One month after signing an anti-LGBTQ law that bans trans kids from playing on school sports teams that match their gender identity, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has signed a racist law that bans state universities from using “divisive” educational materials that might cause “discomfort” among students.
Related: Kristi Noem says she has no idea why LGBTQ people might be depressed
In a statement issued yesterday, Noem said, “No student or teacher should have to endorse Critical Race Theory in order to attend, graduate from, or teach at our public universities. College should remain a place where freedom of thought and expression are encouraged, not stifled by political agendas.”
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.
The new law lists seven “divisive concepts” that are now outlawed from being included in mandatory trainings for college students or faculty members at public universities in South Dakota:
- That any race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin is inherently superior or inferior;
- That individuals should be discriminated against or adversely treated because of their race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin;
- That an individual’s moral character is inherently determined by their race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin;
- That an individual, by virtue of their race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or subconsciously;
- That individuals, by virtue of race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin, are inherently responsible for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin;
- An individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of the individual’s race, color, religion, ethnicity, or national origin; or
- Meritocracy or traits such as a strong work ethic are racist or sexist or were created by members of a particular race or sex to oppress members of another race or sex.
Noem joins two other Republican governors who have signed similar legislation in their states: Glenn Youngkin of Virginia and Ron DeSantis of Florida, who is currently mulling over whether to sign that homophobic “Don’t Say Gay” bill into law as well. Coincidentally, all three are rumored to be considering 2024 presidential runs.
Related: Ron DeSantis just reminded everyone he’s a pile of homophobic garbage, in case anyone forgot
But the GOP’s assault on education and teaching tolerance and acceptance in public schools and universities doesn’t stop there. All across the country, Republican lawmakers have been working to ban books that deal with LGBTQ issues from libraries.
Last week in Texas, 26 Republicans signed a statement calling the graphic novel “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe “pornography” and demanding school districts do a better job filtering out “explicit materials for children.” And last month in Tennessee, the state’s Republican supermajority introduced legislation that would criminally charge librarians if they provide access to “pornography and inappropriate content in books” to kids.
Related: The 10 best banned queer books worth adding to your library
Continuing with her crusade of bigotry, the other day, Noem tweeted about that transphobic bill she signed into law last month, writing: “In South Dakota, we believe in protecting women’s sports. That’s why as Governor, I signed the strongest bill in the nation to defend fairness in women’s sports. If our national leaders truly cared about equality, men would not be competing with women in women’s sports.”
In South Dakota, we believe in protecting women’s sports.
That’s why as Governor, I signed the strongest bill in the nation
to defend fairness in women’s sports.If our national leaders truly cared about equality, men would not be competing with women in women’s sports.
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) March 18, 2022
Now, some responses…
Noem – “We should figure out why depression is so high for trans-youth”
Also Noem – Calls trans-women “men” pic.twitter.com/htUXHEE7GC
— DustyBookKeeper (@DustyKeeper) March 18, 2022
Its not about sports,its about the rights of transgender people,
We all know it.— mato iyotakiye (@iyotakiye) March 18, 2022
Truly the dilemma of our times! I’m glad you spent your time in power solving it! /s
— Paul Vogl (@PaulVogl) March 18, 2022
If you really believe in protecting women’s sports you would ensure women’s sports have the same resources as men’s sports.
— Jennifer Selken (@selkenjr) March 19, 2022
There has only been one transgender girl compete in high school sports in SD the past 10 years. One. And your HS Athletics Association says she didn’t have an unfair advantage.
Just more far right base pandering.
— Clark (@Clark408) March 18, 2022
Protecting the sport? Why don’t you get onboard with protecting women?
— Liti 🌻💙 💛 (@TeriCAdams) March 18, 2022
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
ZzBomb
And these midwestern fly over states continue to wonder why no one moves there and their economies are perpetually in the gutter? But by all means continue to write laws for problems that don’t exist since CRT isn’t even a college level ELECTIVE course.
SamB
There is LITERALLY drawings of gay oral sex in the graphic novel. P@nis in mouth. Is that for kids?
Cam
The right wing hate account will ALWAYS come in to defend bigotry and hate.
Your trolling is sad and weak.
SamB
Cam: Good to know you in favor of ped*phelia. Now I understand your other irrational arguments.
Eternal.Cowboy
All I got from that is you haven’t seen the picture that you are referencing or you don’t know the difference between human anatomy and a sex toy.
Anyway, and this is really easy. Not all depictions of sex are pornographic. Declaring “Gender Queer: A Memoir” pornography is absolutely laughable.
