We’re confident that a study on the effects of enacting a ban on letting transgender students compete on teams that match their gender identity won’t be favorable to North Dakota.

House Bill 1298 attempts to solve a problem that does not exist, violates the United States Constitution and federal civil rights laws, put North Dakota at risk of losing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding and opens up the state to costly litigation.

The bill is an attempt to codify discrimination against transgender youth and undermine the oversight and authority of the North Dakota High School Activities Association to ensure equitable and fair participation in high school sports.

The ACLU of North Dakota opposes House Bill 1298, legislation that would ban transgender athletes under the age of 18 from competing on the sports teams that match their gender identity.

With serious issues like our state’s COVID-19 response and economic recovery, it’s disturbing that legislators are spending so much time attacking vulnerable transgender youth and the LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit community with bills that stoke fear and hatred amid discriminatory rhetoric. 

While North Dakota Republican leaders have apologized for the discriminatory anti-LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit statements that more than 900 delegates approved as part of the state party’s official policy platform this week, expressing their regret isn’t enough.

Sabrina King has been named director of campaigns for the ACLU of North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Sen. Kevin Cramer signs onto brief asking the Supreme Court to rule it is legal to fire LGBTQ people