Committee Recommends Against Transgender Rights Bill

Proposal Before Senate After Narrowly Passing House

CONCORD, N.H. — A Senate committee voted unanimously Thursday to recommend killing legislation that would extend antidiscrimination protections for transgender people.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 5-0 to send the bill to the full Senate with a negative recommendation. The vote followed three hours of testimony from supporters saying the bill is a civil rights issue and opponents saying it’s not needed.

Sarah Blanchette testified that she was born a man but has faced discrimination after her transition to a woman.

“What this bill will ensure is that we can all be who we really are without persecution,” she said.

Gerri Cannon, of Merrimack, said she believes she was laid off because of her gender identity.

“However, because there is nothing in New Hampshire law that explicitly protects people like me, I had nowhere to turn,” she said.

Flanked by civil rights groups, supporters of HB 415 said that it’s a measure that would give people like Blanchette and Cannon equal protection under the law. They also chastised opponents who have dubbed it the “bathroom bill” because they believe it would open the door to sexual predators in public facilities.

“Nothing, nothing could be further from the truth,” said Sen. Marsha Fuller Clark, D-Portsmouth. “In fact, these are outright lies.”

But opponents still made the argument before the Senate committee.

“You’re going to tell me that it’s OK for my daughter to be subjected to men entering her public restroom if you vote for this,” said opponent Ann Maria Banfield. “That is the message I am going to get.”

Some lawmakers said they believe current laws already cover transgender residents against discrimination and that in a budget crisis, social issues are taking up too much time.

“We have a lot more important things up here to be looking at and taking a lot of time on than some of these things that are before us today,” said Sen. Ted Gatsas, R-Manchester.

The House passed the bill last week by a single vote after it initially rejected it. It’s expected to go to the Senate floor on Wednesday.

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