South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem indicated she plans to sign a bill passed by the state legislature that would ban transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports.
“In South Dakota, we’re celebrating #InternationalWomensDay by defending women’s sports,” Noem said on Twitter shortly after the bill passed. “I’m excited to sign this bill very soon.”
In South Dakota, we’re celebrating #InternationalWomensDay by defending women’s sports! I’m excited to sign this bill very soon. https://t.co/OU15HOwp2r
— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) March 8, 2021
Supporters of the bill promoted it as a way to “promote fairness in women’s sports,” but not all Republicans in the state were behind the measure.
Republican state Sen. V.J. Smith called the bill a “political statement,” warning that any rules made by the state will likely have to be settled in federal court as multiple other states consider similar legislation.
STATES SET FOR CLASH WITH BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OVER TRANSGENDER ATHLETES
“The decision is going to be made in federal court,” said Smith. “It’s not going to be made in the state senate of South Dakota.”
A Republican-controlled Senate committee rejected the bill last week, saying that it could lead to unintended consequences including the NCAA barring the state from hosting tournaments, legal challenges it could potentially open the state up to, and the possible administrative challenges of requiring birth certificates to prove eligibility to participate in girls sports.
But other Republicans revived the bill on the Senate floor and passed it on the last day of the legislative session, arguing it was a crucial step to protect girls’ sports.
“My heart breaks for future generations. The decision you make today will affect future generations,” said Republican state Sen. Maggie Sutton, who sponsored the bill. “I’m asking you today to protect women’s sports.”
The governing body of the state’s high school athletic programs opposed the legislation, saying its current policy of evaluating transgender girls participating in sports on a case-by-case basis provides fair results.
The Human Rights Commission slammed Noem for supporting the bill.
“Trans girls and their families are your constituents,” the HRC said. “You are using your power to exclude kids and make them feel less than, and that is nothing to be proud of.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The American Civil Liberties Union also opposed the bill and accused Republicans of “erasing and excluding trans people from participation in all aspects of public life.”
