It doesn’t infringe on anyone’s rights to share spaces with those who are different. But by signing House Bill 1259 into law, Gov. Rhoden is putting vulnerable trans youth at risk for abuse and harassment.

Making an honest mistake with someone’s name or pronouns will always happen, but instances of misgendering or calling someone by the wrong name cannot be immune from school discipline when they cause a substantial and material disruption or create a hostile educational environment.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is erroneously claiming that the federal government is “forcing states to perform harmful, irreversible, and unscientific medical procedures on children."

This case isn’t just about enforcing South Dakota’s ban on gender-affirming care. It’s about the harmful rhetoric surrounding the question of whether providers should be allowed to discriminate against a broader group of people, including trans adults.

Across the country and right here in South Dakota, political attacks against transgender people have grown exponentially over the last several years. This lawsuit is just the latest attempt to erase transgender people from society.

This isn’t about leveling the playing field for student athletes or protecting fairness in women’s sports. If it were, Gov. Noem and Attorney General Jackley would be tackling the actual threats to women’s sports, not using trans youth as a political punching bag.

Everyone has the right to decide what art or entertainment programs they want – or do not want – to attend or watch. The only thing obscene here is the efforts by some of our elected officials to thwart our First Amendment rights.

The First Amendment protects freedom of speech and expression, no matter what you are wearing.

The government cannot limit expression just because any one person – or even a majority of a community – is offended by its content. In the context of art and entertainment, this means tolerating some works that others might find offensive, insulting or outrageous.