Thursday, February 18, 2016

South Dakota Goes Transphobic

South Dakota just made history, y’all, but not in a good way. This week, South Dakota lawmakers became the first in the nation to pass a bill outlawing transgender public school students from using restrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identities.

You know, because trans students don’t wanna just pee or anything.

The bill was approved by the state Senate on Tuesday and now awaits the signature of Republican Governor Dennis Daugaard who said, in his best hillbilly, ignorant voice, “This seems like a good idea.”

Yeah, discrimination based on sexual orientation is always good, especially when it’s done to kids!

The measure mandates that students must use the restrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their "physical condition of being male or female as determined by a person's chromosomes and anatomy as identified at birth," not the gender with which they identify.

Oh, but to be fair, this new piece of Hate Legislation does provide that, with written parental permission, the “affected” students may request a "reasonable accommodation ... that does not impose an undue hardship on a school district," such as use of a single-occupancy restroom. 

God knows you don’t wanna inconvenience the school.

The Transgender Law Center lambasted the bill's passage and said it believes the legislation violates federal law:
"Every single child, including transgender youth, should have the opportunity to succeed and be treated fairly by our schools and elected officials. If the governor signs the measure, it will endanger students and open up South Dakota schools to legal chaos, liability, and the loss of millions in federal funds."
Democrats argued that passing the bill might trigger the federal government to pull money from public schools, and may result in a tourism boycott.

But, really, who cares about that? What about the continued emotional pain for trans youth, being told once again that they are not who they are, that they cannot be themselves, even when using a bathroom? This is just another form of segregation and haven’t we already seen how that works?

If this law goes forward and if the governor sign sit, I feel like those kids, who are already made to feel different, who may suffer bullying simply for being trans, will withdraw; they might drop out of school; they might feel hopeless; there might be suicides.

All over the right to pee. Is a life worth it?

6 comments:

  1. Having not used a restroom at my high school for three years simply because I was perceived (correctly) as gay I find this shameful. If I had been transferred I couldn't imagine the trauma. I was fortunate that I was able to get transferred out of gym class as the locker room abuse wouldn't have been tolerable.

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  2. It's punishing the victims of discrimination and basically rewarding the haters.

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  3. Never underestimate the cruelty of those in power who think they are there by divine providence and personal worthiness.

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  4. At least they left some leeway in for schools. This will end up in the courts. It looks like it may end up on WA's 2016 ballot... and then go to the courts. And what will the court look like. Deeeeep breathing.

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  5. These people's hate just makes me tired...and sick to death of them

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  6. Shameful, hateful, and without reason. So, it is true what I've read: If you view Mt. Rushmore from behind, you'll see a bunch of assholes.

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Say anything, but keep it civil .......