In a narrow vote this year, Democratic lawmakers were able to lift the New Hampshire Republicans’ ban on gender-affirming health care for transgender children.
The ban was repealed by the state’s House of Representatives on Thursday, reflecting a social debate that has polarized Americans in recent years. Proponents of these bans contend that transgender individuals shouldn’t undergo surgery until they are adults to facilitate their transition into a new gender. However, opponents argue that these restrictions unfairly target the transgender community and that the government shouldn’t interfere in these medical decisions.
The bill, passed 199–175, would outlaw gender-affirming care for anyone under the age of 18 residing in the state if it were to become law. The legislation still needs to be approved by the Republican-led Senate and signed by GOP Governor Chris Sununu, who has not yet indicated his stance.
Three Republicans voted against the bill, with 11 members either not voting or being absent, forcing Republicans—who have a very slim majority—to rely on Democratic votes to pass it.
Just enough Democrats broke with their party to pass the bill, saving it from defeat.
The legislation was supported by 184 Republicans, 14 Democrats, and one independent, while 172 Democrats and three Republicans opposed it. The bill would have narrowly failed 189-185 if these Democrats had voted against it.
The policy “opens the door to further eroding” transgender individuals’ rights across the state, said Alexis Simpson, deputy Democratic leader of the New Hampshire House, in an interview with Newsweek on Friday afternoon. Democrats will “continue to fight for legislation that lets all our young people know that we see them, care for them and want them to thrive,” she pledged.
“We had the opportunity to defend the equality law that we passed in 2018,” Simpson added. “The attacks on LGBTQ+ citizens and medical professionals in the N.H. House continue, which saddens me greatly.”
Democratic Representative Jonah Wheeler explained his vote in a statement on the House floor.
“The issue at hand is whether or not minors under the age of 18 should be allowed to have these treatments. Despite being a progressive who unflinchingly supports equal rights for transgender, homosexual, and gay individuals, I fought until my last breath for them to be recognized as human beings. And I do not believe that is the case, despite being a progressive who supports those individual rights,” he said.
Newsweek also contacted Matt Wilhelm, the majority leader of the New Hampshire House, for comment.
One of the state’s trans lawmakers criticized the bill.
“Being a trans legislator wasn’t going to be easy, but today I learned just how hard it could be,” Democratic Representative Alissandra Murray wrote on Twitter. “I sat and watched as my colleagues debated over my rights and community while being opposed by people I thought were my friends. The pain of betrayal like this is indescribable.”
