Everyone has a story to tell. It’s time to take the mic and share yours!

Join the ACLU of South Dakota, the Transformation Project, Sioux Falls Pride, Black Hills Center for Equality, and Equality South Dakota for an all-ages virtual night of performance art and storytelling with a queer spin at the LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit Open Mic Night.

Attendees are invited to share a song, a poem, a comedy routine or a personal story or just sit back and watch others perform as we celebrate the culture and diversity of the LGBTQ+ and two-spirit community in South Dakota.

Stick around after the open mic for a meditative exercise guided by Dakotah Yoga.

Time: 6 p.m MT / 7 p.m. CT
Date: April 1, 2021
Location: Zoom

Note: This event will have ASL interpreters on the call. All we welcome to attend! 

Event Date

Thursday, April 1, 2021 - 7:00pm

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More information / register

Venue

On Zoom registration link provided to registrants

Phone

605-332-3508

E-mail address

southdakota@aclu.org

Website

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Date

Thursday, April 1, 2021 - 7:00pm

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Governor Noem isn’t planning to sign House Bill 1217 as-is and hopes to get South Dakota legislators to edit the bill in order for her to approve it. However, even with her proposed changes, this bill is still a harmful violation of transgender student athlete's Constitutional rights. 

We have time to stop this, but the clock is ticking. Act now.  

About the bill: House Bill 1217 is legislation that would ban transgender women and girls from competing on the sports teams that match their gender identity. This is the seventh attempt by South Dakota lawmakers to prevent trans athletes from competing.   

Let's stop this bill once and for all.   

Connect with South Dakota senators NOW and ask them to oppose any variation of House Bill 1217 proposed. This legislation doesn’t need any more airtime. Let your Senator know that we don’t want this bill signed into law.  

Sample email to South Dakota State Senators 

Click here to send your email NOW!  

SUBJECT LINE: End House Bill 1217 Once and For All  

Dear Senators, 

Governor Noem’s style and form revisions to House Bill 1217 do not change the fact that HB 1217 is harmful to transgender South Dakotans and a violation of their constitutional rights and federal civil rights law. The truth is that no matter what form this legislation takes, we know House Bill 1217 will do nothing to protect women in sports, but it will cause serious social and emotional damage to trans people in our state.  

Please vote to stop this bill immediately.  

House Bill 1217 has no place in South Dakota. Don't allow this bill to be signed into law only for taxpayers to wind up on the hook for costly litigation and severe negative economic impacts.  

Sincerely, 

[FIRST NAME] [LAST NAME] 
[ADDRESS OR CONTACT INFO] 

Sample phone call:  

  • You: “Hello, is [your senator] available?”  
  • Senator: “Yes, that is me.”  
  • You: “Hi my name is [your name] and I am calling today to ask that you vote against House Bill 1217 and stop this legislation from being signed into law immediately.”  
  • Senator: “Thank you for your call!”

Be sure to customize your notes and calls! This is just a launching point. 

Find out who your senator is, then look for their email below:

 

Jim.Bolin@sdlegislature.gov 

Bryan.Breitling@sdlegislature.gov 

Gary.Cammack@sdlegislature.gov 

Jessica.Castleberry@sdlegislature.gov 

casey.crabtree@sdlegislature.gov 

Blake.Curd@sdlegislature.gov 

Mike.Diedrich@sdlegislature.gov 

Helene.Duhamel@sdlegislature.gov 

Mary.Duvall@sdlegislature.gov 

RedDawn.Foster@sdlegislature.gov 

Julie.FryeMueller@sdlegislature.gov 

Brock.Greenfield@sdlegislature.gov 

Troy.Heinert@sdlegislature.gov 

Jean.Hunhoff@sdlegislature.gov 

Timothy.Johns@sdlegislature.gov 

David.Johnson@sdlegislature.gov 

Joshua.Klumb@sdlegislature.gov 

Jack.Kolbeck@sdlegislature.gov 

Ryan.Maher@sdlegislature.gov 

Reynold.Nesiba@sdlegislature.gov 

Al.Novstrup@sdlegislature.gov 

Herman.Otten@sdlegislature.gov 

Michael.Rohl@sdlegislature.gov 

Arthur.Rusch@sdlegislature.gov 

Lee.Schoenbeck@sdlegislature.gov 

Kyle.Schoenfish@sdlegislature.gov 

VJ.Smith@sdlegislature.gov 

Jim.Stalzer@sdlegislature.gov 

Wayne.Steinhauer@sdlegislature.gov 

margaret.sutton@sdlegislature.gov 

Marsha.Symens@sdlegislature.gov 

Erin.Tobin@sdlegislature.gov 

David.Wheeler@sdlegislature.gov 

John.Wiik@sdlegislature.gov 

Larry.Zikmund@sdlegislature.gov 

Done making calls and sending your emails? Sign up to get alerted for the fight ahead here: aclusd.org/alerts.  

Date

Wednesday, March 24, 2021 - 4:45am

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A sign reading, “Legislators Only” stands in a hallway near the Senate chambers in the South Dakota State Capitol on Jan. 9, 2018 in Pierre, SD Sam Caravana / Argus Leader

A sign reading, “Legislators Only” stands in a hallway near the Senate chambers in the South Dakota State Capitol on Jan. 9, 2018 in Pierre, SD Sam Caravana / Argus Leader

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LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit Rights

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Jett Jonelis

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South Dakota Legislators will be voting on House Bill 1217 on Monday. Act Now to stop this policy once and for all.  

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