Oregon Mental Health Advisory Board Member Identifies as a Turtle; Uses ‘They, Them Turtle’ Pronouns

An Oregon mental health advisory board includes a member who identifies as turtle.

JD Holt, who goes by the name JD Terrapin on Facebook, advises Oregon’s Health Authority Council (OHA) on best practices and policies in mental health.

Holt allegedly identifies as a terrapin and uses “they, them and turtle” for her pronouns.

Despite this glaring defect, Holt is one of roughly two dozen consumer experts on the OHA panel, where she helps advise the state on mental health services.

Members of the council, according to Fox News, are appointed by OHA Director Dr. Sejal Hathi, who was appointed by Gov. Tina Kotek (D.).

“Hello everybody, it’s JD. I use they, them and turtle for my pronouns. I’m in the Springfield-Eugene area and I get to be part of the council,” Holt said during a Dec. 20 virtual OCAC meeting.

During a Dec. 17 meeting, another OHA member introduced themselves as “Luke A Shooting Star.”

In a statement to Fox News Digital, OHA said that every member of the council and their perspectives “are highly valued.”

“In following Oregon statute, every member of the Oregon Consumer Advisory Council is someone with lived experience, bring [sic] the voice and experiences of people across the state that have experienced behavioral health challenges,” said OHA spokesperson Amber Shoebridge.

In response to Fox’s query about how OHA Director Hathi goes about appointing members of the committee, Shoebridge said it was determined by seven permanent members of the council.

Shoebridge added that those selected “represent independent, consumer-run organizations, consumer-run advocacy organizations and consumer-operated advisory councils that are active or headquartered in this state.”