Kristi Noem, Who Just Banned Trans Kids From Sports, Doesn’t Know Why LGBTQs Are Depressed

Just a week after signing a bill into law that bans young trans athletes from competing in sports that align with their gender identity, Governor Kristi Noem (R-SD) was asked about mental health challenges facing LGBTQ people. Her response was as vapid and uninterested as you’d imagine. “There’s a statistic circulating around right now that says 90% of South Dakota’s LGBTQ community is diagnosed with either anxiety or depression,” said the reporter. “Why do you think that is?” Noem nodded her head as the reporter spoke and even threw in an “mmmm” to indicate she was listening. “I don’t know,” she replied with all the passion of a tumbleweed rolling on the prairie. “That makes me sad and we should figure it out.” That was the full response, which was followed by several uncomfortable seconds as she looked for some other topic to divert to.

Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD), who just signed the first anti-trans bill of 2022 into law, is asked why she thinks 90% of LGBTQ+ youth in South Dakota are diagnosed with anxiety or depression:

“I don’t know. That makes me sad, and we should figure it out.” pic.twitter.com/WbKr2Tlujs — Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) February 17, 2022

The lack of humanity is also astounding.

— Otter Fishal Intelligence (@OtterFishal) February 17, 2022

Just a wild guess…but I don’t think she’s sad at all and couldn’t give a damn if they choose to harm themselves.

— Anne McCarthy (@AM_McCarthy) February 17, 2022

Related: South Dakota Governor Hosts 25-Person Super-Spreader Event