Some members of the LGBTQ+ community say they feel targeted by a recent letter from Gov. Kristi Noem to the Board of Regents.
While that letter urged universities to improve educational standards, it also criticized preferred pronoun use, drag shows and safe space protections.
Josh Hadwiger is a human services major at Black Hills State. While far from his hometown in Florida, he said he loves the scenery of the Hills.
But when asked if he sees any kind of long-term future in the state, the president of the BHSU Pride club had his mind made up.
“I am definitely not staying in South Dakota," Hadwiger said. "I think it’s a gorgeous state, but I just don’t feel safe. Obviously, safety is the most important thing. Not everybody is going to be able to have the privilege of coming out when they’re ready. I was lucky enough to have an accepting family, but not everyone is, and not everybody is going to be able to leave their home.”
Hadweiger said Noem’s letter sparked frustration, anger and sadness among members of his organization.
Noem's office did not respond to a request for comment.
Of the letter's eight listed goals for state-run universities, half are formally opposed by the University of South Dakota’s chapter of Spectrum, another LGBT+ student advocacy organization.
Those goals include removing all references to preferred pronouns in school materials and preventing drag shows from taking place on campus. Further, the group argues vague language could be used to cut funding to organizations like Spectrum or BHSU Pride, and that efforts to “strengthen resilience among students” may instead roll back hate speech protections.
Phoebe Smith is a history education student and president of USD's Spectrum chapter. She said the governors’ social opinions directly contradict her goal of expanding free speech rights on campus.
“Drag shows have been around on the University of South Dakota’s campus specifically for a long time - since the 1990’s," Smith said. "With the limiting of the freedom of expression – Kristi Noem says she wants to protect free speech and freedom of expression, yet this statement does the opposite."
Smith said letters like these contribute to an unwelcoming atmosphere for the South Dakota LGBT+ community.
“The notion in general that a safe space would not be beneficial to students is a really backwards one," Smith said. "Even the words ‘safe space’, like – arguing against safety and inclusion for your students is just wild to me – really. Allowing your students to be able to feel comfortable and to express themselves freely without worrying about judgement or even just allowing professors to acknowledge their basic identities and who they are is incredibly beneficial to learning.”
Goals like lowering education costs and raising graduation rates were not opposed by the group.
