A bill banning instruction on gender dysphoria in South Dakota schools fails in the Senate State Affairs Committee. The bill’s proponents were unable to convince a majority of the committee that the issue is present in state schools.
Gender dysphoria is clinically significant distress that arises when a person’s identity does not match the gender others assign to them. Proponents say schools are encouraging gender dysphoria through classroom materials and discussions. Some proponents say the issue is taught in Rapid City and Sioux Falls schools, but the superintendents of both refute that in letters submitted to the committee.
Representative Tom Pishke is the bill’s prime sponsor. He says gender-related curriculum is readily available online, and this bill could be a proactive step if the material is not already in schools.
“Do a simple Google search for gender dysphoria or gender identity disorder. It’s right out there, it’s easily accessible. If you search for that you’ll see there’s—it’s easily curriculum. It has set up time, a white board, this and that. It’s very easy to assess that," says Pishke.
During committee discussion, Senator Jordan Youngberg says he’s not convinced this issue is present in schools, and therefore the bill is unnecessary.
“One of the things I heard was that you can Google this and get all the curriculum you need and I just—I could go to Google and learn how to become a professional dirt bike rider. It doesn’t make me good at it," says Youngberg. "So I don’t—I just think we wait on this bill and trust our local school boards.”
A motion to send the bill to the 41st day passes on a seven to two vote.