Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore, and Rep. John Bennett, R-Sallisaw, are the authors of that measure.

“Oklahomans are simply not going to stand for this utter nonsense,” Bennett said in a news release regarding the directive. “Our phones and emails are being flooded by citizens who are enraged by this President’s attempt to use our children as pawns in a liberal agenda.

“This directive is Biblically wrong, a violation of our state’s sovereignty and it is a serious public safety issue.”

In addition, lawmakers will do everything they can to protect “our women and children,” Bennett said.

Toby Jenkins, executive director of the Tulsa-based Oklahomans for Equality, said the bill claiming to be in defiance of the federal directive actually complies with the best practices recommended by the U.S. Department of Education, which respects peoples’ rights to privacy but also accommodates the rights of transgender students.

“Had they paid closer attention to the recommendations, this would have saved them a lot of time, and oddly enough they would have found themselves agreeing with the president,” Jenkins said.