Fargo City Commissioner gives state legislative session a grade of "F" for human rights at city meeting

(Fargo, ND) -- A Fargo City Commissioner says the state's legislative session should receive an "F" based on the passage legislation that impacts transgender communities across North Dakota.

Fargo City Commissioner John Strand voicing his disapproval at the commission meeting on Tuesday. The state passed bills that requires teachers to tell parents about a student's preferred pronouns, restricts drag show performances, and banning abortions with limited exceptions up to six weeks of pregnancy- and with no exceptions following that deadline.

"Until we get our people issues right, we are not done with our work - and we didn't do very well on our people issues in this legislative session, in fact we did deplorably poorly, "said Commissioner Strand. "So we have a great budget, we are in good shape financially - good work everybody. But I give you an 'F'. I give our legislators and Governor's Office an 'F' on human right's issues and I'm just being frank."

The comments were sparked following a review of the legislative session by a lobbyist hired by Fargo. The Commissioner says this legislation will drive people out of the state, and keep populations from wanting to move to North Dakota in the future. Strand has previously spoken out against bills that circulated through the 2023 legislative session.