State ordered to apologize and pay $300,000 to LGBTQ+ group for wrongful termination of contract

The State of South Dakota has issued an apology letter and a payment of $300,000 to The Transformation Project, a transgender advocacy group. The payment and apology is court ordered following a lawsuit filed by the group shortly after a contract with the state, paid for with federal funds was abruptly canceled. The money would go towards community health worker services to the LGBTQ+ community at its Sioux Falls headquarters. The abrupt cancelation came following Gov. Noem being asked about the contract by a conservative news outlet.