Further, to get to your pearl clutching level of hysterical you have to intentionally use the word “children” to make it sound like the graphic novel was being handed out in kindergarten. I have read the novel, which you haven’t. I have a child, just turned 17, which you don’t. I can say with all confidence that there is nothing in the novel that I would be concerned about my kid seeing and it is totally age appropriate for kids in high school. I also let my kid read Maus which is another one that has conservatives all up in arms because it has mouse peens in it. Which is also laughable to anyone that has read Maus. I can’t remember who said it but they hit the nail on the head with something to effect of “”There’s only one kind of people who would vote to ban Maus, whatever they are calling themselves these days..”
SamB
Cowboy: 17? Sure. 4? no. 8? no. That book was in middle school. You think it’s appropriate for kids in middle school to see that?
Eternal.Cowboy
@SamB
It is truly astounding how you will say things that are false, ignore that you have said them and carry on as if you retain some level of credibility in the conversation.
Why would I take your question seriously? The ease at which you have lied about the content is pretty good indication that you don’t know or care about what is actually in it. This isn’t about a book or whom it is appropriate for. This is about you pushing your politics at any cost, truth be damned.
SamB
Cowboy: I told you where I got my info. I’m not going to line up all my proof here for you because this isn’t the forum. You can choose to ignore what I gave you but to say that it’s nothing is just an attempt to nullify it without performing any investigation on your own. That’s pretty typical of your side… you demand PROOF. dismiss it when it’s provided and say it’s not ENOUGH proof… you need it all laid out for you. That way you can sit in ignorance and feel superior. Truth be damned!
Eternal.Cowboy
SamB –
So, I said your description of the content of the book was inaccurate and It is, for a couple of reasons. The website may be acting up but I am not seeing a post where you said anything about where you got that information from. All I see is you sidestepping the fact that you don’t actually know what the content is and just moving on to middle school kids.
So based on what I am seeing your most recent comment doesn’t make a whole lot of sene. It looks like it is entirely in reference to thread in the Jim Jordan story. Perhaps you posted that in the wrong story?
Jaquelope
E.C. Thank you for that comment about Sam B. not providing anything to prove he was right, because I never saw anything to prove it, either. Could it be that he could find no proof as he claimed he had, and took the, “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullsh!t.” line of thinking, but wasn’t able to baffle everyone.
As Cam is fond of saying, their troll game is sad and weak.
SamB
Cowboy: you saw the drawing. It’s a fake p@nis strapped onto a person and being s@cked by someone else. The fact that it’s a strap on makes it ok for 4 year old kids? Do you think it’s appropriate to show 4 year old kids s@x toys? You and Cam seem to have a soft spot for adults teaching kids about s@x at an inappropriate age. So do many on here, it seems. I would like a kid to just be a kid in middle school
Eternal.Cowboy
Yes, unlike you, I saw it before commenting. Which is how I knew you comment was incorrect. So, we have established that you started this discussion with incorrect information. You latest rant is so bonkers I’m not even sure what to do with it. So let’s try to break it down.
“ The fact that it’s a strap on makes it ok for 4 year old kids? ”
I never claimed it was suitable for 4 year olds and haven’t seen where anyone suggested that was the case.
“ Do you think it’s appropriate to show 4 year old kids s@x toys? ”
No, nor did I say anting that would suggest I did.
“You and Cam seem to have a soft spot for adults teaching kids about s@x at an inappropriate age.”
Strange accusations. I have said nothing about adults teaching kids about sex not at which age it should happen. So this is another case of you making up what you want to believe.
“I would like a kid to just be a kid in middle school”
This one is really weird. After you strange preoccupation with 4 year olds you say middle school kids. Four year olds don’t go to middle school. They aren’t even in kindergarten.l ffs. So you either absolutely clueless as to what age kids are in middle school or your rant was intentionally deceptive in trying to make it sound like the boom was made available to kids far younger than it was.
Given your less than firm grip on reality and willingness to be completely dishonest I think the best thing that can happen for kids of all ages os that you not have any day in their care as their well being is not something you either comprehend or actually care about. Kids are not props for your political ideology. And that shouldn’t have to pay a price for your internalized homophobia. Worry less about kids and more about hating yourself less.
SamB
Cowboy: LOL What kills me is that you will claim I don’t know what I was talking about because I said “p@nis” instead of “strap on fake p@nis”. That means you think it’s ok for kids to see a couple have sex IF the wiener is rubber. You always try to get the “ah ha!” with “it’s not a p@nis, technically it’s a fake p@nis” or “it’s not a 4 year old it’s an 8 year old” but you’re little gotchas don’t make a difference in what I’m saying. You think it’s ok for kids to see cartoons of oral s@x as long as the s@x organ is rubber. At least you’re owning that, as unsettling as that is.
