South Dakota’s cruel governor Kristi Noem has no idea why LGBT+ people might be depressed

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Governor Kristi Noem, who has supported legislation targeting trans kids, is confused why so many LGBT+ people in South Dakota are living with depression.

The Republican governor was recently questioned at a press conference about her thoughts on a damning statistic that nearly 90 per cent of her state’s LGBT+ community had been diagnosed with “either anxiety or depression”.

Without missing a beat, Noem told the reporter who confronted her with the information that she was seemingly unaware of the high numbers of people dealing with mental health issues in her state.

“I don’t know,” Noem said. “That makes me sad, and we should figure it out.”

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

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It would appear that the figure might originate from a recent report by HelpAdvisor, a healthcare coverage assistance group. The report analysed US Census Bureau data, captured between December 2021 and January, on depression among LGBT+ Americans.

According to the report, South Dakota had the highest rates of depression among LGBT+ residents at 87 per cent, compared to roughly 63 per cent nationally.

In South Dakota, 49 per cent of LGBT+ people experienced feelings of depression “nearly every day” in the last two weeks, the highest of all the states in the report.

Several people on Twitter pointed out that Kristi Noem should know why there are startling high rates of depression among South Dakota’s LGBT+ community.

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The Human Rights Campaign put it in the simplest terms: “If you’re looking for a reason why LGBTQ+ youth are struggling in South Dakota, look in the mirror.”

You not only signed an anti-trans bill into law, but also authored it yourself.

If you're looking for a reason why LGBTQ+ youth are struggling in South Dakota, look in the mirror. https://t.co/vELRrN18Bg

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 18, 2022

Dear @KristiNoem:

Hi. Queer trans person here, South Dakota born and raised. I live with anxiety/depression, and it’s been immensely better now that I moved out of SD and live in a state that doesn’t waste tax dollars attacking my community.

Learn to care.

Hatefully,
D https://t.co/2z73U9Clok

— Mx. D.E. Anderson (@diannaeanderson) February 17, 2022

SD Gov Kristi Noem just signed the first anti-trans bill of 2022 into law. Yet she has no idea why SD LGBTQIA+ people suffer anxiety and depression at a higher rate than others. WTF? pic.twitter.com/2CqnICX5QW

— ᒪᗩᑎᑕᗴ