did not consider Turner's idea to make the dress code rules gender neutral. On April 3, 2024, Turner announced they would not run for a third term. They shared that this decision was due to health reasons.

House Censure Explained

On February 28, 2023, the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a bill. This bill would stop certain healthcare for transgender young people. During protests that day, something happened with a protester and another representative. The protester was later in Turner's office. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said Turner would not open the office door.

On March 7, the Republican-controlled Oklahoma House voted to officially criticize, or censure, Representative Turner. They were also removed from their committee jobs. This would last until they sent a written apology to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Speaker. Turner said they did nothing wrong. They explained that they offer their office as a safe place for people seeking refuge. They also said they could not apologize for loving the people of Oklahoma.

Democrats in the Oklahoma House criticized the censure. They pointed out that no investigation was done first. They also noted that Turner had not broken any laws. They also mentioned that some Republican members facing serious accusations had not been censured. The New York Times compared Turner's censure to another case. This was when Zooey Zephyr, another transgender state lawmaker, was censured in Montana.

Personal Life

Mauree Turner identifies as queer and non-binary. They use they/them pronouns. In their 2022 re-election campaign, they were supported by the Oklahoma City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.

See also

• List of transgender public officeholders in the United States