Political Talk: The Transgender Bathroom Bill
The top news stories of the week:
- Trumps travel ban.
- Supreme Court decides to let the lower courts choose their own verdicts on the transgender bathroom bill issue.
- Identity Evropa, a white Nationalists group, has posters showing up on college campuses across the state.
- South Dakota lawmakers approved a bill that would allow people to carry concealed handguns without a permit.
The transgender bathroom bill [HB1008 and SB115] was proposed in order to have restricted access to school locker rooms and restrooms to students of the same biological sex. Governor Daugaard vetoed the bill.
“I want to encourage people to keep their hopes up” says Adam Jorgenson, Vice-President at the Center for Equality in Sioux Falls. “We [Center for Equality] is here for everybody LGBTQ and everyone inbetween.”
“Local school districts can, and have, made necessary restroom and locker room accommodations that serve the best interests of all students, regardless of biological sex or gender identity,” Daugaard says (CNN).
Adam shares his insights in how it is being LGBTQ in a Conservative state, such as, South Dakota and how we can begin to work together to view how both sides have a point.
“We do feel that we are losing ground [in the state], which is discouraging, but I want to encourage people to keep their hopes up. There are people fighting for them out there.” said Jorgenson.
“These two sides just need to come together and talk more. You just need to put a face to the issue. This bill was struck down immediately and why HB1008 was vetoed, was because Governor Daugaard met transgendered people… so I believe doing that puts both sides at ease.”
Since both these bills have been shut down there is hope that we can find common ground going forward. If you want to contact the Center for Equality their website is http://thecenterforequality.org/.
Story by Jill Langland, Emma Trittin, & Hailey Schmidt
