@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak He's now comparing healthcare for trans youth to preventing kids from smoking or drinking.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Deutsch says there may be an amendment coming. No details as to what the amendment says.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Duba now stands to speak against HB 1057. She says she's representing the families and their transgender kids of *South Dakota.*
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak She reads off the words of the Parke family and also Susan Williams, who has a trans child. She says its critical that their voices be heard.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak "I know one thing. I know who I am," said Quinncy Parke, a trans youth who testified against HB 1057 in committee.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Duba says "we are trying to insert ourselves into a private matter between families and physicians. I urge you to vote no."
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Now up is Rep. Sullivan, who says she vehemently opposes this bill. She's quoting legislators from last year who have said that the government has no place in healthcare.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Sullivan says that this tells me that "government overreach is okay when you're talking about people you don't understand or don't want to understand."
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak She is now quoting the SD GOP platform, which places parents in the highest regard as caretakers of their children.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak "Whether or not you believe transgender kids exist - and they do, to be clear...this bill is clearly and overwhelmingly an example of government overreach," says Rep. Sullivan.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Frye-Mueller now stands. She says the House HHS committee discussed a bill raising the age of smoking to 21. She says now we're saying "it's okay to start transgendering children below the age of 16."
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Howard now speaking. Says she's going to talk about the economic impact of the bill. She says she doesn't think economics should have anything to do with this bill.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak She says we are breaking new ground. Says the closest we can come as an example is North Carolina's passage of HB 2.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak (I find these discussions to be missing the point. The fundamental thing we're grappling with is what happens to the vitality and progress of states that are openly hostile to LGBTQ folks and otherwise target and marginalize people because of who they are).
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Also, let's recognize that North Carolina repealed HB 2 in 2017. So this is all...irrelevant.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Milstead is now speaking. She says "knowledge and skill" of doctors does not always equate to wisdom. Talks about mid-20th century lobotomies.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Wait...I think I just heard Rep. Milstead saying we don't want parents on meth making these decisions. (?)
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Now Rep. York says this is about "protecting the children" and it's no different than preventing parents from beating their children.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Haugaard is now speaking. "What this issue really boils down to is science, a belief system, and finances, unfortunately."
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak It's so odd to me that certain legislators hate the ACLU until they have a former employee (who has been long separated from the organization) to parrot the things they believe.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Also let's not pretend that the folks pushing this bill are supportive of trans adults.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Olson asks the body - who here has cared for a transgender child? She says she has had the privilege of running a non-profit for kids and over the years of doing so she has been able to care for transgender kids.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Olson says that when we look at this and the way we legislate things we need to be careful when we interfere with parental rights.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak "We solidly support the rights of parents" to make decisions for their children, from medical care to schooling and beyond.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Olson says we allow parents to make decisions even about dangerous treatments - like experimental cancer treatments that may save a child.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak "Just because someone in California regrets something...doesn't mean that we outlaw those things. People have done many things they regret. That's not a reason" to stop someone else, she says.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Olson says this is "nanny-state regulation" that her party has typically opposed.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak "This is not the first time South Dakota has been a test ground for controversial legislation" Rep. Olson says. She says it was the people from South Dakota testifying and asking you not to do this.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak "This is not vulnerable protection. It's a parents rights restriction. That is not okay," says Rep. Olson in closing.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Perry stands to "100% agree that adults should do what they want."
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak He's comparing this bill to speed limits and preventing youth from getting tattoos.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Mills says kids "aren't smart enough to know about gender." Says that when he was 17 or 18 he didn't have a clue about gender.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Hansen says there have been accusations that you are "hateful or bigoted" if you support this bill. Says no one on the floor is mean spirited or bigoted.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak (Folks can say what they'd like. But if you hurt someone and they tell you you're hurting them and you keeping doing it, well...)
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Hansen says we're talking about "injecting South Dakota girls with testosterone" and "cutting off little girls' breasts."
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak "Sex does not change, it is science" says Rep. Hansen. "Male and female He created them. That's the truth."
