The South Dakota Legislature’s approval of a measure banning some forms of health care for transgender youth puts this session’s stamp on a difficult, emotional subject.
It also represents a concerning trend that this state is cultivating in terms of acceptance of a segment of our population.
The bill, House Bill 1080 (HB 1080), which passed overwhelmingly last week by the state Senate, would prohibit a broad range of surgical and non-surgical gender-affirming treatment for minors. This includes banning the use of puberty blockers, which can also be used for purposes other than gender transition; an amendment to exclude the drug failed.
Gov. Kristi Noem announced she signed the bill Monday.
Proponents of HB 1080 say minors should wait until they are 18 to make such life-changing decisions, which they may regret down the line. They note that minors should instead receive mental health counseling until they reach the appropriate age.
This makes sense, to a degree. Certainly, it seems difficult to imagine that kids under 18 can plot out a path for their entire life at such an age.
However, most of us (which includes, we would guess, almost all the lawmakers who voted for this bill) cannot speak directly to the issues and identity crises these young people, as well as their families, face. While counseling would certainly be beneficial, broadly dictating to these people the best avenue of medical care without putting ourselves in their shoes seems awkward and presumptive.
Also, proponents often give the impression that these kids are making this decision on their own, apparently with their families, counselors and physicians not part of this harrowing process. That is almost certainly not the case.
(And, as a legal aside, it should be noted that similar bills passed in Arkansas and Alabama have been blocked by the courts, according to The Hill newspaper.)
One thing that can be agreed upon is that such a transition is a major decision, no matter what age the person is at.
We’re not sure, however, that it is the state’s place to dictate to these people and their families what the best course of medical action is or isn’t. The legislative bill is a blanket edict that imposes its own views on a very personal, complex situation, which makes this bill an uncomfortable fit in a state that heralds its freedom.
Meanwhile, this measure is also part of a trend of state officials targeting trans people — who make up a very small part of the electorate and therefore likely have little clout — with restrictive legislation.
Last year, the Legislature passed a ban on transgender athletes competing in female sports, which was turned into a high-profile accomplishment that the governor lauded on national television commercials. This was done even though the matter had rarely been an issue here and the state already had a mechanism in place to deal with it.
South Dakota has also attempted a transgender bathroom bill in recent years, but that has yet to make headway.
Now, with the passage of the trans health bill, an underlying (and perhaps unintentional, or perhaps not) message is being sent by South Dakota lawmakers that there are certain types of people who are not wanted or welcome in this state — even if some of these people were born and raised here.
That’s not a good look for us, and it could eventually lead to consequences that will not serve us well in the future.
kmh
(38) comments
Disappointing and definitely not a good look. I am disappointed in our local legislators who voted for this.
If children are capable of making great, life long decisions at the ages of 5 to 18, then perhaps we should let them choose to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, go without a curfew and decide not to attend school. We know children don't make the best decisions on their own, that is why we have rules.
that is why they have parents - parents/kids should get to decide how they live their lives and not old, white people in South Dakota.
So, RocknRola, parents can decide if they want to expose their children to drugs, alcohol, abuse??? When do we as a society try to protect the children?
If you have been following our local representatives, you would know that this is par for the course. They have repeatedly voted on Noem/Trump's side. Not once have they voted against them.
I'd call that smart!
😢
What a waste of people these folks are.
Kelly called it "medical care", but I could not help thinking of Dr. Frankenstein.
I’ve got a great idea for the LBGTQ crowd that would overcome bigotry like we see on this forum OVERNIGHT.
Larry, tell me what you think.
LBGTQ political strategy should be to support OPEN CARRY for EVERYONE‼️
And anyone who can’t afford to purchase a gun should get government assistance to buy one.
Food stamps will soon be defunded, but we could better use the money saved to substitute FIREARM STAMPS!
(Of course they would have to sign a promise to always carry it loaded and not sell it to buy food.)
And Larry, if Drag Queens reading our kids children stories had, say a 40 caliber GLOCK 23 stuck in their brassiere, would guys like you be more accepting?
Would there be extra points for a silencer and a high-capacity magazine?
