Celebrating trans pride | Photo: Flickr/Ted Eytan
The New Hampshire passed a historic bill protecting transgender people from discrimination on Wednesday (2 May).
HB 1319 updates the state’s anti-discrimination laws regarding employment, housing, and public space. The bill includes protecting transgender individuals in this area.
Legislators voted in a bipartisan manner, passing the bill with a 14-10 vote. The House passed the bill in March.
It now heads to Republican Governor Chris Sununu’s desk. He is expected to sign the bill and make it law in the coming weeks.
New Hampshire is now the 19th state in the country to provide comprehensive LGBTQ protections. This is also the first statewide legislative win for LGBTQ rights since 2016.
‘This law will go a long way to affirm the dignity of transgender people and allow them to truly live free,’ said Linds Jakows, campaign manager of Freedom New Hampshire. This campaign provided a big push to pass the bill.
‘This victory would not have been possible without the voices of transgender people who have been telling their stories and educating lawmakers about the urgent need to make sure all Granite Staters are fully protected under the law.
A legislative battleground
Bills and laws are becoming a key way to fight for LGBTQ rights within the United States.
However, they are also a way to attack these rights and protections.
Recently, both Kansas and Oklahoma introduced and pushed forward bills making it harder for LGBTQ people to adopt. Over the last couple of days, both states’ legislative bodies passed the bills and they now head for the respective governors.
Elsewhere, other states are making positive progress like New Hampshire.
Hawaii recently banned conversion therapy for minors, as did Maryland.
For now, states are the main places to watch as this fight rages on.
