Above, Ty Thompson testifies before the House Judiciary Committee in opposition to several House Bills that critics say target the transgender community. ZACH LAIRD photo
By ZACH LAIRD, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD, NH — About a dozen people protested House Bills that would permit classification of people based on biological sex under certain circumstances, and restrict the use of certain public and private facilities on the basis of sex Friday at a House Judiciary Committee hearing at Granite Place.
They opposed House Bills 1217 and 1299, which permit classification of individuals based on biological sex in certain circumstances, and specify that biological sex distinctions would not qualify as discrimination.
Protesters also opposed House Bills 1442 and 1447, which limit the use of certain public and private facilities on the basis of sex, as well as House Bill 1564, which would remove all references to gender identity in New Hampshire statutes.
One protester, Alex Blake, said she feels that erasing people on paper doesn’t just make them disappear and that the broader community needs to work together on matters like these.
“I’m representing a community of faith, and believe that we are all created in God’s image and we’re all precious. We need legislation that reflects that, and respects and defends the rights of all people,” protestor Rev. Linda Hirst from the NH Conference United Church of Christ said.
Claudia Stewart testified in support of House Bill 1217, which she said protects private spaces for women and girls.
“I strongly urge this committee to pass this important bill that solves issues women face on a daily basis. While government officials continue to ignore biological differences, this legislation simply preserves what girls and women have always had: private spaces… These bills set clear goals for restrooms, lockers, and other single sex spaces while respecting the rights of every resident of New Hampshire,” Stewart said in her testimony.
Hillary Nellson explained why she was protesting, “I have two kids, and they’re both transgender. That’s why I’m here; I’m sick of this… We need to talk about housing, about healthcare. I feel like we have a bunch of psychos in the legislature at this point, I don’t know what’s wrong with them.”
Another protester Liz-Anne Platt said New Hampshire has a history as a tolerant state, and that she feels that it needs to maintain that tradition of being a welcoming place for all.
David Trumble spoke in opposition to House Bill 1217. He said it also does not represent the civil rights of transgender people, and the result will be that “intersex and transgender people will lose the right to go to public spaces.”
Rep. Alice Wade, D-Dover, who is an openly transgender woman, testified in opposition to House Bill 1299. She noted what the bill does is say that “me going into the women’s room is now a crime… It’s unenforceable and does not solve the issues it pretends to address.”
“What we’re talking about is policing what people look like. We’re policing archaic gender norms, we’re creating opportunities for people in the general public to imagine power and authority to assert their own will in a situation that is not theirs to define,” Ty Thompson, of Nottingham, said in opposition to House Bill 1299.
Sarah Smith also testified in opposition to all the bills and said, “I think we need to take a step back and stop thinking about how we can make people disappear that we don’t like. This state needs to welcome everyone; if this passes, word will get out that New Hampshire will discriminate against you… I think it’d have a big effect on everyone.”
Jamie Grasso, who came to oppose every gender-related bill, cited the 2023 International Business Code that collected data on the safety of women and children in public restrooms. He noted the study found that attacks on women and girls decrease when they share the space with transgender people.
Kelli Twiss, who opposed all the bills regarding gender, said they’re solutions in search of a problem.
“They (the bills) are overwhelmingly opposed by your constituents — the people that voted for you. They are totally unenforceable, and create a real risk of foreseeable harm. They have been repeatedly vetoed. They’re not based on compelling state interests, or statistics would have been presented.
“Gender politics are nowhere near the top of your constituents’ needs or desires for you to be covering… In my opinion, these laws are an attempt to demoralize and drive trans people, and people who love and support them, out of this state,” Twiss said.
The committee voted to make House Bill 1299 ought to pass with an amendment, which modifies the bill to specify that classifications based on biological sex are appropriate in the circumstances of lavatory or locker rooms, athletics and sporting events, correctional facilities, or places where a person can be involuntarily committed.
Rep. Bob Lynn, R-Windham, explained that any government building that applies those rules must also provide at least one single-occupancy restroom available to anyone.
The committee also voted to approve a motion of ought to pass House Bill 1447, and approve an interim study on House Bills 1217 and 1442. It also voted to move House Bill 1564 to Inexpedient to Legislate.