Advocates for transgender youth in New Hampshire are raising concerns about four proposed bills that may have severe consequences for the already vulnerable population. Two of the bills aim to create a “parents’ bill of rights,” which would expand parental oversight over curriculum and school activities. Although a similar bill was vetoed by Republican Governor Chris Sununu last year, conservative lawmakers in both chambers are pushing new versions this session.
The Senate bill, sponsored by Sen. Sharon Carson, no longer requires schools to notify parents about students’ sexuality or gender identity automatically. However, school officials would have to answer truthfully if asked by the parents. Supporters of the bill argue that school officials should not lie to parents, while opponents warn that it may lead to transgender youth being outed, which can cause harm to their mental and physical health.
New Hampshire is considering one bill that would designate gender-affirming care for minors as “child abuse,” and another that would ban gender-affirming health care for minors. Additionally, one bill aims to ban teaching about gender identity in public schools and weaken the state’s ban on so-called conversion therapy. While Rep. Terry Roy, a Republican from Deerfield, sponsored the latter bill to generate discussion, transgender nonbinary Democrat Rep. Alissandra Murray argues that the bill promotes hate and violence against the LGBTQ community.
Despite the proposed bills targeting transgender youth and LGBTQ individuals, Democrats have sponsored a bill to provide protections to out-of-state patients accessing gender-affirming health care in New Hampshire. However, much of the focus was on the other bills when LGBTQ advocates, including health care providers, parents, students, and faith leaders, rallied outside the Statehouse on Tuesday morning.
Abi Maxwell, the mother of a 10-year-old transgender girl, shared her family’s story with the crowd, explaining that they moved out of their small town because her daughter was bullied by children and adults alike for her gender. Maxwell stressed that her daughter, like any child, needs to be affirmed and supported in school and access medical care recommended by doctors.
As Republican-controlled legislatures in many states have enacted similar measures, New Hampshire’s proposed bills may lead to more harm to an already vulnerable population. The bills targeting gender-affirming care and conversion therapy may limit the medical care transgender youth receive, while the parents’ bill of rights may cause harm to their mental health. As the bills continue to be debated in legislative committees, transgender youth and their families in New Hampshire may face an uncertain future.