🤣👍
I think it was a great move by our own democratic party and the LGBQT+ community to keep pushing this transgender issue down to our children as young as 5 years old. Who in their right mind doesn't think that a 5 year old boy shouldn't have the right to chose to be chemically castrated, or a 13 year old girl to have the right to have her breasts removed, especially when we have teachers and political leaders pushing and teaching this to all of them. I am sure these choices are informed choices by these children and political leaders, I am sure they have thought about all the consequences, I am sure the people pushing for this are really, and I mean really, enjoying talking to children about their sexual preferences, who doesn't think that isn't normal after all? As a proud democrat and as our proud democratic party continues to push this issue and continues to get into the minds of all these children, it only strengthens our grasp on the way they will vote in the future and teaches them that government officials and politicians have their best interests at heart even more so than their own parents. And isn't that what it's all about anyways, party first, everything and everyone else last, at all costs?
🟥🟥🟥You scared me today, VoiceforAll.
In your post following Mr. Hertz’s “Facing Up To Fentanyl In The Schools” at 11:19 am you COMPLETELY dropped your “Re-elect Biden” schtick, and went back to full-on “VoiceforAll.”
I thought I’d lost my bet.😱
But then later at 11:34 am after Mr. Hertz’s “Trans Bills And South Dakota’s Message” you were back in Character with your full-on “Re-elect Biden” act.
If it appeals to you to work both sides of the street, old buddy, that’s OK.
My bet just says you’ll continue with the “Re-elect Biden” act for a year; it doesn’t say you can’t go back to “VoiceforAll” from time to time.
(Can you please verify that January 15 date, Voice?)
Good Idea on open carry for everyone Clown Rus. In fact a lot of the LBGQT do carry do have CWP. Clown Rus and all you LBGTQ loving crowd(at least behind a hidden moniker) lets say you own a bizzness dealing with John Q Public ( I sure some of you do) How many of the LBGTQ crowd would you hire and put at your front counter/customer care/be the face of your bizzness in Yankton. Plus let them push the agenda on your clients. Yea I thought so. ZERO. Very easy to hide behind a moniker and spout your opinion.
Root cause and goals of this transgender B.S or LBGTQ BS is 1. Very bad parenting. 2. The goal of LBGQT crowd is to destroy Women/Womanhood and Mothers--Family structure as well.
Hi Larry, did you catch that tweet from Healey? Families are dangerous now.
I’m not the first to observe this, but in the protected information bubble of FoxNews and the rightwing media ecosphere this one countervailing fact goes unnoticed:
The MAGA folks are even MORE unpopular than Biden and the Democrats.
So we’re watching them still drilling down on the same old culture war issues and the “America Firstisms” as they did before.
These are the things that seem so obvious to them as they preach to their choirs of the faithful. (I don’t need to list these for anyone who’s reading VoiceforAll/Re-elect Biden.)
The question is “After their recent losses under the Trumpian banner will it work this time in 2024?”
Who knows, 2024 is a looong way off.
Still, I’m reassured and not all that surprised at seeing them following the same old playbook.
Yes, the theory seems to be “if it didn’t work before, maybe this time it will.”
My favorite is the doubling down demanding national abortion rights.
Remember, when the Supreme Court decision was ONLY supposed to allow states to choose their own abortion policies?
That decision probably cost Republicans in the midterms. So naturally, they are now demanding a federal law be enacted that then abortion in every state.
(I think I remember VoiceforAll (before he became a Democrat) arguing this very point.)
Sort of like how Republicans are now saying they’d NEVER weaken Social Security, and yet with so many of them on video and in writing advocating for that very thing.
Voice/Re-elect, Larry and Abe/Mr. Clean keep pushing your ideas that Trumpsers love and the majority of Americans despise!
It almost sets the old saying on its head, “with enemies like this who needs friends?”
