CONCORD —Transgender residents and their families are seeking passage of anti-discrimination legislation expected to go before the full Senate by May 3. HB 1319 would update the state’s laws prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing and public spaces to explicitly include the state’s transgender residents.
The five-member Senate Judiciary Committee recommended that HB 1319 be sent to interim study for further vetting. Freedom New Hampshire is urging the full Senate to reject this recommendation and instead pass the measure this year, sending the bill to Gov. Chris Sununu for his signature.
The Judiciary Committee’s recommendation to further study the bill was made after more than six hours of testimony from business leaders, healthcare professionals, faith leaders, law enforcement officers and transgender citizens and advocates urging passage.
On March 7, the New Hampshire House of Representatives passed the measure with strong bipartisan support. The House voted 195-129 in favor of the bill after an Ought to Pass recommendation from the House Judiciary Committee.
“The reality of discrimination against transgender people is not up for debate — and today’s vote to needlessly send HB 1319 for further study is nothing more than a polite way to put HB 1319 on the sidelines,” Linds Jakows, Freedom New Hampshire campaign manager, said.
“At best, it sends the message that ending discrimination is not a priority — and at worst, could allow discrimination to continue unchecked,” Jakows said. “All Granite staters should be free to live their lives without the fear of discrimination, including transgender people.”
Jakows said the bill is an “urgent solution” to a pressing problem and has been thoroughly vetted during over 12 hours of committee hearings this year.
“In fact, the New Hampshire House resoundingly passed HB 1319 with overwhelming bipartisan support,” Jakows said. “We know that one five-person Senate committee does not speak for all New Hampshire legislators, let alone all Granite staters who value individual liberty and opportunity for all.”
Jakows said the state can’t afford to allow discrimination to continue.
HB 1319 has 15 sponsors including 9 Republican House members and three Republican senators. Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley and Sens. John Reagan and Dan Innis publicly support HB 1319 as cosponsors. During the first House Judiciary hearing on January 31st, the House Libertarian Caucus announced its official endorsement of HB 1319, joining the Children’s Caucus, the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police, the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire, The Women’s Foundation, and the New Hampshire Human Rights Commission.
Sununu is expected to sign the bill as reported in the Union Leader. Hundreds testified in support of HB 1319 during the House and Senate judiciary committee hearings. Fewer than two dozen people testified against the bill.
Freedom New Hampshire is the nonpartisan coalition of businesses large and small, law enforcement, anti-violence advocates, faith leaders, and transgender residents and their families working to introduce Granite Staters to their transgender neighbors and to make the case for equal opportunity and freedom from discrimination. To learn more, visit FreedomNewHampshire.org.
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