Kristi Noem pushes for South Dakota college board to prohibit drag shows, pronoun preferences on campuses

27 May 2023

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) is appealing to the South Dakota college board to implement prohibitions in areas that target the LGBTQ+ community.

According to The Hill, the Republican governor is calling on the college board to ban drag shows on college campuses and remove pronoun preferences, which would force students to only be identified by the gender specified on their birth certificates.

The governor's letter, addressed to the South Dakota Board of Regents, was released on Thursday, May 26.

In her letter, Noem urged the board to use their state as an “example to the nation of what quality higher education should look like.”

In addition to the proposed ban on drag shows and pronouns, the news outlet notes that Noem is also appealing to the board to "take more steps to partner with businesses on registered apprenticeship programs, find ways to make college more affordable, require courses in American government and U.S. history and review all funding for university centers and donations to ensure no money is coming from China."

“For the last several decades, many states have allowed liberal ideologies to poison their universities and colleges," Noem said. "Once a hotbed of ideological diversity, debate, and the pursuit of truth and discovery, many institutions have become one-sided, close-minded, and focused on feelings rather than facts.”

For months now, the Republican governor has taken action aimed at transgender residents in her state.

Back in February, she signed a piece of legislation that blocks transgender student-athletes from being allowed to compete and participate in sports with girls and women. She also incorporated a ban to block gender-affirming medical treatment for youths in the state that identify as transgenders.

Noem's latest attack aimed at the LGBTQ+ community also comes along with the rollout of another initiative. The governor has announced the development of a hotline for parents, students, and faculty members to report complaints and concerns about the state's educational institutes.

“Our children are our future, and South Dakota universities and technical colleges should best prepare them for our future,” she said. “As I work with our Board of Regents and Board of Technical Education to chart our path for higher education, we are giving students, faculty, and parents this tool to help voice any concerns so that they can be addressed.”

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