‘This is About Fairness’: Kristi Noem to Ban Transgender Girls From Sports After Previously Vetoing Similar Bill
(Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) this week unveiled a bill that will ban transgender girls and women from competing in both K-12 and collegiate sports in her state after she refused to sign a similar bill that was put on her desk by state lawmakers back in March.
Noem’s office issued a press release Wednesday in which the governor offered a draft of the bill. She was quoted in the release as saying the issue of transgender girls in sports is one of “fairness.”
Noem stated, “This is about fairness. Every young woman deserves an equal playing field where she can achieve success, but common sense tells us that males have an unfair physical advantage over females in athletic competition. It is for those reasons that only girls should be competing in girls’ sports. Women have fought long and hard for equal athletic opportunities, and South Dakota will defend them, but we have to do it in a smart way.”
She continued, “Only female athletes, based on their biological sex, shall participate in any team, sport, or athletic event designated as being for females, women, or girls, the legislation reads. The legislation describes ‘biological sex” as ‘the sex listed on the student’s official birth certificate issued at or near the time of the athlete’s birth.’”
Noem refused to sign a similar bill back in March, which led to her being excoriated by some who had previously touted her as a Republican Party rock star and even floated her as a potential 2024 presidential candidate. Noem’s popularity took another hit after she defended her decision not to sign the initial bill in a tense interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
During the interview, the Fox News host essentially accused her of cowardice.
Carlson said, “So, you’re saying the NCAA threatened you and you don’t think you can win that fight? They said, ‘If you sign this, we won’t allow girls in South Dakota to play,’ and you don’t think you can win in court, even though the public overwhelmingly supports you nationally. And so you’re caving to the NCAA? I think that’s what you’re saying.”
Noem argued the issue was about protecting South Dakota from lawsuits.
She also told Carlson:
I have been bullied for the last year by liberals, Tucker… I’m not going to let anybody from the NCAA, from any big business, I’m not even going to let conservatives on the right bully me. I’m going to solve the problem. I’m going to make sure that we are building strength in numbers and we are going after the NCAA and make sure that we are keeping only girls playing in girls sports.
In an apparent reference to the political backlash she received in March, Noem stated in her Wednesday press release, “This legislation does not have the problematic provisions that were included in last year’s House Bill 1217. Those flawed provisions would have led to litigation for our state, as well as for the families of young South Dakota athletes – male and female alike.”
