Marriage equality, LGBTQ+ rights discussed at forum

The Women and Gender Studies Program and the School of Law at USD hosted a marriage equality panel discussion Wednesday evening in recognition of Constitution Day.

The guest speakers for the discussion included Nancy Rosenbrahn, lead plaintiff in Rosenbrahn v. Daugaard, Laurence Novotny, activist and founder of EqualitySD, and Associate Dean of USD School of Law Tiffany Graham.

The conversation kicked off with the history of the fight for marriage equality from each speaker’s perspective ranging from the Stonewall riots to the day it was declared constitutional. Each speaker talked about what’s next for South Dakota regarding discrimination laws and activist events to move the state forward.

Rosenbrahn, who was one of the plantiffs who sued for marriage equality in South Dakota in 2013, said there shouldn’t be any question on what is right and what is wrong when it comes to the rights of people from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning and others (LGBTQ+) group.

“When it’s the right thing to do, there’s no decision,” she said.

(Photo: Nancy Rosenbrahn, lead plaintiff in Rosenbrahn v. Daugaard, speaks about marriage equality and LGBTQ+ rights Thursday evening at a panel discussion hosted by the Women and Gender Studies Program in the Al Neuharth Media Center. Eden Hemmingson / The Volante.)