NH House committee kills bill that would have barred transgender student athletes
CONCORD — Following hours of emotional testimony, the New Hampshire House Education Committee voted against a bill to prohibit transgender students from playing on the sports teams of their preferred gender identity.
The Education Committee voted 19-1 Tuesday to send SB 375 to interim study, politely killing the bill. It will go on the consent calendar when it goes to the full House, meaning it’s almost certain not to pass.
A similar bill, HB 1205, is still alive after passing the House in March but has not yet been heard by the Senate. SB 375, however, went a little further than the House bill: it would apply to both secondary and collegiate school levels and would also prohibit transgender girls from entering female-designated locker rooms and bathrooms.
That was one of the reasons the lawmakers in the Education Committee voted against SB 375.
“We've already passed previously a bill that deals with athletics in the secondary levels,” said committee Chairman Rep. Rick Ladd, R-Haverhill. “This bill also extends it to the college collegiate level, which we did not support when we passed our initial bill.”
Lawmakers had varying reasons for supporting the interim study motion.
“I don't mind the idea of telling colleges and universities what we need to be doing on this, but my hang-up here is that in this bill, there is an exception that allows young women to participate on boys’ teams. I believe that's somewhat inconsistent with the goal of preventing injury,” Rep. Mike Belcher, R-Wakefield, said. “I also think boys’ sports deserve to be protected.”
Rep. David Luneau, D-Hopkinton, said that he voted against the bill because it discriminates against transgender students and violates Title IX.
“We think SB 375 doesn't have any place, doesn't have any business in New Hampshire,” said Luneau. “And frankly, what we heard from almost 40 people yesterday, that, hey, these kids just want to play and be part of the team.”
The ACLU of New Hampshire said they were "glad" that the committee voted to recommend the bill to interim study.
“We urge the full N.H. House and Senate to put a decisive stop to the many pieces of harmful legislation attacking the rights of trans youth and make clear that trans youth belong here,” said Courtney Reed, Policy Advocate at the ACLU of New Hampshire. “Any passage of these bills would make clear that lawmakers are not listening to transgender Granite Staters, the medical community, educators, child welfare advocates, and civil rights advocates. It is incumbent upon all of us to build communities that help trans people, especially trans youth, know they are loved, supported, and not alone.”
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH House committee kills bill barring transgender student athletes
