The ACLU of South Dakota's Communications Director would love to speak with you. Janna Farley handles queries from reporters on local, state, and national civil liberties issues. ACLU of South Dakota team members can provide information and assist journalists by lending important perspectives on issues such as LGBTQ advocacy, abortion rights, criminal justice reform, and more.
If you're on a specific deadline and need a quicker response, please call our office at 605-332-2508 or email chaptermedia@aclu.org.
South Dakotans have the right to make direct change through citizen-led ballot initiatives and weigh in on issues that impact their lives. Whether or not they agree with the subject of the ballot initiative, legislators should respect the process and not use their bully pulpit to intervene.
Ignoring strong opposition from medical experts, parents, trans youth and advocates, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted to kill Senate Bill 216, legislation that would have given parents the authority to make medical decisions on behalf of their children with gender dysphoria.
ACLU affiliates issue a response to Republican governors’ escalation on immigration enforcement
Senate Bill 216 would allow doctors to provide puberty blockers or hormonal treatment – nonsurgical medical care consistent with prevailing medical and scientific standards – to trans kids only with parental consent.
It’s impossible to define lewd and lascivious in a way that isn’t hopelessly vague and subjective, and government officials cannot impose their personal moral values on others. We're thrilled that legislators on the House State Affairs Committee agreed.
Communicating directly with our elected officials is a powerful advocacy tactic and can be very effective in making change in our state. We want to make sure South Dakota voices are heard.