And in order to make sure we keep our children with the most current and up to date information in their school libraries and we keep pushing our LGBQT+ and transgender agenda, our democratic party is insuring that books like "The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being Human - Let's Talk About It" is being put in our children's school libraries. Keep in mind, not that it is important that these children's parents know their children are reading books like this, that is the last thing we want as a democratic party, so here are just a couple examples of what our children get to read without their parents knowing or consenting to it, from the book - "There's nothing wrong with enjoying some p*rn, it's a fun sugary treat, when consumed right, p*rn can help you discover new aspects of your sexuality." As well as - "A great place to research fantasies and kinks safely is on the internet," the book said. "There's tons of people and communities out there who share your interests and have all kinds of advice." - Isn't this great, our own democratic party insuring our children have access to great advice like this. Does it really matter that even on this forum I have to put a * in two of the words that appears in this book our children are reading, but here, on the internet, I cannot even type the word, but our children get to read it and take advice from the positive things p*rn can do for them. Today, I am so proud to be part of the democratic party that is insuring things like this are being allowed in our children's schools, it's so much more important than actual American history or science. Keep pushing that agenda, we are getting there fellow democrats, aren't you so proud?
Oh, PLEASE, Voice/reelect Biden.
“Please what??” you may ask.
“Please keep up your MAGA culture wars.”
You and Larry and Abe so love to “own the Libs.” (As if that were the best way to win the next election.)
So please keep it up!
It’s cynical, but I think E pluribus said it very well:
“With enemies like these, who needs friends?
Further evidence that liberals are easily fooled and hopelessly detached from reality.
Do you truly believe anyone wants more of this irreconcilable clown show? For those who claim to, please go die off. Those shots are working. It won't be long now.
Let me put a finer point on this, Voice.
I strongly encourage you to continue righteously doubling down on your loser Cultural Wars. In either persona you choose.
And please don’t forget to bring up abortion and LGBTQ issues as many times as you possibly can.
*️⃣(Most Americans support abortion rights and same-sex marriage.)*️⃣
And let's hear more about how Covid is just a deadly hoax.
*️⃣(Just counting the number of Americans who’ve gotten vaccinated should tell you something here.)*️⃣
Also let’s hear more about how climate change is bunk.
*️⃣(Most Americans believe that climate change is a serious concern.)*️⃣
Let’s hear more about immigration while you’re at it.
*️⃣(Most Republicans draw a hard line on immigration, but the majority of Americans regard immigration as a positive and are particularly sympathetic to refugees.)*️⃣
And please keep insisting our elections are rigged. And Trump is our real president.
*️⃣ (40% of Americans (mostly Republicans) thought the 2020 Election Was Stolen, Just Days Before Midterms. And we know how that turned out.) *️⃣
And keep supporting the Republican House to start as many investigations as possible.
*️⃣(A majority of Americans believe that Republicans will spend too much time investigating President Joe Biden and not enough time on other priorities, though I can’t wait to learn what’s on Hunter's laptop!)*️⃣
This is only a partial list, but you have most of the others in your repertoire.
So I guess what I’m doing, Voice, is being part of the solution by encouraging you, Larry and Abe to continue being part of the solution in a way that you fellas probably won’t understand.
But a solution is a solution…
And we’ll see in 2024 how it goes, won’t we?
I shouldn't be surprised to see the lefties bangin' the same old drum. If they were stupid then, they're stupid now. We have been lied to on so many fronts, manipulated and deceived by the media and big tech, the receipts are in and there really is no hiding it any longer, but yet here we are... at the brink of nuclear war. How can any sentient being deny that the democrats and Biden's crime family have done all they can to ruin our civilization?
I can't wait to read your ludicrous rebuttals.
No rebuttal required, Abe.
If you’d understood my previous post, you’d understand I completely support your continuing to post on those themes I enumerated.
Very sad commentary on the state of our society that so many folks who SAY they want the government to stay out of our lives - and most particular out of the affairs of parents and their families - STILL think we need a bill like this… 🤔
Abe, I’m so sorry you fear the end of civilization.
And so soon after you posted “What a great time to be alive!”
What extreme mood swings! Have you ever googled “bipolar disorder”?
Anyways, here are a few thoughts to entertain and distract you from your despair for a moment:
Have you noticed the courts are backing the Justice Departments (nationally and in New York & Georgia) as they close in on the alleged criminals of the Trump administration?
And at the same time the courts are backing the Dominion lawsuit uncovering Fox News duplicity.
FOX perpetrated the Big Lie despite Murdock, Hannity, Tucker, et al, actually texting out the truth to each other.
They weren’t pursuing the truth THEY KNEW, but instead, were trying desperately to keep their Trumpster viewers from switching to NewsMax.
