A protester displays a sign at the “Stop Criminalizing Trans Existence” protest in Sioux Falls on Feb. 1, 2020. The protest was in response to bills introduced during the 2020 legislative session. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)
An effort to open up certain kinds of medical care for transgender youth whose parents consent to the treatment failed in a state Senate committee on Wednesday morning.
Parents of trans kids told lawmakers that the passage of House Bill 1080 in 2023 robbed them of their parental rights and hurt their kids. That bill, which became law with a signature from Gov. Kristi Noem, banned puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgical transitions for minors.
Last year’s backers of HB 1080 became opponents to Senate Bill 216 on Tuesday. They argued that parents ought not be allowed to encourage their children to take part in “irreversible” treatments.
As written, SB 216 would have allowed children to access puberty blockers and hormone therapy with their parents’ consent. Parents ought to have the right to make decisions for their kids, according to the bill’s prime sponsor, Sen. Reynold Nesiba, D-Sioux Falls.