Dozens of LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit individuals, along with their allies, staged a protest in Sioux Falls Friday night against South Dakota’s gender-affirming care ban, House Bill 1080.
The bill, which took effect on July 1, prohibits minors from receiving any gender-affirming medical care and demands that those undergoing medical transition cease all treatments by the end of 2023.
Protesters gathered in downtown Sioux Falls to demand the repeal of the bill in the upcoming legislative session, beginning in January.
Despite the opposition, the chances of repeal are slim, as the bill was widely supported by state legislators and signed into law by Republican Governor Kristi Noem.
Advocates expressed their anger over the bill’s passage and called for protecting the rights of transgender kids in the state.
The protest also highlighted the personal impact of the ban on affected families, the discrimination faced by trans individuals, and the importance of gender-affirming care in the medical field.