Brandon man campaigns for LGBTQ rights in S.D.

Throughout the summer, people across South Dakota will be celebrating the culture and diversity of the LGBTQ community at Pride festivals, picnics and events across the state. Pride festivals are a lot of fun, but they’re also a reminder that there’s still work to do in regards to LGBTQ equality in South Dakota.                                                                                                                                        

The ACLU of South Dakota has launched an online advocacy campaign to honor the lives and legacies of LGBTQ South Dakotans who are devoting their time to make this state a better place for their peers. 

Trey Martin from Brandon is one of several South Dakotans featured in the campaign. In an interview with ACLU, he shared what it was like living as an out-LGBTQ person in South Dakota.

“My experience living as an out-LGBTQ person in South Dakota has not been as harsh as it has been for some of my peers. Though I am very comfortable in my own skin, there are definitely times where I feel the need to hold back a little or put myself on “reserve” given the crowd I am surrounded by,” Martin said. “Be it we are such a conservative state, it is very easy to stay under the radar when it comes to your sexuality and not be as present as you could be in certain situations. The more you grow in your sexuality, you realize that staying under the radar isn’t necessary anymore as you are a beautiful human no matter what your preference and this something to be celebrated and not diminished.”

The campaign also highlights Riley Zoss of Forestburg, Cody Ingle and Angelica Mercado of Sioux Falls, Peter Kleinpass of Pierre, Nancy Rosenbrahn of Rapid City and Oliver Dickman of Yankton. Their stories will be told on the ACLU of South Dakota’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts and at aclusd.org/lgbtqa.

“According to the Movement Advancement Project, there are nearly 20,000 LGBTQ people living in South Dakota. We’re introducing you to just a few,” said Adam Jorgensen, communications associate for the ACLU of Wyoming. “We hope people are inspired to take action after reading their powerful stories.”

In addition to their stories, the campaign asks people to contact their legislators about the importance of opposing discriminatory LGBTQ bills in the 2020 session. In the 2019 session, four bills targeting transgender youth were debated – one in the Senate and three in the House. None of them passed, but that doesn’t mean lawmakers won’t stop trying.

“South Dakota lawmakers need to hear from their constituents year-round, not just during session,” Jorgensen said. “There’s no better time than during Pride season to start the conversation with your elected officials about why they should oppose discriminatory LGBTQ bills during the 2020 legislative session.”