If there’s one way Republicans like to celebrate the sanctity of winter holidays, it’s by broadcasting a pity party about a burned Christmas tree and, apparently, reigniting hatred against vulnerable trans women and girls. In this case, Republican Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota let the public know she’s still happy to bring forward a bill that would ban trans girls and women from participating in girls’ sports. Because life isn’t hard enough for trans and nonbinary folks as it is.  As covered by Daily Kos at the time, late last March, Noem voted a bill (House Bill 1217, misleadingly titled “Promote continued fairness in women’s sports”) on the same topic, but not because she disagreed with its message. Her logic was that the bill, as written, would be too easily tossed out in court. Noem then issued an executive order to pressure public high schools and colleges in the state to only allow cisgender girls to participate on girls’ sports teams. Now, joining a handful of notably discriminatory Republicans, she’s trying to codify that executive order into legislation.  Read more