Sioux Falls, S.D. - Today the Senate Education Committee voted to pass HB 1008, a bill that would single out and stigmatize South Dakota transgender students and force them to choose between isolated accommodations or those that do not correspond to their gender identity. The bill now advances to the full Senate for consideration.

The following quote can be attributed to Heather Smith, Executive Director

"In the same room where they earlier considered a bill to establish suicide awareness and prevention training requirements for school employees, South Dakota legislators voted to pass a bill that stigmatizes and targets vulnerable transgender students for discrimination. We know transgender students face staggeringly rates of depression and anxiety, and an alarming 41% of transgender people have attempted suicide. H.B. 1008 would do nothing to protect students privacy but it will do real and lasting harm to vulnerable transgender students."

"What is truly disappointing is despite the fact that over 35 South Dakotans traveled to Pierre to make their voices heard in emotional testimony, the bill was still passed out of committee. Senators heard from transgender students, members of the clergy, and LGBT family members and allies about the ways in which their lives will be negatively impacted by HB 1008. Meanwhile, supporters of the bill presented testimony by a small handful of lobbyists representing national interest groups. Going forward, we hope our lawmakers will embrace all South Dakotans and support the issues that are important to the people of our state not the interests of outsider organizations."

The following quote can be attributed to Libby Skarin, Policy Director.

"With serious and complex issues like teacher pay and healthcare needing to be addressed this year, it is disturbing that this session so far has launched one of the worst attacks on vulnerable transgender children in the entire country. Bill after bill seems fixated on where kids can go to the bathroom, how they can identify themselves, and on what sports teams they can play. It is this type of hostility toward young trans people from adult leaders that contributes to the devastating bullying against and high rates of depression and even suicide among transgender young people."

Sioux Falls, South Dakota - The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota announced today the expansion of their office with the addition of two new positions. Jen Petersen has been promoted to Communications Associate and Stacey Burnette has been named Administrative Coordinator.

Both positions report to Heather Smith, Executive Director of the ACLU of South Dakota, which has had a presence in the state since 2008. 

"Jen has been an indispensable part of the ACLU of South Dakota for the past four years and is the type of person that you want on your team," said Smith. "She's a creative and talented communicator with a knack for quickly building relationships."

"Stacey comes to the ACLU with a wealth of experience and we're lucky to have a person of her caliber join our organization," added Smith.

As Communications Associate, Petersen will be responsible for establishing and maintaining contacts and relationships to promote ACLU initiatives to members, media, and partner coalitions in South Dakota. In addition, Petersen will develop marketing and awareness messaging for online, print, and social media. 

"My goal for this position is to develop a communications strategy that strengthens our voice and expands our presence throughout South Dakota," said Petersen. "I want South Dakotans to know that the ACLU is here protecting people's civil liberties and rights, and I want them to know why they should care about our work in a way that inspires them to get involved." 

The expansion of the South Dakota chapter of the ACLU is critical at this time, as individual rights and liberties in our state are in jeopardy now more than ever. The staff additions make the ACLU of South Dakota the largest civil rights organization in the state, and the fastest growing chapter for the ACLU nationwide.

Based in Sioux Falls, the South Dakota Chapter of the ACLU is a non-partisan organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU believes freedoms of press, speech, assembly, and religion, and the rights to due process, equal protection and privacy, are fundamental to a free people.

In addition, the ACLU seeks to advance constitutional protections for groups traditionally denied their rights, including people of color, women, and the LGBT communities. The ACLU of South Dakota carries out its work through selective litigation, lobbying at the state and local level and through public education and awareness of what the Bill of Rights means for the people of South Dakota.