Daugaard vetoes ‘Transgender Bathroom Bill’
Governor Dennis Daugaard vetoed the so-called “Transgender Bathroom Bill” on Tuesday afternoon.
The bill would have required transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their sex at birth.
“House Bill 1008 does not address any pressing issue concerning the school districts of South Dakota,” Daugaard said in his letter to the House of Representatives.
.@SDGovDaugaard on why he vetoed HB1008 #sdleg pic.twitter.com/ZcCjY6ocWa
— Michael Geheren (@mgeheren) March 1, 2016
If it had passed, South Dakota would have become the first state in the nation to have a this type of law.
Supporters, all of which are Republican, argued that the bill was meant to protect students’ privacy. The American Civil Liberties Union and the Human Rights Campaign said it discriminates against transgendered people.
“Today Governor Daugaard made a symbolic statement that South Dakota’s transgender students are a valued part of the community and that our state leaders won’t be swayed by out-of-state groups that don’t have the interests of South Dakotans at heart,” said Heather Smith, executive director of the ACLU of South Dakota. “Thank you governor, for listening to the collective voices of South Dakotans and voting your values.”
The bill garnered national attention. Caitlyn Jenner, former Olympic gold medalist and transgender activist, tweeted to Daugaard calling on him to veto the bill.
Earlier in the day, the ACLU said they were considering legal action if Daugaard decided to pass the bill.
“Governor Daugaard’s decision will place him unequivocally on the right side of history,” said Chase Strangio, staff attorney with the ACLU’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Project.
The president of the Human Rights Campaign called Daugaard’s veto a “huge win for equality and South Dakota!”
VICTORY: @SDGovDaugaard vetoes #HB1008 attacking transgender children. Huge win for equality and South Dakota!
— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) March 1, 2016
The Associated Press reported the governor initially offered a positive reaction to the proposal, but said he needed to research the issue and listen to testimony before making a decision.
Last week, Daugaard met with three transgender individuals to hear why they opposed the bill. One of those was transgender students Thomas Lewis. He celebrated today’s victory.
“In my meeting with Governor Daugaard, I could tell that he was genuinely interested and concerned with my story, and I believe this openness helped him make this decision to veto HB 1008,” said Thomas in an ACLU statement. “The governor made it clear today that transgender people like me are worthy of respect and kindness. I join thousands of people across the state in thanking Governor Daugaard for standing up for all South Dakotans.”
Republican Rep. Fred Deutsch, the proposal’s main sponsor in the South Dakota House, has said the plan “pushes back against federal overreach and intrusion into our lives.”
In a statement Tuesday, Deutsch said because he believes further focus on this bill will detract from the the work in the legislative session.
“I’m going to ask my legislative colleagues to concur with the Governor’s veto,” Deutsch said.
The day to override vetoes from the governor’s office is March 30.
The state Senate also passed the half-cent tax increase to help fund teacher pay today and will be heading to Daugaard’s desk. South Dakota is the lowest in the nation for teacher pay.
The Senate voted 25-10 for the plan, which is larger than the two-thirds margin necessary to approve the increase.
