South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden today announced he signed into law House Bill 1259, legislation that prohibits trans students from using the communal facilities that match their gender identity at South Dakota public schools, in order to protect the state from a “woke” agenda.
The ACLU of South Dakota opposed House Bill 1259. No matter how lawmakers try to spin it, this bill wasn’t motivated by privacy or safety concerns. It was motivated by ignorance, misinformation and a fear of transgender South Dakotans.
The following statement can be attributed to Samantha Chapman, ACLU of South Dakota advocacy manager:
“All South Dakotans deserve to access the facilities they need, in alignment with their gender identity, without fear of harassment or bullying. It doesn’t infringe on anyone’s rights to share spaces with those who are different. But by signing House Bill 1259 into law, Gov. Rhoden is putting vulnerable trans youth at risk for abuse and harassment. This is a cruel invasion of students’ rights to privacy, which could result in unwarranted governmental disclosures of private, personal information.
“Advocating for the civil rights and civil liberties of some of the most vulnerable people in our state shouldn’t be reduced to a political catchphrase. As the alleged ‘war on woke’ attempts to manipulate trans rights into flashpoints in the larger political discourse, the truth remains unchanged: Attacks on trans rights is an attack on people — their lives, their rights and their freedom to be. These partisan attempts to police bodies so they might adhere to one person’s belief system is not just wrong, it's unlawful.
“The ACLU envisions a world in which all transgender people can live openly, freely and fully without discrimination, harassment or violence. It’s unfortunate that South Dakota lawmakers are actively fighting against that.”
About the ACLU of South Dakota
The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU of South Dakota is part of a three-state chapter that also includes North Dakota and Wyoming. The team in South Dakota is supported by staff in those states.
The ACLU believes freedoms of press, speech, assembly, and religion, and the rights to due process, equal protection and privacy, are fundamental to a free people. In addition, the ACLU seeks to advance constitutional protections for groups traditionally denied their rights, including people of color, women, and the LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit communities. The ACLU of South Dakota carries out its work through selective litigation, lobbying at the state and local level, and through public education and awareness of what the Bill of Rights means for the people of South Dakota.
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