Los Angeles – Equality California released the following statement on South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard vetoing HB 1008, legislation that would have directly attacked transgender children by preventing students in public schools from using restrooms & other facilities consistent with their gender identity.
The below statement can be attributed to EQCA Executive Director Rick Zbur:
“Fortunately, South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard today took the appropriate step of vetoing legislation that would have only invited lawsuits, discrimination and violations of privacy for all students. With a Republican Governor in the Midwest and the California Democratic Party both acting to protect the rights of transgender people, a very strong message has been sent that this is not a partisan or regional issue. No state has and no state should take any action that prohibits a student from simply using the bathroom. Transgender students, like all our kids, deserve to be treated with respect and should be able to feel safe, especially in their school.”
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Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization dedicated to creating a fair and just society. Our mission is to achieve and maintain full and lasting equality, acceptance, and social justice for all people in our diverse LGBT communities, inside and outside of California. Our mission includes advancing the health and well-being of LGBT Californians through direct healthcare service advocacy and education. Through electoral, advocacy, education and mobilization programs, we strive to create a broad and diverse alliance of LGBT people, educators, government officials, communities of color and faith, labor, business, and social justice communities to achieve our goals. www.eqca.org