Child Safety Advocates Call on South Dakota Gov. Noem
to Investigate State-Funded Health Activities that Promote Gender Transition
For Immediate Release
December 20, 2022
Contact: CWA Communications Team
comms@cwfa.org | (703) 282-7320
Washington, D.C. – Today, a coalition of national policy leaders and child safety advocates sent a letter to South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem calling on her to investigate state taxpayer-funded health and education grants, contracts, and activities that promote gender identity and transition. Gov. Noem recently canceled the state’s contract with “The Transformation Project” after learning of the upcoming January 13 “3rd Annual Midwest Gender Identity Summit” in Sioux Falls. One of the largest healthcare providers in the country, Sanford Health, is sponsoring this summit.
Signed by national leaders, including Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America, the country’s largest public policy women’s organization, the letter expresses grave concern over the agenda of the summit promoting transgender ideology and harming children and the practices of health organizations like Sanford Health who are harming children with medical procedures that mutilate their bodies.
“The citizens of South Dakota deserve to have their children protected from this summit’s destructive ideology,” reads the letter. “When a once-trusted health system like Sanford Health aids and abets this deceptive and anti-child ideology, it has failed in its mission.
“Children struggling with gender confusion should be protected from unethical medical interventions that ignore underlying causes and reject long-term health and well-being. Puberty blocking drugs that carry severe FDA warnings, cross-sex hormones that sterilize, and damaging surgeries that result in serious comorbidities and regret should not be peddled by Sanford Health.”
The letter commends Gov. Noem for directing her Department of Health to end its contract with the “The Transformation Project” but asks her to investigate further into healthcare companies’ practices in providing “transition” services.
“We call on you to take action as Governor of South Dakota and set an example to others to stop this pernicious trend deceiving our youth today,” the letter reads. “Telling kids they may be born in the wrong body is a self-destructive prophecy that is inflicting countless wounds on youth today. The corporate interests tied up in this increasingly lucrative industry are preying on America’s youth. Sanford Health will be among these predators if this event goes forward.”
For more information, please contact comms@cwfa.org.
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Concerned Women for America is the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization; we are dedicated to promoting Biblical values and Constitutional principles. More information is available at ConcernedWomen.org.