Cathryn Oakley, then-state legislative director of the Human Rights Campaign, criticized the bill – and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum – for its blatant disregard for transgender rights.

“Creating jobs, growing the economy and supporting North Dakota's most marginalized residents is clearly not a priority for Governor Burgum, especially when he suggests that transgender lives are worth sacrificing for cheap political points,” Oakley said in a statement filing the bill.

“After passing more anti-LGBTQ+ legislation this year than lawmakers in any other state, the governor and his extremist allies in the statehouse are sending a direct but dangerous message that LGBTQ+ people have no place in their state, nor should they exist publicly,” she continued. “Instead of helping North Dakotans 'find the good life,' they are instead pandering to the fringe of their base. To that, we have a simple answer: Our community is not going anywhere, and we will always fight back against these attacks.”

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