On Friday the South Dakota House of Representatives passed House Bill 1080, also known as the “Help not Harm” bill. This legislation would ban transgender surgeries for minors, and now goes to the Senate supported by South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.
The bill also bans doctors from prescribing puberty blocking drugs to minors. These medical procedures are dangerous for minors. Puberty blockers increase the risk of cardiovascular problems in minors. They have not been approved by the FDA for children with gender confusion. Gender reassignment surgery for minors results in irreversible changes to the patient’s body, and potential sterilization.
While the bill currently has the backing of Governor Noem, she has been inconsistent in her support of Republican legislation against the transgender agenda. She reportedly opposed House Bill 1057 and reversed her support of a ban on “transgender” males in women’s sports in 2021. Governor Noem has close ties to Sanford Health, one of the largest providers of “gender affirming care” in the Midwest.