SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A website unveiled by South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to promote her campaign to
ban transgender women from women’s sports is using photos without consent, officials from an Ohio school
district said.
The website "Defend Title IX Now," which Noem says is aimed at "protecting women’s
sports," features images from Hudson, Ohio and other neighboring communities, according to Ohio
Democratic state lawmaker Casey Weinstein. Some of the photos have been removed but others remain on the
site, KELO-TV reported.
Hudson City School District officials said in an email to the station they did not give permission for
anyone to display the photos and object to them being used "in a political endeavor."
Weinstein called on Noem in a tweet to "TAKE THEM DOWN" and said he is sending a formal letter
to her office and "expects a prompt reply." Weinstein said the website is part of a
"hateful campaign."
Noem spokesman Ian Fury said the site is not run by the state and the web developer obtained the rights
to all the photographs. He said the images "reflect the very girls that Governor Noem’s coalition
is fighting to protect."
Noem created the campaign after receiving backlash from social conservative groups dismayed that she
partially vetoed a bill to ban transgender women from women’s sports.