A South Dakota trans rights group, The Transformation Project, has filed a lawsuit against Republican governor Kristi Noem and the head of the state’s Department of Health. The lawsuit alleges that the decision to cancel a contract with the Department of Health in December was discriminatory, resulting in the loss of a nearly $136,000 grant from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Transformation Project, an advocacy group for trans people and their families in South Dakota, aims to “support and empower transgender individuals” and educate the local community about gender identity and expression. The organization’s director, Susan Williams, said in a text message to the Associated Press that the loss of the grant was “uncalled for and was, in fact, discrimination.”
Noem’s office has stated that the organization did not meet all of the terms of its contract, such as providing quarterly reports. In a statement, Noem said, “South Dakota does not support this organization’s efforts, and state government should not be participating in them. We should not be dividing our youth with radical ideologies. We should treat every single individual equally as a human being.”
Noem has been outspoken in her anti-trans views and has attacked trans-student-athletes and banned trans girls from playing on girls’ and women’s teams. The politician has also voiced support for a proposition known as “Help not Harm,” which would block transgender youth from accessing medical care.
Brendan Johnson, an attorney representing The Transformation Project, said the contract’s cancellation was unconstitutional and unlawful. “Even our state government is not above the rule of law, and we stand with the Transformation Project in this important constitutional challenge,” CBS News reported.
This lawsuit highlights the ongoing conflict and discrimination against the transgender community, especially in the face of lawmakers who oppose their rights and support laws that restrict their access to healthcare and equal opportunities. The Transformation Project’s fight for justice and equality serves as a reminder that all individuals, regardless of their gender identity, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
