Advocates celebrate Governor Ayotte’s veto of anti-LGBTQ+ bill

CONCORD, N.H. - On July 15, Governor Ayotte vetoed HB 148, a bill that would have drastically rolled back critical nondiscrimination protections for transgender people.

In 2018, New Hampshire became the first U.S. state to pass an update to its nondiscrimination law to include transgender people through an entirely Republican-controlled State House, Senate, and Governor. The bill vetoed yesterday would have rolled back some of those gender nondiscrimination protections and instead opened the door to discrimination against transgender and gender nonconforming people in public spaces, including restrooms.

Last year, Governor Chris Sununu vetoed a similar bill, HB 396.

Advocates in New Hampshire gave the following statements:

Linds Jakows, Founder of 603 Equality, said, “Every transgender or gender non-conforming person in New Hampshire just breathed a massive sigh of relief. We shouldn’t have to celebrate keeping as basic of a right as using the bathrooms that are safest for us, but we must lift up this victory against the fearmongering that seeks to keep transgender people out of participating in public life. A veto two years running of this attack on our freedoms sends the message: Bathroom bans have no place in New Hampshire. Now, Governor Ayotte must ensure that transgender teens and their families retain the ability to get the healthcare that allows them to live full, happy lives, by vetoing both trans youth healthcare bans.”

Courtney Reed, Policy Advocate at the ACLU of New Hampshire, said, “We are heartened that Governor Ayotte vetoed this discriminatory, detrimental, and regressive bill. Transgender people in our state are our family, friends, and neighbors, and they deserve far better than to continue to weather these unwarranted and deeply harmful legislative attacks. We urge the Governor to similarly veto two bills that would impact health care for transgender youth.”

Heidi Carrington Heath, Executive Director of NH Outright, said, “This veto is a win for LGBTQ+ youth across the Granite State. Governor Ayotte stood in a long tradition of Granite State values protecting freedom, and individual liberty for all of NH today. Our LGBTQ+ youth deserve access to all of the spaces and places they need to thrive, and this veto helps ensure they can continue to do just that.”

Chris Erchull, Senior Staff Attorney at GLAD Law, said, “We’re pleased with Governor Ayotte’s veto of HB 148. This keeps the bipartisan nondiscrimination law passed in 2018 intact and ensures all Granite Staters — including our transgender friends, neighbors and co-workers — will continue to have fair and safe access to our public spaces. Governor Ayotte’s action today reflects New Hampshire’s bedrock values of freedom and fairness for all.”

Sandra Denoncour of Lovering Health Center said, “Governor Ayotte’s veto was the right thing to do. As a leader representing all of New Hampshire’s citizens, it is critical that the Governor stand up to lawmakers’ attempts to discriminate against transgender youth and adults in our state. While we celebrate this essential protection, there is more work to do. We hope the Governor will use her veto power to safeguard essential healthcare for transgender youth and protect the rights of families to make healthcare choices with their trusted healthcare providers.”

Grace Murray, Political Director at NH Youth Movement, said, “Bathroom bans are discriminatory and wrong. We’re so happy to see Gov. Ayotte veto such a harmful bill. Transgender people in NH deserve to use the restroom with peace of mind, just like other NH residents. We hope that Gov. Ayotte will continue to put our “live free or die” values first and veto the gender-affirming care bans when they reach her desk.”

“Governor Ayotte’s veto of HB 148 is a welcome and needed relief for transgender and gender-nonconforming people across New Hampshire. This dangerous bill would have opened the door to discrimination and stripped away critical protections for the transgender community here in the Granite State," said Christina Warriner, New Hampshire State Director, Reproductive Equity Now. "We’re deeply grateful to every community member, advocate, and lawmaker who spoke out and stood up to protect the rights and dignity of trans people in our state. This is an important step, but our work is far from over — together we will continue fighting until every Granite Stater can live safely and freely, no matter their gender identity.”

Julia Hawthorne, 603 Equality Board member, said, “As one of the many transgender Granite Staters, today's veto is cause for celebration. The governor’s veto sends a clear message: in New Hampshire, we value freedom, fairness, and the fundamental right of every person to exist in public life without shame or fear. Now, we call on Governor Ayotte to veto the proposed trans youth healthcare bans which will soon cross her desk. The message to the New Hampshire legislature must be clear: transgender people are welcome in the Granite State. 603 Equality will continue to fight for a New Hampshire where all of us—no matter our gender identity—can live openly, safely, and authentically. Today, we move forward with pride. Even as we take a moment to breathe and enjoy the moment, we pick up our work yet again.”

Emma Sevigny, Children's Behavioral Health Policy Coordinator, New Futures, said, “We are relieved that Governor Ayotte vetoed HB 148, preserving New Hampshire's current bipartisan nondiscrimination protections—now we urge her to continue protecting the health of transgender youth by vetoing HB 377 and HB 712. When young people can access the care they need to thrive, they have better mental health outcomes. These two bills would harm youth by denying families access to evidence-based care.”

Nancy Brennan, Kent Street Coalition, “ We thank Governor Ayotte for recognizing the rights of all Granite-Staters to live free. The bipartisan law enacted in 2018 to add gender orientation to the list of non-discrimination categories remains in place. Our transgender friends and neighbors will continue to be protected from the misinformation campaign of a few. We ask the Governor to also veto the two anti-trans care bills, to trust that parents and doctors, along with every major medical association, know more about adolescent health than politicians do.”