South Dakota legislator withdraws marriage restriction bill

A South Dakota lawmaker has withdrawn his own bill that attempted to dramatically restrict marriage rights in the state.

Rep. Tony Randolph (R-District 35) withdrew

on Monday.

The bill would have prohibited the state from endorsing or enforcing certain policies regarding domestic relations.

KOTA-TV

if this bill had become law, some of the effects would have included:

• A ban on any marriage that does not involve a man and a woman

• Denial of benefits to people in a nontraditional marriage

• Denial of marriage licenses for nontraditional couples

• Denial of protection from discrimination due to sexual orientation

• Barring the state from banning conversion therapy

• Barring schools and libraries from having drag queen story time

Randolph, a first term representative from Rapid City, introduced several other bills this session that raised eyebrows. Two of those bills -- including a bill that would have removed irreconcilable difference as a cause for divorce - died in committee. He recently withdrew three others, including

aimed at sex education in public schools.