South Dakota Lawmakers Fail to Override Gov. Noem’s Veto of House Bill 1217

A bill that would ban transgender women and girls from competing on sports teams that match their gender identity won’t be signed into law.

The ACLU of South Dakota opposed House Bill 1217, a legislative attack on transgender women and girls and violates both the United States Constitution and Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, which protects all students – including those who are transgender – from discrimination based on sex.

The following statement can be attributed to Jett Jonelis, ACLU of South Dakota advocacy manager:

“House Bill 1217 was never about leveling the playing field for student athletes. It was obvious from the beginning that this discriminatory legislation was about creating solutions to problems that don’t exist and, in the process, harming some of the most vulnerable people in our state,” said Jett Jonelis, ACLU of South Dakota advocacy manager. “Nobody wins when politicians try to meddle in people’s lives like this. Nobody wins when we try to codify discrimination like this. We’re thrilled with the decision by South Dakota lawmakers to kill this bill.”