New Hampshire Votes To Protect Transgenders From Discrimination

By: Paul Goldberg, Staff Writer

In another shocking and landmark decision, transgender rights just got backing in New Hampshire’s Republican-controlled House of Representatives!

Yes, the New Hampshire State House which holds a Republican majority, voted on Wednesday in favor of a bill entitled HB 1319, that prohibits discrimination against transgender individuals.

The language in the HB 1319 which passed with a vote of 195-129, bans discrimination in the following arenas; Housing, Employment and Public Accommodations on the basis of gender identity.

Now it goes before the New Hampshire Senate where supporters of HB 1319 say they feel confident that it will pass. If it does pass the Senate, it will be up to Republican Gov. Chris Sununu to sign it which by all reports, he intends too sign the Bill protecting Transgender people from discrimination.

“No person should be fired, evicted or denied service just because of who they are, and it is far beyond time that the Granite State’s non-discrimination protections include transgender people,” said Marty Rouse of the Human Rights Campaign. “We call on the New Hampshire Senate to swiftly pass this bill and send it to Governor Sununu’s desk for his signature.” said Rouse.

Excitement was in the air as the State House Chamber’s video showed the visitor’s gallery packed with people cheering and applauding.

One of the supporters of the bill Gerri Cannon, told WMUR…“As part of the transgender community, I’ve seen so much pain. People struggling to keep their jobs, people being fired just because they’re transgender, people being thrown out of their apartments because some guy doesn’t like who they are.” Cannon told WMUR.

Of course you had the typical opponents of the bill spewing the never ending 30 year old now debunked talking points claiming that extending anti-discrimination protections to Transgenders could have negative repercussions such as predatory men will now be be able to prey on women and girls in public restrooms.

As proof…Rep. Jeanine Notter (R-Merrimack) said…“If a violent man wants to harm a woman, all he has to do is say he identifies as a woman and he can go wherever he pleases. Never again will there be a safe space for women,” said Notter.

Then of course you had to have an extreme comment comming from Rep. Al Baldasaro (R-Londonderry), who said that if such legislation were passed, it would “open up the doors where a male who is a female is able to take a shower with my granddaughters.” said Baldasaro.

New Hampshire is currently the only New England state that doesn’t have anti-discrimination laws protecting transgender people. If HB 1319 is signed into law, it could move other state legislatures to follow.