Mauree Turner (1992 - )

Mauree Turner (they/them) represents a historic breakthrough in American public life as the first nonbinary state legislator in U.S. history and the first Muslim lawmaker ever elected in Oklahoma. Turner’s public service is grounded in lived experience: they were raised in an interfaith Baptist–Muslim family that relied on public assistance, and their father’s incarceration shaped their understanding of the legal system.  After graduating from Oklahoma State University, Turner became a voice for criminal justice reform, organizing statewide initiatives for the ACLU and serving on the boards of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and GLSEN, a student rights organization.  Elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives (2021–2024), Turner consistently spoke truth to power, advocating for equitable representation and criminal justice reform that champions vulnerable communities. Their belief in grassroots activism continues with Freedom Oklahoma, the state’s leading LGBTQIA+ advocacy organization. Even while navigating diagnoses of multiple sclerosis and cancer, Turner remains an inspiring advocate for all who value compassionate leadership.