By: Chelsea Gilbertson, ACLU Intern
On Saturday, the ACLU of South Dakota team was on hand for the 2015 Sioux Falls Pride festival, hosted by The Center for Equality. Our booth welcomed festivalgoers with stickers, buttons, Know Your Rights pamphlets, and the infamous PRIDE frame. We had a blast celebrating love, equality, and the Sioux Falls area LGBT community!
In addition to being a part of our local PRIDE celebrations, the ACLU has a long history of defending the rights of the LGBT community on a local and national level. Some examples of our recent work include:
- “Hello, my name is NOT ‘Gaytard.’ How may I help you?” – ACLU represented a South Dakota teen who faced discrimination at the hands of his employer.
- Marriage Equality: We're working nationally to ensure that same-sex couples in all 50 states have the right to get married and have their marriages recognized in whichever state they live.
- LGBT Youth Issues: We work with communities in search of establishing welcoming environments for LGBT and transgender youth.
The ACLU looks forward to the continued participation in the PRIDE festival, as well as to the progress we seek to make in South Dakota.
And don’t forget: The U.S. Supreme Court decision on the freedom to marry is expected on Monday. Visit us on our Facebook and Twitter pages for important updates!
