SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether is the first mayor in South Dakota to join the Mayors Against LGBT Discrimination.
Huether joins the mayors of San Francisco, Chicago and hundreds of other cities, dedicated to erasing discrimination against gays and lesbians
Huether says fighting against discrimination is an American value, a Sioux Falls value.
The national group points out on its website that neither Sioux Falls nor the state of State Dakota have comprehensive non-discrimination protections for the LGBT community. The Sioux Falls ordinance does not specifically identify sexual orientation or gender identity as protected classes. An effort to include them fizzled out in City Council.
Huether hopes the next mayor picks up the gauntlet.
"I do hope the next mayor - whether he or she - I do hope they are willing to consider strengthening some of these protections."