Activist speaks out against North Dakota law targeting pronouns and bathroom rules at K-12 schools

FARGO — Trans rights activists are saying a bill recently signed into law by North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will put some young students in danger.

House Bill 1522, which got the green light from Burgum on Monday, May 8, restricts how trans students can be treated in public schools, and limits where they can use the bathroom.

ACLU of North Dakota previously said the law puts some children at risk of bullying if they have to use a bathroom that does not match their gender identity.

WDAY News spoke to Rebel Marie, an advocate with Tristate Transgender, who said this will serve as a distraction for students who are either trans or gender-nonconforming.

"Instead of focusing on their future jobs and their future careers, they're focusing on protecting that identity, almost even more so than if they would have let things be," she said.

"Were any trans people consulted when writing these bills?" Marie added. "Was the weight of how this would impact them as a community, was that considered?"

Burgum vetoed a similar bill in March.