We recognize that Oklahoma is the home of 39 tribal nations, and the ancestral home of other tribes who were forcefully removed from this land by the U.S. government. We thank Indigenous communities for being stewards of this land, and we honor the stories and rich histories carried by tribal communities and the land itself. We thank this land for sustaining us, as well as the people who protect the land. We affirm our commitment to nourishing and caring for this land.

We recognize the historical and contemporary erasure of trans women, people who were assigned female at birth, and other women who are not cisgender, from conversations around women’s health. We acknowledge the inherent violence in this erasure. We affirm our commitment to centering the stories and experiences of all of those with historically excluded genders.

We recognize and grieve for the Black women whose bodies were used in medical experimentation throughout history. We grieve for the women who have been forcefully sterilized, including Indigenous women, Black women, and women incarcerated in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers across the country. We grieve for those who have been harmed by medical professionals or institutions, and we call for a more equitable healthcare system that respects the dignity and humanity of all people, especially women.

We recognize that this report is not creating new knowledge, but simply attempting to amplify the work and voices of Black, Indigenous, and women and AFAB people of color. We thank our interviewees for trusting us with their stories, and we honor the brilliance, resilience, and power of women forced into the margins of care across Oklahoma.