--- [ LGBTQ ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/lgbtq) # Anti-Trans S. D. Governor Kristi Noem Is “Sad” LGBTQ People Are Struggling But Can’t Figure Out Why February 21 2022 Written by Molly Sprayregen. LGBTQ POLITICS - At a recent press briefing, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) – who literally wrote the law banning trans kids from sports in her state – claimed to have no idea why massive numbers of South Dakota’s LGBTQ community are experiencing mental health challenges. “There is a statistic circulating around right now that 90% of South Dakota’s LGBTQ community is diagnosed with either anxiety or depression. Why do you think that is?” “I don’t know,” Noem responded. “That makes me sad, and we should figure it out.” And yet Noem has dedicated a significant portion of her time to targeting trans kids. She was the first governor to sign an anti-trans bill into law in 2022 – a law she wrote that bans transgender girls and women from participating in schools sports as their gender in public schools and universities in the state. At the signing ceremony, Noem said she was “grateful” to the legislature for passing it. She has also been [using her anti-trans beliefs](https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/01/republican-governor-brags-anti-trans-bills-campaign-ad-trans-activists-mobilizing/) to promote her reelection campaign for next year. She released [a national ad campaign](https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/01/republican-governor-brags-anti-trans-bills-campaign-ad-trans-activists-mobilizing/) promoting S.B. 46. The ad opened by declaring, “In South Dakota, only girls play girls’ sports. Why? Because of Governor Kristi Noem’s leadership.” [Noem is believed to also have presidential ambitions](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/07/kristi-noem-president-campaign-2024-south-dakota.html), which could explain why her campaign paid to run her anti-trans ad nationally instead of just in her state. *(Molly Sprayregen is a queer writer. Her work can be found in Out Magazine, Them, Into Magazine, The Associated Press, LGBTQ Nation, Roxane Gay's Gay Magazine, and more. More info at MollySpray.com)* [ ![save up to 4000 on used evs](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20ev%20ad2.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/107 "LA DWP | Save $4K, Green | Priority Ad") [ ![Donna Tryfman](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/Donna-Tryfman-Ad-Final-Complete-Border-White-Margin.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/98 "Donna Tryfman - HS1-1") [ ![LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/2026%20LADWP%20PowerSavers%20300x250.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)") [ ![David DeJute Campaign](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/DejuteAd.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/111 "David DeJute Campaign") [ ![Pay Water Bill Help](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20-%20cares-ad.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/97 "Home - LA DWP #2 (Pay Water Bill Help)") [ ![Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/reitano%20vertical%20rework.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/112 "Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col") ### Exploring LA With Nick Cabot Rodriguez ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png) ## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays Name [ ![Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/HHR/AHF-rent-too-high.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/104 "Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2") [ ![Spa](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images//ME%20DENTAL%20SPA/me%20dental2%208-11-26.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/109 "Me Dental Spa") [ ![Cheap Gas](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/banners/cheap-gas2-10-24.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/96 "Home - Cheap Gas") [ ![Neighborhood Council Map](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/banners/nc-map-graphic.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/89 "Home - Neighborhood Council Map") [ ![Neighborhood Council Meetings Here](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/NewsPromos/nc-meeting%20banner.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/90 "Home - Neighborhood Council Meetings Here") --- ## Featured CityWatch Stories [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/87/074h-87bdc3b1.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33349-l-a-county-faces-a-government-shake-up) ### [L.A. County Faces a Government Shake-Up](https://mail.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33349-l-a-county-faces-a-government-shake-up) WESTSIDE - Currently larger than 40 states in terms of population with roughly 10 million residents, Los Angeles County… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/e4/076m2-e4940934.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33386-massacre-on-city-streets-mayor-bass-must-issue-an-emergency-declaration-now) ### [Massacre on City Streets: Mayor Bass Must Issue an Emergency Declaration Now](https://mail.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33386-massacre-on-city-streets-mayor-bass-must-issue-an-emergency-declaration-now) NICK'S VIEW - I have previously written about Los Angeles’s grim paradox: a city that promises safer streets while bein… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/64/075c-643b3b88.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/voices/33372-the-greater-israel-delusion-may-undo-israel) ### [The Greater Israel Delusion May Undo Israel](https://mail.citywatchla.com/voices/33372-the-greater-israel-delusion-may-undo-israel) ANNEXATION - The vision of “Greater Israel” draws on maximalist readings of biblical verses, especially Genesis 15:18–2… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/db/075h-db938034.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/neighborhood-politics/33365-sherwood-forest-when-an-adu-becomes-an-apartment-complex) ### [Sherwood Forest. When an ADU Becomes an Apartment Complex](https://mail.citywatchla.com/neighborhood-politics/33365-sherwood-forest-when-an-adu-becomes-an-apartment-complex) OP|ED - If anyone asks what my priority issues are in the legislature, I talk about the three Hs - housing, homelessnes… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/47/076g-478febfa.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/la-watchdog/33395-should-dwp-ratepayers-pay-for-the-citys-streetlights) ### [Should DWP Ratepayers Pay for the City’s Streetlights? ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/la-watchdog/33395-should-dwp-ratepayers-pay-for-the-citys-streetlights) LA WATCHDOG - In June, 80% of Los Angeles voters rejected the Bureau of Street Lighting’s ballot measure to increase th… --- ## [ LGBTQ ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/lgbtq) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/e7/074n2-e71c6111.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/lgbtq/33356-the-laurel-foundation-launches-the-art-of-online-auction-to-benefit-programs-for-lgbtq-youth-and-families)### [The Laurel Foundation Launches THE ART OF\_ Online Auction to Benefit Programs for LGBTQ+ Youth and Families](https://mail.citywatchla.com/lgbtq/33356-the-laurel-foundation-launches-the-art-of-online-auction-to-benefit-programs-for-lgbtq-youth-and-families) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/3d/071e2-3d40aca0.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/lgbtq/33296-34-years-after-camp-laurel-began-for-kids-with-hiv-its-first-campers-return-with-children-of-their-own)### [34 Years After Camp Laurel Began for Kids With HIV, Its First Campers Return With Children of Their Own](https://mail.citywatchla.com/lgbtq/33296-34-years-after-camp-laurel-began-for-kids-with-hiv-its-first-campers-return-with-children-of-their-own) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/97/025h-97bb9ae9.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/lgbtq/32477-attacks-on-transgender-women-are-part-of-a-larger-maga-agenda)### [Attacks on Transgender Women Are Part of a Larger MAGA Agenda](https://mail.citywatchla.com/lgbtq/32477-attacks-on-transgender-women-are-part-of-a-larger-maga-agenda) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/a2/013r-a27d6a52.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/lgbtq/32267-pride-flag-returns-to-stonewall-as-new-york-officials-defy-federal-directive)### [Pride Flag Returns to Stonewall as New York Officials Defy Federal Directive](https://mail.citywatchla.com/lgbtq/32267-pride-flag-returns-to-stonewall-as-new-york-officials-defy-federal-directive) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/a2/012f-a2ed361b.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/lgbtq/32245-california-lgbtq-community-still-worried-for-transgender-youth)### [California LGBTQ Community Still Worried For Transgender Youth](https://mail.citywatchla.com/lgbtq/32245-california-lgbtq-community-still-worried-for-transgender-youth)