South Dakota governor faces deadline on transgender bill

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota's governor faces a Tuesday deadline to make a decision about a bill that would require transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their sex at birth.

In Texas, Houston voters soundly defeated an ordinance that would have banned discrimination against transgender people after opponents alleged it would allow sexual predators to go into women's bathrooms.

Under the plan, schools would be required to provide a "reasonable accommodation" for transgender students, such as a single-occupancy bathroom or the "controlled use" of a staff-designated restroom, locker room or shower room.

Heather Smith, executive director of the ACLU of South Dakota, said Tuesday that schools would be forced into the tough position of having to choose whether to follow federal Title IX or state law if the governor signs the legislation.