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These bills could make life harder for transgender people, civil rights
groups say

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   This same-sex couple is fighting to adopt 04:46

   (CNN)A bill that would have prevented transgender high school students
   from playing on sports teams based on their gender identity died in the
   South Dakota Legislature.
   But civil rights groups say they are still watching other states for
   bills that pose threats to transgender people.
   With HB 1225, South Dakota lawmakers attempted to override a current
   policy in the state that lets students participate in sports "in a
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   unfair competitive advantage by lying about their gender.

   HB 1225 was one of four bills concerning transgender youth that South
   Dakota lawmakers introduced this legislative session. None of them
   passed.
   Other states are considering bills that advocates say would negatively
   impact transgender people just as the South Dakota proposals would
   have.
   Read More
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   Since the repeal of North Carolina's HB 2 -- the first law to forbid
   transgender people from using restrooms based on their gender identity
   -- civil rights groups say lawmakers are attempting new ways to
   restrict public accommodations access.
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   against false accusations that could arise in an environment where
   people's genitals tend to be visible.
   Transgender student athletes in South Dakota could face this
   restriction
   Transgender student athletes in South Dakota could face this
   restriction
   Transgender student athletes in South Dakota could face this
   restriction
   House Bill 1151 and Senate Bill 1297 would expand the current law to
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   that gender dysphoria does not have equal footing as an insanity
   defense for the purpose of defending oneself, he said.
   "This is not anti-transgender unless the transgender person is
   committing indecent exposure," he said.
   Critics of the proposals say they could criminalize transgender people
   who use public restrooms.
   "If a transgender man goes into a men's room, he could be charged with
   indecent exposure and would not be able to use the fact that he's
   transgender as a defense." said Reg Calcagno, a state advocacy
   strategist with the American Civil Liberties Union's Out For Freedom
   Team.
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   Opponents of the exemptions say they impact anyone who does not
   subscribe to a particular group's religious beliefs, not just
   transgender people. A recent case in South Carolina involved a
   faith-based child welfare agency that turned away a Jewish woman who
   wanted to mentor children in foster care.
   At least one religious exemption bill in Texas directly impacts
   transgender people.
   One bill introduced would prevent a government entity from punishing a
   religious organization for declining to provide treatment, counseling
   or surgery related to "sex reassignment" or "gender identity
   transitioning."

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