Crisis calls from LGBTQ+ youth in Oklahoma have dropped sharply since Ryan Walters announced his resignation as state superintendent. The Rainbow Youth Project reported a 36% decline in calls — from an average of 1,431 per month to 914 in the 30 days following his exit. Lance Preston, executive director of Rainbow Youth Project, said “the relief expressed by callers is palpable,” noting a clear shift in the mental health landscape for queer and trans youth. During his tenure, the Rainbow Youth Project revealed Walters was a frequently cited source of distress by nearly two-thirds of Oklahoma callers. While in office Walters repeatedly portrayed queer and transgender students as threats to education. He fought to remove Pride flags from classrooms, supported banning transgender girls from school sports, and sought to introduce the Bible as a required text in every public school. #Oklahoma #RyanWalters #USPolitics #education #LGBTQIA #transgender