SD Governor Kristi Noem Vows to Fight Biden's Title IX Changes, Says 'We'll See You in Court'

The Biden Administration is enacting new Title IX rules that bar federal funding to educational institutions that implement policies that ban transgender students from participating in sports teams that align with their chosen identity. As Jeff Charles explained, “This change is intended to prevent schools and colleges from prohibiting biological men from competing in women’s sports.”

Republican South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem isn’t having it, however, tweeting Thursday:

South Dakota will not allow this to stand. We will lead. We will defend our laws. Only girls will play girls’ sports.

South Dakota will not allow this to stand. We will lead. We will defend our laws. Only girls will play girls’ sports.

President Biden, we’ll see you in Court. pic.twitter.com/Irv03aMEp9

— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) April 6, 2023

Noem signed a bill in February 2022 banning transgender athletes from participating in girls’ or women’s school sports, after an earlier wobble on the issue. It’s about fairness, she said at the time:

This bill’s about fairness.

It’s about allowing biological females … to compete fairly on a level playing field that gives them opportunities for success.

The Biden Administration explained their proposed Title IX changes in a press release:

The proposed rule would establish that policies violate Title IX when they categorically ban transgender students from participating on sports teams consistent with their gender identity just because of who they are. The proposed rule also recognizes that in some instances, particularly in competitive high school and college athletic environments, some schools may adopt policies that limit transgender students’ participation.

Biden’s move comes as transgender issues dominate the news. Former 12-time All-American NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines, an often-lone voice of reason from the women being harmed by biological males competing in women’s sports, was assaulted and held hostage by radical activists Thursday at San Francisco State University where she was making a speech.

Noem praised her bravery:

Riley, you are a true hero for speaking out against the unfairness and lunacy of men competing against women in sports.

Thank you for your courage and commitment in standing up for women. Only girls should play girls’ sports! https://t.co/FIwLZ29KRy

— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) April 7, 2023

Noem has also been fighting against “gender-affirming” surgeries on minors, and in February signed the “Help Not Harm” bill which bans puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and gender-changing procedures for people under the age of 18.

“South Dakota’s kids are our future,” she said. “With this legislation, we are protecting kids from harmful, permanent medical procedures. I will always stand up for the next generation of South Dakotans.”

Alabama, Arkansas, and Utah have also passed similar laws.

Kudos to Noem for standing up to the Biden Administration and their radical, overreaching interpretation of Title IX. The groundbreaking 1972 measure was a milestone in women’s sports and ensured that women and girls received equal opportunities as men and boys in athletics. It’s incredibly ironic that Biden would use the very law that ensured equality for females to actively undermine its very purpose.

The Left will continue to tell us that it’s cruel to deny biological men the right to compete in women’s sports, but in fact, the opposite is true—it’s cruel to allow them to use their superior strength and size to steal titles from deserving female athletes.

Noem is right to oppose this ludicrous change to Title IX, and hopefully, many other governors will stand by her side and litigate the heck out these changes until they’re thrown into the ash heap of history.