Dana Ferguson

dferguson@argusleader.com

A South Dakota lawmaker said transgender people are "twisted" and need psychological help.

State Sen. David Omdahl, R-Sioux Falls, told constituents at a legislative coffee event Saturday morning that he planned to vote for a bill that would bar transgender students from using bathrooms, locker rooms and shower facilities of the gender with which they identify if they don't correspond with their biological sex.

"I'm sorry if you're so twisted you don't even know who you are," Omdahl said of transgender individuals.

The audience in attendance gasped and a moderator asked that they remain quiet so Omdahl could continue.

The Republican lawmaker went on to say that some transgender people should seek psychological help because he doesn't believe someone can possess a gender identity that's inconsistent with his or her biological sex. (Watch the comments in the video above).

"They're treating the wrong part of the anatomy. They ought to be treating it up here," Omdahl said pointing to his forehead.

Rep. Steve Haugaard, R-Sioux Falls, called transgender identity a "choice of lifestyle" and said society has been too concerned about the "epidemic" of arguments coming out in favor of the self-identity.

"For us to perpetuate confusion in the lives of anyone is a disservice to them," Haugaard said.

S.D. becoming battleground for transgender issues

Civil liberties and LGBT advocates have called the bill discriminatory and have launched social media campaigns asking lawmakers not to be "potty police."

The bill, HB 1008 passed in the House on a 58-10 vote and is set to come up for debate in the Senate.

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STORY: Long a conservative trailblazer, S.D. could forge national path in transgender bans

FULL DISCUSSION ON TRANSGENDER ISSUE (VIDEO):