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Response to EqSD Press Release

Tuesday, 19 February 2008 10:30

Equality South Dakota (EqSD) received favorable response to its press release issued on January 7 that announced the formation of both Equality South Dakota and the Equality SD Political Action Committee. Three radio stations, a TV station, and a daily newspaper carried the release.

Chairs Karen Mudd and Todd Epp were involved in three radio station interviews—KSOO (Sioux Falls) and WNAX (Yankton). Karen Mudd and Curtis Price were interviewed by KOTA radio in Rapid City. Don Frankenfeld was interviewed by KOTA-TV in Rapid City.

Karen Mudd made these statements:

• If there's one thing that unites us as a state it's the belief that everyone should be treated equally.
• South Dakotans believe that all people are created equal.
• EqSD is giving a voice to a population that has been silent and fearful but is made up of people like you and I who work hard, pay taxes, care for their families and contribute to our quality of life in SD.

Curtis Price discussed these issues in his interview:

• Groups such as the SD Family Policy Council (SDFPC) as well as EqSD both support families—the difference between SDFPC and EqSD is that we want to support all of them.We are not about special rights, we are about equality and what is right. It should be illegal to fire a person or evict a person simply because they are LGBT.This is not a christian vs non-christian values issue, as is clear from the near 50% vote on Amendement C and the three church denominations which recommended rejection of the Amendment.
• Many conservatives do not agree with Dobson et al, but instead are on EqSD's side on LGBT issues. Again, see the Amendment C vote and our membership.
• Most faith traditions, including Native ones, share the value described in the Episcopal Prayer book as "respect for the dignity of all persons".

Don Frankenfeld's "sound bite" was:

• "We are a coalition of South Dakotans, both gay and straight, who want to ensure equal rights and opportunity for all South Dakotans. One way for us to do that is to be active participants in the political process."

The Aberdeen American News published a condensed version of the EqSD Press Release on January 31.

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