ALICE WADE
It’s really that simple; I’m a transgender girl and I love it. I just received my high school diploma. I have a mechanical engineering degree, and I currently work as an aviation expert in the coastal region. I recently submitted my graduate college application, and I’m looking forward to my upcoming profession. Lately, I moved in joyfully with my boyfriend, and I never would have had the confidence to accomplish this prior to my transition.
However, I constantly see anti-transgender politicians in a panic on the news about how awful it is that children are discovering what being transgender means, or even the fact that we exist at all.
In particular, on the first day of the period, when our state members visit Concord, they will vote on two bills from last year that strike on Wednesday, January 3. Transgender people like me will have the chance to improve two favorable bills that may give us support.
The bills would undermine transgender adolescents’ access to healthcare (HB 619) and the law in New Hampshire prohibiting discrimination against transgender people (HB 396). New Hampshire had become a safer place for transgender people thanks to these favorable bills. It would be easier to change a name and for other states to receive medical care (HB 368) and gender designation on a birth certificate (HB 264).
When I was 16 and first told my story, my encounter with gender-affirming treatment started. I told my doctor that I believed I was transgender. She greatly aided in my self-understanding and the process of providing gender-affirming care. I had to start hormone treatment as soon as possible because I knew that the longer I waited, the worse things would get due to puberty’s changes. I was finally referred to an endocrinologist who, to my great pleasure, offered gender-affirming treatment. My emotional wellbeing started to improve. Shortly after, things got significantly better, and I’m now more content than ever with who I am. Today, HB 619 poses a threat to end the lifeline that gender-affirming care gave me and all transgender kids in New Hampshire as a student.
Also, due to the fact that some states, including Florida, have already made medical care illegal, some trans people are looking for care in different states. If HB 368 holds up, healthcare providers in New Hampshire are independent, preventing other states from requesting personal medical information from our state and adhering to their regulations.
It’s difficult to change your entire wardrobe and pronouns to fit your true presence, to approach people you know and get them accustomed to your preferred pronouns, just to name a few, and to deal with prejudice in social contexts. New Hampshire passed nationwide anti-discrimination measures in 2018, but some lawmakers are now advancing HB 396 in an effort to add a gap to these defenses, to make judgments based on “biological sex.” Every morning I live as a woman, but anti-trans politicians are attempting to reduce me to my “biological sex” in an effort to re-legalize prejudice.
These politicians don’t see me for who I am; instead, they use me as a scare tactic to intimidate parents
into believing that their children could be transgender simply by learning about it in school. Consequently, although “protecting children” is the main focus, in fact, they’re only preventing children who need to be taken care of.
I’m sick of being your go-to person for fear-mongering, and I hate it when lawmakers limit my rights
for no reason. I’m sick of worrying that someone will discover my identity because my shoulders are too broad or my voice is too strong, and that I’m transgender. All I want to do is live my life and be content with who I am.
In many ways, we’re doing better than ever, but retaliation and complacency are never far from the danger associated with social change that is intensifying. I joined the community lobbying organization 603 Justice because I feel compelled to fight back against the LGBTQ+ freedoms in New Hampshire. storyline. To stop anti-trans lawmakers from spreading misinformation to enrage their supporters against us, to cut through the language and demonstrate how these bans are intended to stop us from getting life-saving medical care, and to demonstrate our trans resilience despite all that is in front of us.
Everyone reading this is encouraged to interact with your area in any way you can. Run for office, engage in contentious debates, reach out to your lawmakers, and speak with a transgender person to understand what it’s really like. I would even advise visiting 603 Equality’s social media for more information and to get in touch with your representatives regarding the bills scheduled for January 3rd.
