Fathers of transgender kids make final plea on eve of Senate showdown
May 14—CONCORD — Two fathers of transgender children who described themselves as conservative made a final plea Tuesday for the state Senate to reject four bills that they claim would target LGBTQ+ youth.
Scott Callahan of Windham said he's a "big gun guy" and learned about the transgender issue early on when his child, at age 7, said they didn't want to live anymore in their birth gender.
"Gender transition was so far from anything I had experienced. I'm a baby boomer and a crane operator; I'm not spending my free time discussing gender identity with people," Callahan said during a virtual press conference on Zoom Tuesday. "I didn't understand what my child was feeling, but I didn't have to. I just had to do my best to help them as only a parent can."
Tom Huckman of West Ossipee said his transgender daughter, Sarah, played three seasons of high school sports in their hometown because local school district officials supported her right to compete.
"It was never about dominating her peers; she just wanted to do activities with her friends," Huckman said. "As a conservative, I firmly believe that the fundamental principles of freedom and equality should transcend partisan lines."
The Senate meets Wednesday and Thursday this week, and all Republicans appear united behind the four bills. If they pass, they would go to the desk of Gov. Chris Sununu, who has yet to take a position on them.
The bills address:
—Transgender sports: Banning those born as boys from playing in girls sports from fifth through 12th grade in public schools and private schools if they compete against public schools (HB 1205).
—Parental notification: This would require schools give notice to parents and allow them to "opt out" of their children receiving information about gender identity in school. It would also prohibit districts from enacting policies that bar employees from answering parents' questions about their students' "mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being" to include sexuality (HB 1312).
—Sex reassignment surgery for minors: New Hampshire would join a growing number of states that bar people under 18 from having sex-reassignment surgery (HB 619).
—Medicaid coverage: Federal Medicaid money for lower-income families in New Hampshire could not be used to pay for any gender-reassignment treatment for minors (HB 1660).
Sen. Tim Lang, R-Sanbornton, said the bill regarding parental notification would encourage dialogue between parents and children.
"If this topic is coming up and the parent is notified about it, this encourages the kind of conversation with parents," Lang said recently.
A coalition of groups opposed to these bills contend the legislation could put children at risk who are fearful of "coming out" to their parents.
Supporters of the ban on transgender athletes maintain those born as boys have an unfair physical advantage when they play on female teams.
Chris Erchull, an attorney with GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), said a federal judge has already struck down a West Virginia law regarding trans athletes that supporters said was modeled after the pending bill here.
Two weeks ago, the closely divided House indefinitely postponed a Senate-passed bill requiring parents be informed if they ask school officials about any "material information" regarding their child. (SB 341).
A Manchester school board policy that blocked a parent's right to be told about a child's gender identity discussions sparked that measure.
The two bills on sex reassignment surgery passed comfortably in the House, but the other two barely made it through the House the first time.
Supporters don't want to risk another House vote by making any changes to the bills before they go to the Senate this week.
Huckman, one of the fathers who spoke Tuesday, said the governor must veto all four bills if they reach his desk.
"Today, I urge Governor Sununu to uphold that commitment to doing what is right by speaking out against the slew of anti- LGBTQ+ bills currently making their way through the State House," he said.
