New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu has signed a series of controversial bills into law, banning transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports and restricting gender-affirming surgeries for minors. The legislation has sparked significant debate and drawn both support and criticism from various groups and individuals across the state and nation.
Key Takeaways
- Transgender girls in grades 5-12 are banned from participating in girls’ sports teams.
- Gender-affirming surgeries for minors are prohibited under the new laws.
- Parents can opt their children out of public school instruction featuring LGBTQ topics.
- The laws have garnered both bipartisan support and opposition.
Ban on Transgender Girls in Sports
House Bill 1205 mandates that all sports teams for grades 5-12 be designated for males, females, or coed. The law prohibits students identified as male at birth from participating in female teams. Students must verify their sex by producing a birth certificate or other evidence, with the cost borne by the parents. The law, effective August 19, allows students to sue schools that fail to comply.
Restriction on Gender-Affirming Surgeries
House Bill 619 bars physicians from performing genital gender reassignment surgeries on minors. This includes procedures like vaginoplasties, phalloplasties, and metoidioplasties. The law, effective January 1, 2025, classifies such surgeries as unprofessional conduct, subjecting doctors to disciplinary action. Exceptions are made for circumcisions, surgeries to remove malignant or damaged genitalia, and reconstructive surgeries for physical injuries or developmental issues.
Parental Rights in Education
House Bill 1312 expands existing laws requiring teachers to notify parents about sex education curricula. It now includes instruction on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Parents can opt their children out of such instruction, provided they find alternative instruction agreed upon by the school district.
Bipartisan Support and Opposition
The bills have seen support and opposition along party lines. While most Republicans backed the legislation, nearly all Democrats opposed it. Governor Sununu emphasized that the laws aim to protect the health and safety of children and maintain fairness in sports. He noted that similar measures have been taken in other states and countries.
Broader Context
New Hampshire joins a growing list of states enacting laws that restrict transgender youth’s participation in sports and access to gender-affirming care. These measures reflect ongoing national debates about the rights of transgender individuals and the role of government in regulating medical and educational practices.
Sources
- Sununu signs bills to ban trans girls from girls sports, restrict gender-affirming surgeries | New Hampshire Public Radio, New Hampshire Public Radio.
- NH bans body mutilating sex-change surgeries for under-18s | Politics, Christian Post.
- New Hampshire governor signs laws protecting women’s sports and banning sex changes for minors, Voz Media.
- Ohio bans gender-affirming care and restricts transgender athletes despite GOP governor’s veto | PBS News, PBS.
