NH Governor Sununu Signs Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation
For Immediate Release: July 19, 2024
Contact: press@glsen.org
GLSEN Condemns New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu for Signing Hateful Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation
New York, NY (July 19, 2024) - GLSEN condemns New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu's recent approval of a series of appalling and discriminatory bills that directly target LGBTQ+ youth, especially transgender youth. These measures are not just a step backward; they are a blatant attack on the rights and dignity of young people, fostering division and perpetuating harm.
GLSEN Executive Director Melanie Willingham-Jaggers made the following statement condemning the decision:
"Governor Sununu’s decision to sign a series of bills that target LGBTQ+ youth is deeply misguided, especially on the eve of updated Title IX protections that specifically protect LGBTQ+ students from discriminatory school policies. The laws approved by Governor Sununu are designed to marginalize and stigmatize some of our most vulnerable children, denying them the basic right to a safe and supportive learning environment. This is a betrayal of New Hampshire's values of freedom and fairness. To our LGBTQ+ youth in New Hampshire: we see you, we stand with you, and we will never stop fighting for your right to live authentically and without fear. These cruel policies will not go unchallenged."
Overview of the Legislation:
- HB 1205: This legislation bans transgender girls in grades 5-12 from participating in girls' sports teams and requires all girls to show a birth certificate “or other evidence” to prove their eligibility. This rolls back longstanding inclusive sports policies adopted by the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association and imposes burdens on all students in an attempt to stigmatize trans students. Federal courts - most recently the Fourth Circuit - have found that such categorical bans on trans sports participation violate Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
- HB 1312: This legislation labels any educational content related to gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression as "objectionable material," requiring schools to notify parents two weeks in advance and offer an opt-out option. This stigmatizes and marginalizes LGBTQ+ topics, further isolating LGBTQ+ youth. This renewed attempt to censor LGBTQ+ content in classroom instruction mirrors an earlier attempt recently invalidated in federal court, when a 2021 policy signed into law by Governor Sununu that censored “divisive concepts” in the classroom was found to be unconstitutional.
- HB 619: This bill restricts access to essential healthcare for transgender minors, undermining the ability of parents, healthcare professionals, and transgender youth to make informed medical decisions. It disregards established medical standards and the consensus of major U.S. medical associations, posing a severe threat to the well-being of transgender youth.
In addition to these harmful measures, Governor Sununu vetoed HB 396, which would have rolled back nondiscrimination protections for transgender individuals that he signed into law in 2018. HB 396 would have banned transgender individuals from accessing facilities - such as bathrooms and locker rooms - consistent with their gender identity. Recent updates to federal Title IX regulations, due to go into effect in New Hampshire and 34 other states on August 1, generally require schools to allow transgender students to use facilities consistent with their gender identity. The bill would have also imposed a wider ban on transgender participation in sports and affected transgender housing placements in correctional facilities and mental health treatment centers.
Our fight for equality and justice in New Hampshire is far from over, and we will not rest until all LGBTQ+ youth are safe, supported, and valued.
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ABOUT GLSEN
GLSEN, the nation’s largest advocate for LGBTQ+ issues in K-12 education, has been dedicated to establishing inclusive schools and learning environments for over 34 years. Amidst increasing threats against LGBTQ+ youth nationwide, GLSEN actively addresses harassment and discrimination by empowering educators, advocating for policy changes, and combating book bans through its Rainbow Library Program, which provides LGBTQ+ affirming literature to over 6 million students across 30 states.