Friday, January 14, 2022

Human Rights Campaign Slams South Dakota Gov. Noem for Releasing Hateful, Inflammatory National Ad To Kick Off Discriminatory State Legislative Session

Today, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem released a national TV ad in support of her discriminatory sports ban bill, SB 46, which would prohibit transgender women and girls from playing sports consistent with their gender identity. In the ad, Noem suggests that transgender girls are not girls, as she amplifies her attacks on transgender kids. South Dakota has already introduced three anti-transgender bills early in the 2022 state legislative session, including two anti-trans sports bans and one bill that would prohibit transgender students from using locker rooms consistent with their gender identity. 

Human Rights Campaign Interim President Joni Madison issued the following statement in reaction to this TV ad:

“This ad is not just discriminatory, it erases transgender people and dehumanizes them, putting a target on the back of an already vulnerable community. Doing so on a national stage — in a brazen attempt to score political points with her base — makes these attacks especially egregious. In fact, it’s South Dakota’s women and girls that Governor Noem is attacking. Prohibiting transgender girls from participating in school athletics alongside their peers is a radical political talking point — one that Noem is using to advance her national political ambitions, but which does not serve South Dakota’s best interests. At stake is the safety of transgender young people, who are facing increased discrimination in their communities, last year leading to the highest incidence of fatal violence against transgender and gender non-binary people on record. Noem’s ad resorts to attacking children in service of a divisive and discriminatory political agenda. Every child deserves to be lifted up and supported by their leaders and their government, not targeted and dehumanized. Legislators must reject this divisive bill to avoid tarnishing South Dakota’s reputation and hurting kids in service of Governor Noem’s selfish political gamesmanship.”