Trans Advocacy Group Blasts South Dakota Over Terminated Contract To Create LGTBQ Health Program

Trans Advocacy Group Blasts South Dakota Over Terminated Contract To Create LGTBQ Health Program

The Transformation Project (TP) criticized a move by Republican Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota that terminated their government contract to create a Community Healthcare Worker (CHW) program for the LGBTQ community.

TP was issued a grant by the state of South Dakota for $135,747.92 to create the CHW program in 2021, according to a letter from Susan Williams, executive director of TP. Williams published the letter Tuesday explaining that the program had been scrapped over the weekend. “Unfortunately, to our complete shock and dismay, and with no advance warning or discussion from the State of South Dakota, we were sent a “Notice of Termination” via email on Friday, December 16, 2022,” Williams wrote. “This Notice alleged that our organization had “failed to perform [our] obligations under the Contract” and that the contract was terminated effective immediately.” TP provides resources and educational support for parents, children, teachers and communities regarding “gender identity and expression,” according to its website.

“Far too many transgender youth and young adults in our state and region have faced misunderstanding, hostility, and outright discrimination simply because of who they are,” TP’s mission statement says. “We are determined to change that and turn our home into a place where communities embrace their transgender neighbors, where every family has a support network, and where transgender kids can live safely and authentically.”

On Dec. 16, Lynne Valenti, deputy secretary of the South Dakota Department of Health, issued a notice to TP informing the organization that it had found TP “in material breach of the Contract” and, therefore, terminated the agreement. Williams stated in her letter that her organization did not violate the contract and blamed the decision on bias towards the “population we serve.” “At this time we are reviewing all available options and seeking legal advice in the hopes that we may remedy this circumstance so we may continue serving the transgender and broader LGBQ2S community in South Dakota,” Williams said. Ian Fury, Noem’s chief of communications, explained to the Daily Caller News Foundation that the government contract had been created without her “prior knowledge or approval.” Fury also noted that TP had “fail[ed] to submit required quarterly reports for two consecutive quarters” and as a result, the contract was terminated.

“South Dakota does not support this organization’s efforts, and state government should not be participating in them,” Fury stated. “We should not be dividing our youth with radical ideologies. We should treat every single individual equally as a human being.” In the wake of the contract, Noem announced Tuesday that Joan Adam, secretary of the South Dakota Department of Health, was stepping down after just seven months in office. The announcement made no mention of TP or the contract, stating Adam was retiring to “[focus] on family and personal commitments.”

Noem, Adam and Williams did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.