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Now we're hearing that "natural puberty cures gender dysphoria in approx. 85% of the cases" from Rep. Hansen.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Healy stands. Says she wants to clear up some misconceptions. She also mentions that NC repealed their bathroom bill and also runs down the NCAA's refusal to hold tournaments in the state before the repeal.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Healy explains off label use and FDA approval. She uses aspirin as an example.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak "Statistics without context are incredibly dangerous" she says.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Healy says this bill does nothing to help trans youth. She calls out the misleading alarmism we've heard - "injecting little 12 year old girls, experimenting on kids, mutliation," etc.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak She says this bill supports a transphobic agenda.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak This kind of sensationalism in our state capitol is irresponsible, says Rep. Healy.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Qualm gets up to read Liberty Counsel's letter offering to represent the government for free if they get sued for HB 1057.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak What they're leaving out is that groups like Liberty Counsel will absolutely not pay attorney's fees to plaintiffs if they lose. It's plaintiff's fees and costs that SD spent $145k on after they lost the "riot boosting" case. And $600k+ when they lost suit over 2015's SB 69.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Cwach now stands. He thanks Rep. Qualm for bringing up the legality of this bill.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak He says he wants to talk about the Constitution. Says let's talk about fundamental rights. He points out that taxpayers ended up paying legal fees. He says this legislation will be challenged. It will be struck down. And taxpayers will be on the hook.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak He notes that the state has already paid the ACLU several times after losing suits.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak He's now talking about the fundamental interest that parents have in raising their children.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak He says we only know of 20 patients getting some type of gender dysphoria-related care at Sanford in South Dakota. And we don't even know if their care is related to this bill.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Cwach says the record is clear and that the legislature hasn't met it's burden to be able to defend this law in court. He says let's avoid that and vote this bill down on the floor.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Cwach mentions that the court in NC granted a preliminary injunction against HB 2, referencing back to earlier discussion about the state.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak He's explaining what a preliminary injunction is and how it shows that the plaintiffs have a high chance of succeeding on the merits.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. McCleerey now stands. He's on the board of a healthcare system. He says bills like this are going to make it harder to get doctors to come practice in SD - even if they aren't providing care to trans patients.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Ring says when this bill was filed he was torn. But he spent the weekend reading materials from both sides.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak He said much of the scare-mongering here is about things that are not happening in South Dakota.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Ring points out the evidence that shows us that puberty blockers lower suicide rates for trans youth. He said that is consistent with his 7 to 8 years of voting pro-life in the legislature.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Bordeaux stands up to oppose this bill. He talks of a friend who grew up with who was two spirit.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak He says that his friend passed away but he would want this body to protect the rights of people living with gender dysphoria.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Final remarks from Rep. Deutsch now. The vote will happen once he is finished.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Deutsch claims again that this is a "homegrown" bill.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Rep. Deutsch once again talks about the "ACLU lawyer who testified in South Dakota." Reminder, she does not work for the ACLU (and hasn't for 5+ years) and she didn't testify in South Dakota. She appeared via skype from wherever she lives.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak He says the ACLU thinks that there is no difference between men and women. I don't think I've heard that one before but maybe I've been left off some vital listserv.
@ACLUSouthDakota @LisaKaczke @argusleader @ppSoDak Now Rep. Deutsch is saying this law would be analyzed based on a rational basis review; he's wrong. The scrutiny that would be used here would be a higher level.
HB 1057 passes the House on a 46-23 vote. Now we move to the Senate. #sdleg 
I'd say "thanks for following" but "I'm sorry you all had to listen to this" feels more appropriate. Please keep in mind - this bill will have to pass out of a Senate Committee, the full Senate, and be signed by the Governor in order to become law.
We've got a long road ahead and there will be many opportunities to lift up the voices of trans folks who will be affected by this bill and the voices of their families.
We're not going to stop fighting this. If you're fighting too, keep it up. If you haven't spoken up yet, we need your voice. And as always, to the trans folks who are having to once again suffer through public debates about their identity - I see you, and I'm with you.
