SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Civil Rights advocates say South Dakota is becoming one of the worst states for transgender residents.
Libby Skarin with the ACLU says the legislature this year is passing many bills targeting transgenders.
Skarin says Pierre is seeing bills about bathrooms, birth certificates, more bills trying to prevent transgender kids from participating in athletic and activities at the high school level. She says its been an absolute flood of these bills.
A bill in the a house would not allow the state to recognize a transgender person’s identity if it contradicts their birth certificate which Skarin says adds more legal hoops for everyone.
Skarin says it's a process that sometimes has to happen through a court, so we're talking about time and access to resources, an ability to hire a lawyer. She adds that it just puts barriers in the way of anyone who has had a legal name change, transgender people are certainly included.
A bill regulating how transgender students use bathrooms and locker rooms is on the governor’s desk.
(Thanks Greater Dakota News Service)