In late January, South Dakota’s SB115, was withdrawn from the senate. The bill, which would have banned transgender students from fully participating in school programs and using the facilities that matched the gender they live every day, was pulled by its sponsor right before its hearing on January 31st.

After Governor Daugaard had stated that he would veto the bill and more legislators spoke against out against it, the bill’s sponsor realized it would not pass. Despite the bill’s obvious targeting of transgender youth, both the governor and legislators cited the economic impacts faced by North Carolina as the reason for opposing the bill.

Before the bill was withdrawn, Equality South Dakota said, “SB 115 is an attack on transgender students by singling out already-vulnerable kids with unequal and discriminatory treatment.”

Equality Federation applauds the efforts of Equality South Dakota and hopes that more states follow suit this legislative session.