Lawmaker highlights transgender inmate policies prior to prison vote

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - Just hours before lawmakers were set to convene on Tuesday’s special session, a letter from a legislator, and candidate for South Dakota Governor, was sent out in hopes of thwarting an approval.

The letter addressed transgener inmates within the state’s Department of Corrections.

A letter from Rep. Jon Hansen on the eve of a legislative session to vote for a new prison disclosed what could have been new information to many.

Hansen claimed tax dollars pay for hormone and other therapies for transgender inmates in State Prisons.

In the letter, he said the South Dakota Department of Corrections is hiding its transgender policy from the public.

To Samantha Chapman of the ACLU, the timing of the letter is no mistake.

“I was not surprised that John Hansen, at the 11th hour, is pulling out any possible reason he can concoct to oppose the prison that is desperately needed here in South Dakota. However, it’s still extremely disappointing, frustrating, and angering to see trans people being used yet again as a pawn,” Chapman said.

Chapman said there are laws in place for protection and provision of care.

“Trans people, just like all people who are under the custody of the Department of Corrections, are entitled to medically appropriate care, including hormone therapy. That is federal law. It’s well established. A court agreed with us as well earlier this summer,” Chapman explained.

The letter, which was sent with a Hansen/Lems for Governor logo, talks of a gender dysphoria committee and a consultant who is paid to determine cross-sex hormones.

He claims their roles are pushing “policies that don’t reflect our values.”

Chapman noted there are many values across the state.

“There’s a diversity of opinions in South Dakota, and there’s a diversity of people in South Dakota. Whether or not Speaker Hansen wants to admit it, transgender South Dakotans exist. 2 Spirit South Dakotans exist,” Chapman said. “Trans people, like all people, have constitutional rights in this country and in this state, and those rights don’t just disappear because of Speaker Hansen. Fighting to wage an ideological battle against them.”

Hansen was asked when he discovered the details of hormone therapy and other resources for trans inmates. He did not respond in time for air, but this story will be updated with his response.

A spokesperson for the DOC was invited to provide more details on gender-affirming care for inmates, but no response was provided at the time of publishing.