DOMINION may not win their lawsuit, but they laid bare the truth about Fox News
In Russia, the news lies to support their dictator.
Here in America, Fox lies to support Republicans - not for ideological reasons - but to keep the money rolling in.
Because telling Republicans what they want to hear is good business. And this may be good business for Democrats, too.
Safe in their FoxNews bubble, Republicans don’t understand that America dislikes the Maga people even more than they dislike the Democrats.
But Trumpsters never discover this until the next election. And then it’s too late to appeal to folks outside their safe little ecosphere.
Naturally they think it has to be cheating.
Maybe we’re gonna go through this for a fourth time.🤷♂️
It's not a new paradigm, but it’s interesting to see so clearly how a free enterprise organization like Fox can lie for a dollar as shamelessly as any totalitarian dictator lies to hold on to power.
This may be at the root of the Republicans' strange love of Putin.
Anyways, I’m not sure I can go as far as you, when you wrote, “What a great time to be alive!”
But it’s sure not a boring time to be alive, is it⁉️
E pluribus, these folks will never hear that Fox has been lying to them about the Big Lie and laughing behind their backs in texts to each other at what suckers they are.
So far Fox is saying nothing.
Check out the Fox website. It’s all Hunters Laptop. Transsexual freaks. Biden’s dementia. Why Generation Z hates America. And how DeSantis is heroically clamping down on teaching Black History.
Larry, Abe and Voice are safe in their big bubble, hunkering down against reality with the rest of their fellow Trumpster’s.
Only those who watch ANY other outlet of their hated “mainstream media” will know what fools they are to believe anything Fox News says to appeal to their preconceptions and keep those dollars rolling in.
I honestly cannot recall the last time I saw anything on FOX. I continue to follow the news through independent journos from around the globe.
Don't forget the jab is working and I am well connected.
You keep “owning the libs,” Abe, and we’ll keep “owning” the elections.
What a great trade off‼️
Yes, you’re “well connected” So “well-connected.“
I remember your saying that when you were Abe. Didn’t understand then either.
Whatever it means, is it the same now that you are “Mr. Clean“?
You have no idea.
Gotta' love BIVY and satellite phones.
I love ❤️ it‼️👍
These poor normies have no idea what you’re talking about, Abe.
A BIVY (short for bivouac) is a lightweight, waterproof shelter designed to protect a person from the elements during outdoor activities such as camping or climbing.
Satellite phones, on the other hand, are devices that use satellite communication to make and receive phone calls, send text messages, and access the internet from remote locations where regular cell phone coverage is not available.
The connection between bivies and satellite phones is that they are both useful tools for people who engage in outdoor activities in remote locations.
When traveling in such areas, it is important to have a reliable means of communication to call for help in case of an emergency or to stay in touch with family and friends. Satellite phones can provide a way to communicate even in areas where regular cell phone coverage is not available, which can be crucial for safety reasons.
In addition, a bivy can provide shelter for the satellite phone user, protecting the device from the elements and helping to ensure that it remains in good working condition.
Some bivies are designed with special features that make them compatible with satellite phones, such as pockets or loops for attaching the device.
This can make it easier for users to access their satellite phones when needed, while also keeping them protected from the weather.
Wrong. Bivy is a communication device
Abe, this still doesn’t make any sense.
I notice you’ve adopted a new tactic in addition to the good old, “Just you wait, you’ll be sorry.“
Now you make cryptic declarations that only other tinfoil hat folks might possibly understand.
No one can rebut what makes no sense.
Please continue scoring points (with the conspiracy crowd), but you're sure not changing any minds.
Good work, Snooki‼️
I'm not about to exchange my tin foil hat for your version of the news. I've spoken to 18 people on four continents since last evening. It would be ridiculous to ever attempt to sway your opinion away from the mockingbird media. And besides, with your willfully ignorant attitude toward other sources, you've got a lot of catching up to do. Just fold now and let the chips fall. Only God can help you.
You wear it proudly, Abe, my brother.
Just you wait, they’ll be sorry. 👍
Did you talk to Putin on your MAGIC TRUTH PHONE, Abe?
He should get my post card any day now. “Having a great time in Historic Kyiv - wish you were here!”
We certainly know that’s what he wishes, right Abe?😎
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