Democrats on cracker barrel: ‘They’re bullies. Plain and simple.’

Sioux Falls, SD (February 7, 2016)-

South Dakota Democratic Party expressed concern Sunday regarding comments about transgender students made by Republican state legislators at a weekend Sioux Falls cracker barrel. Click here for video.

Republican State Senator David Omdahl (District-11) said of transgender individuals, “I’m sorry if you’re so twisted you don’t even know who you are.”

He then suggested they seek psychological help. “They’re treating the wrong part of the anatomy. They ought to be treating it up here,” Omdahl said gesturing to his head.

“The only thing twisted is Sen. Omdahl’s medieval worldview. Supporters of this session’s transgender discrimination bills have tried to suggest they were about accommodation. These comments show their true colors. They’re bullies. Plain and simple,” said South Dakota Communications Director Michael Ewald.

Transgender discrimination has become a controversial issue this legislation session as out-of-state interest groups such as Arizona based Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) have pushed for legislation like HB 1008 which would require transgender individuals use separate bathroom facilities or HB 1112 that reverses a SDHAA policy protecting transgender student rights. The Argus Leader reported, “Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) fellowship literature cryptically refers to the group’s desire to “recover the robust Christendomic theology of the 3rd, 4th and 5th century.”

Advocates for transgender rights warn that those who identify with a gender other than their biological sex at birth are at a substantially higher risk of bullying. Studies show nearly 41% of transgender persons will attempt suicide in their lifetime.

Senator Omdahl wasn’t the only legislator who made controversial remarks. Republican Representative Steve Haugaard (District-10) said of transgender individuals, “Pressing someone forward in this confused lifestyle is doing them a disservice.”

Speaking about transgender anatomy, Republican Rep. Jim Stalzer (District-11) said, “They can call it he/she/whatever.”

Beyond the harm these comments inflict on those that identify as transgender, Ewald said it puts the state in a negative light making it more difficult to attract to South Dakota high paying industries and a talented workforce.

“Similar discriminatory legislation against the LGTBQ community caused Indianapolis to lose $60 million dollars in business convention opportunities. Arizona was forced to veto legislation or risk losing the Super Bowl. These comments jeopardize one of Sioux Falls and the entire state’s major opportunities for growth– tourism,” Ewald said.

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