Republican South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard just vetoed a bill that would’ve restricted transgender students from accessing the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity – though he’s not exactly waving the rainbow flag for LGBT rights.
As The New York Times reports, the bill “appeared to conflict with the Obama administration’s interpretation of federal civil rights law and seemed likely to be headed for a court challenge.”
Apparently, Daugaard would rather not even bother, instead leaving the issue to be dealt with on the local level. In a statement, he said:
“If and when these rare situations arise, I believe local school officials are best positioned to address them. Instead of encouraging local solutions, this bill broadly regulates in a manner that invites conflict and litigation, diverting energy and resources from the education of the children of this state.”
His response seems sensible and appropriate to us, and trans South Dakota high school student Thomas Lewis agreed:
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
“Now the state also realizes that I’m a human being, too. Now there’s less fear for trans people to come out because no one’s going to prevent them from using the bathroom.”
You know, it’s almost as if this Republican Governor stayed true to traditional conservative ideas about smaller government instead of the more recent ones that seem to be all about racism, homophobia, and fear-mongering.
Imagine that.
Ralph Vendegna
Idiot.
Alistair Wiseman
As opposed to a Democratic governor that is all about pandering, victimhood and a larger and larger government.
Ummmm Yeah
Because women and girls have no rights. Only men who don’t want their penises have women’s rights and can dicated what is a woman and how they should feel and who they should have to expose their bodies to.
Daniel-Reader
Wow… good for him for vetoing legislation that targets people for discrimination. None of the scaremongering about transgender people has come to pass, just like none of the scaremongering about gay people – which was the early tactic of the haters opposing human rights protection for gay people (and for women, and for people of other races, and for religious minorities). I understand why it is important to have solidarity with trans folk who just want to live their lives.
Billysees
@Daniel-Reader:
” Wow… good for him for vetoing legislation that targets people for discrimination. ”
” I understand why it is important to have solidarity with trans folk who just want to live their lives. ”
Good comments. The whole comment is really good.
1EqualityUSA
Alistair, Never did our government become larger than under W. You are so full of corn and so bitter.