Emily Virgin
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Emily Virgin
| image = Virgin, Emily (1).jpg
| office = Minority Leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
| term_start = November 15, 2018
| term_end = November 16, 2022
| predecessor = Steve Kouplen
| successor = Cyndi Munson
| state_house1 = Oklahoma
| district1 = 44th
| term_start1 = November 17, 2010
| term_end1 = November 16, 2022
| predecessor1 = Bill Nations
| successor1 = Jared Deck
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|10|1}}
| birth_place = Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| education = University of Oklahoma (BA, JD)
}}
Emily Virgin (born October 1, 1986) is an American politician who was the Minority Leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2018 to 2022. She previously served as House Democratic Caucus Chair. She was first elected in 2010 at the age of 24 and represents the 44th district, which includes Norman, Oklahoma. Virgin retired from the Oklahoma House at end of 2022 due to term limits.
Education
Virgin completed an undergraduate degree in criminology and political science at the University of Oklahoma in 2009. Virgin was elected to the House while attending law school at the University of Oklahoma, from which she earned her J.D. in 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/125175/emily-virgin|title=Emily Virgin's Biography|website=Vote Smart|language=en-US|access-date=June 3, 2017}}
Political career
In 2010, she won election to the House against Mike Hunt, a self-employed lawn care professional. At the time she was the youngest representative in the Democratic caucus, at 24 years old, although two younger Republicans were elected that same year.{{Cite news|url=http://www.news9.com/story/13442352/oklahomans-elect-3-lawmakers-under-25-years-old|title=Oklahomans Elect 3 Lawmakers Under 25-Years-Old|last=Surette|first=Rusty|date=November 3, 2010|work=KWTV|access-date=June 4, 2017|language=en}} She campaigned on improving education in Oklahoma and fighting education cuts.{{cite news|url=http://www.oudaily.com/news/2011/jan/31/education-tops-list-rep-emily-virgin/|title=Education tops list for Rep. Emily Virgin|last=Ellisor|first=Laney|date=January 31, 2011|access-date=June 3, 2017|newspaper=The Oklahoma Daily|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224111650/http://www.oudaily.com/news/2011/jan/31/education-tops-list-rep-emily-virgin/|archive-date=December 24, 2013}}{{Cite web|url=http://okgazette.com/2010/10/28/emily-virgin-and-Mike-hunt-face-off-for-a-chance-to-represent-norman-in-the-state-house/|title=Emily Virgin and Mike Hunt face off for a chance to represent Norman in the state House|last=Manwarren|first=LeighAnne|date=October 28, 2010|website=Oklahoma Gazette|access-date=June 3, 2017}}{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
In 2015, the Oklahoma Legislature considered a religious freedom bill that would allow businesses to refuse services to individuals based on the business owner's religious beliefs, mainly in reference to bakers and photographers opposed to same-sex marriage. Virgin gained notice for proposing an amendment that would require the businesses to publicly post a notice specifying what classes of patrons they would refuse services to, in an attempt to derail the bill.{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/12/oklahoma-discrimination-businesses-amendment_n_6859256.html|title=Oklahoma Rep. Emily Virgin Suggests Businesses Post Notice Before Discriminating Against Patrons|last=Wong|first=Curtis M.|date=March 12, 2015|work=Huffington Post|access-date=June 3, 2017|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/70597-oklahoma-rep-emily-virgins-amendment-to-anti-gay-bill-is-a-clever-way-to-stop-the-legislation|title=Oklahoma Rep. Emily Virgin's Amendment To Anti-Gay Bill Is A Clever Way To Stop The Legislation From Passing|last=Bufkin|first=Sarah|date=March 18, 2015|work=Bustle|access-date=June 3, 2017}} The bill stalled the following week.{{Cite news|url=http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/%E2%80%98religious-freedom%E2%80%99-bill-ditched-after-amendment-added-prevent-gay-couples-being-humiliated1/|title='Religious freedom' bill ditched after amendment is added to prevent gay couples being humiliated|last=Hudson|first=David|date=March 13, 2015|work=Gay Star News|access-date=June 3, 2017|language=en-GB}}
In May 2017, Virgin was elected House Democratic Caucus Chair; her term was to start the following year.{{Cite news|url=http://www.normantranscript.com/news/rep-emily-virgin-named-caucus-chair-elect/article_bf643e82-35ca-11e7-a346-3f5ee3536cc1.html|title=Rep. Emily Virgin named Caucus Chair-Elect|date=May 10, 2017|work=Norman Transcript|access-date=June 3, 2017|language=en}} As of 2017, Virgin is on the Appropriations and Budget Committee, Higher Education and Career Tech Committee, Judiciary – Civil and Environmental Committee, and Public Safety Committee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.okhouse.gov/District.aspx?District=44|title=Representative Emily Virgin, District 44|website=Oklahoma State Legislature|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428182110/https://www.okhouse.gov/District.aspx?District=44|archive-date=April 28, 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=June 3, 2017}}
On November 15, 2018, Virgin was named the Minority Leader for the Oklahoma House of Representatives, succeeding Steve Kouplen.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=125175 | fec= | congress= }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20131224111635/http://www.okhouse.gov/District.aspx?District=44 Legislative page]
- {{Twitter}}
- [http://oklahomawatch.org/2016/09/19/conversation-being-a-woman-in-the-legislature/ A video interview with Virgin]
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-ok-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Steve Kouplen}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minority Leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives|years=2018–2022}}
{{s-aft|after=Cyndi Munson}}
{{s-end}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Virgin, Emily}}
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:21st-century members of the Oklahoma Legislature
Category:Democratic Party members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Category:People from Norman, Oklahoma