South Dakota Passes Bill Restricting Transgender Girls From Sports Teams

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem says she will sign the bill headed to her desk that prevents transgender girls from playing on sports teams of their gender identity.

Stephen Groves / AP

Monday, the South Dakota state Senate passed a bill that restricts transgender women athletes from competing on high school and college girls’ and women’s teams. The measure now goes to Republican Gov. Kristi Noem who has said she is excited to sign the bill into law.

“This is a very simple bill. It’s a bill to protect women’s sports,” says Republican State Sen. Maggie Sutton, one of the primary sponsors of the legislation. “It’s not against transgenders,” Sutton says.

“To me, it looks an awful lot like bullying,” says Democratic state Sen. Reynold Nesiba, who voted against the bill.