Eternal.Cowboy
Are you okay? Because that was loopy by your standards. I really hope your mental health is better than that comment would indicate.
SamB
Cowboy: Don’t worry about my mental health, but I worry about your kid’s.
Eternal.Cowboy
I appreciate the concern but I can assure it’s misplaced. I follow the guidance of people that actually study and know something about child development rather than politicians that are trying to score points or unhinged internet commentators that don’t know the difference between human anatomy and inanimate objects. Kiddo is doing fine.
barryaksarben
F**K off you fake ass bigot. WHICH book has that and where has it been available. FACTS ASSHOLE ! NOT BULLSHIT. WHERE EXACTLY? EXACTLY? like in FACTS you phony pos. YOu are so pathetic. deplorable is the only nice word for you
Mister P
There is plenty of porn available for kids to see. Censoring literature is not going to solve any problems.
Get off your high horse of shock.
SamB
MisterP: Ok, i’ll add you to the list of people who think it’s ok to have p@rn readily available for 4 to 8 year old kids.
Mister P
Of course I didn’t say that.
Mister P
Again your attempt to make all gay people out to be pedophiles is disgusting.
You have been told to go away. Do it. Go away
Kangol2
Don’t engage the troll. It wants to flip the reality of what’s going on to make this law what it isn’t, and not deal with what it really does. The same troll could not answer a single fact I presented about Don the Con’s gross history of corruption, which continues as I type this, and tried to change the subject. So just ignore and don’t feed it if you can help it.
Jaquelope
So basically, she’s banning the Republican agenda in colleges in South Dakota? That entire list seems to be the things that Republicans hold the dearest.
The Accidental Polemicist
Not when it comes to Marxist Critical Race Theory.
Fahd
How long before decent people rise up and say enough to these efforts to funnel thought into the grooves that keep the powerful in power? Prescribed thought hammered home in doublespeak regulations is the tool of the oppressor. It’s getting to be like Orwell’s Animal Farm in a lot of these red states. No thought police for me, please.
Kangol2
Looks to me like yet another Repuglican-controlled is violating the First Amendment of the US Constitution. Repuglicans love to scream free speech and claim cancel culture is in force yet they’re quashing the right of individuals, including right-wing ones, to speak freely. The First Amendment is clear that the government–including STATE governments–cannot pass laws to limit speech, and have allowed billionaires and corporations to equate money with speech, which is absurd–a dollar in my pocket cannot speak, utter a word, etc.–but are now trying to limit speech by teachers. Absolutely hypocritical and DISGUSTING!
Kangol2
This is from South Dakota’s Constitution (most states have similar bills of rights):
Every person may freely speak, write and publish on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right. In all trials for libel, both civil and criminal, the truth, when published with good motives and for justifiable ends, shall be a sufficient defense. The jury shall have the right to determine the fact and the law under the direction of the court.
This DUMB, racist, homophobic SD law violates that state’s Constitution! I hope she and the GQP are sued for all they’re worth, which isn’t much!
BDAguy
Ok, so basically we all agree: porn in the hands of kids bad; porn and sex Ed aren’t the same thing and first amendment rights are important. Glad we got that settled. Now back to the news item that triggered all the commentary. Basically, if you don’t have much to do, as in a governor of an underpopulated state dependent on federal largesse … aka your taxes … for 37% of state revenue, you have a lot of time on your hands to fabricate hateful, factually dubious and contrived issues to amuse yourself. That all said, the fine folks of South Dakota must approve or they wouldn’t keep voting in these wing nuts. Texas had the great Gov. Anne Richards and South Dakota had the honorable Sen. Tom Daschle but apparently hate won in the sanity race in both places but could only have done so thanks to the electorate.
barryaksarben
IF she REALLY TRULY wanted to help female athletes she would make sure that the financial assets for women’s college teams are EQUAL to the men’s financial resources. THAT is a real problem even in this dumb woman’s state colleges. Does she not really care about women in sports or is just a ploy for attention. We all know which it is
LMG
Didn’t Kristi Noem have an affair with her horse a while back? Also, now that Madison Cawthorn is a free agent, shouldn’t she hook up with him? They’d make a great pair. It’s fascinating to read how so many soulless and unqualified Republicans whose very humanity is highly questionable desire to be President of the USA. I wonder what they think USA stands for? Just look at their resumes and qualifications – White Trash! Posers all, from Lard A$$ in Mar-a-Lago, DeSanta$$ in Tallahassee to Gnome in SD, Abutt in TX, Rancid Paul in Kentucky, Graham Cracker in SC, Charlie McCarthy from CA, Mark Fields of Corn from NC, and on and on. Bird Brains of a Feather sure stick together.