In a 15-20 vote, the state senate in South Dakota passed a bill on Tuesday, February 16, 2016, that would ban students who identify as transgender from using school facilities that correspond with their gender identity.
The name of this ugly bill? House Bill 1008, and it's expected to reach the eyes and governing power of Gov. Dennis Daugaard soon. If Gov. Daugaard signs this bill, South Dakota would be the first state in the entire country to pass such a law. Critics are saying it could face some harsh feedback in the national governmental light that has created numerous policies that ban such illegal discrimination.
House Bill 1008 states the following: "[that] every restroom, locker room, and shower room located in a public elementary school or secondary school that is designated for student use and is accessible by multiple students at the same time shall be designated for and used only by students of the same biological sex." The bill further defines "biological sex" as "the physical condition of being male or female as determined by a person's chromosomes and anatomy as identified at birth."
Contradictory political waves have clashed in two forms: The conservative battle cry of the inappropriateness of "men in women's bathrooms," and that of the Obama Administration, which has worked tirelessly to ban sex discrimination in publicly funded schools.
School should be a safe place for all people — not just those who fit the "status quo" of normality. News flash, South Dakota — The "new normal" is exactly that. It's new. It doesn't conform to your traditional gender roles and identities. Isn't it truly a blessing that people in the 21st Century feel comfortable enough with the overall kindness of humanity that they'd rather risk being themselves than hide their identity in a shroud of fabrications and lies?
One of the current goals of public education, at least from a progressive lens, is for educators to promote the idea that culture is beautiful, is an integral part of what makes the student a modern learning body and affects their modern education. If suddenly school districts across the nation decide to start enforcing discriminatory policies, what type of message will the children gain? Will they still believe that they can be safe by being whom they identify as? Or will they shroud their true selves, do poorly in school because they cannot show their true identity, and then fail to become a successful and contributing member of society?
Arguably, one of the most beautiful things about the public school system in America is that educators and their students are able to make personal connections through both learning curriculum and learning life lessons.
I guess the choice is really up to us: What are we going to promote to the future generation: Inclusive, loving, caring learning environments, or exclusive, hurtful ones?
Fight against House Bill 1008. Fight against exclusivity in our public schools. Fight against the ugly head of modern discrimination. 
