As we’ve known here at Daily Kos, Republican Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota has absolutely no problem sharing her views and opinions about trans people. Noem has shepherded much anti-trans rhetoric in the state in recent months, especially when it comes to exclusionary bills that aim to keep trans girls from participating and competing in girls’ sports. Under the guise of making sports fair for (cisgender) women, for example, she signed discriminatory legislation into law earlier this year.
When it comes to actually talking to trans people, however, Noem’s recent track record is apparently quite spotty. As reported by The Advocate, Watertown Love, a local LGBTQ+ group visiting the South Dakota Capitol building, asked to speak with Noem, and she responded by … hiding from them, apparently.
Watertown Love is an LGBTQ+ group specific to South Dakota, which suggests a reasonable interest in wanting to speak with Noem specifically. The group went on Visibility and Equality Day, which again, makes sense.
The founder of the group, Amy Rambow, told the outlet she was at at the Capitol with her child, who is openly trans, and they brought table decorations, Pride flags and masks, and so on. They were given a table near Noem’s office in the building and hoped they’d have the chance to speak with her. Assumably, staff who provided the table figured Noem was already inside her office (thus assuming their paths wouldn’t actually cross), but who knows.
According to Rambow, when she spotted Noem walking with her dog, she “seized” the opportunity and approached her with her request to speak with the group. Rambow says Noem responded with a hand on the shoulder, a nod, and a shut office door.
“It’s just that look of seeing through you,” Rambow said. “And not hearing you.”
Now, to be fair, we know elected officials on all sides of the aisle aren’t always going to be available 24/7. That’s valid. But it’s absolutely worth remembering that Noem has a strong history of anti-trans policies and ideas and that these people are her actual constituents. An assistant, for example, easily could have gotten more information from Rambow, set up an appointment, or at least dialogued with the literal youth waiting there, too. To put it simply: There are ways to make people feel important, and there are also ways to make people feel unimportant.
Instead, Rambow says, Noem stayed in her office. Why? Perhaps because Noem noticed the proud LGBTQ+ branding on the table Rambow set up, which included Pride flag colors and the slogan: “Be careful who you hate. It could be someone you love!” Perhaps it was unrelated—we can’t say for sure. But still.
“She only represents those Republicans in the state and not anybody else,” Rambow told the outlet. “It truly angered me because we just wanted a moment to speak with her about the issues and she doesn’t take that time."
Rambow shared that Noem’s laws very much directly impact her family, as her child might decide whether to stay in or leave the state based on the very legislation Noem has the power to sign into law. If someone can find time to sign bills into law, they can most certainly find some time to speak to impacted constituents face-to-face.
If Rambow sounds vaguely familiar, it might be because she was featured on the HBO docuseries We’re Here. Daily Kos actually covered another person featured on the show (the Indiana pastor who lost their job after appearing in drag on the show) as well, but the general concept is that drag queens visit small towns across the U.S. and get people involved in drag while highlighting LGBTQ+ issues and history in the area.
Raising awareness, building connections, and sharing and learning history are all deeply valuable and worthy pursuits. That said, we all need to be mobilizing to get these anti-trans politicians out of office, and to stop these bills from becoming law.
Sign the petition: Demand the Senate pass the Equality Act and protect the LGBTQ community from discrimination.