Advocates for transgender rights protest Senate’s parental right bill

Mar. 29—CONCORD — Advocates for transgender students said a Senate-passed parental rights bill (SB 272) coming up next month is just as much a privacy rights attack on LGBTQ youth as a proposal the House of Representatives narrowly rejected.

The House Education Committee decided that public comments on the topic would be delayed until April 18 in anticipation of the highly anticipated hearing, which was scheduled for Thursday.

The organizers anticipated a large crowd and have moved the hearing into Representatives Hall, the House chamber.

Linds Jakows, cofounder of 603 Equality, stated that the Senate bill makes it even clearer by requiring teachers to inform parents about any gender identity discussions or associations their students have made.

Jakows claimed that the language targeted transgender youth is more specific during Wednesday’s virtual press conference.

The New Hampshire Republican State Committee is continuing to press for the bill by sending out an email alert inviting supporters to weigh-in.

“We need your help. “Please attend this hearing to show your care,” the alert from the state GOP stated.

Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry), House Speaker, decided to give another House committee the first chance to examine this measure.

The House bill (HB 10) which was defeated, 195-189, went to the House Children and Family Law Committee for a review.

Steven Smith (R-Charlestown), House Deputy speaker, said that this is one of the top priorities for the year.

Erica Perez (political director, New Hampshire Youth Movement) spoke out about her struggles at home and how she came out to her family as non-binary, bisexual, and bisexual.

“It didn’t go well; my mom said a prayer,” Perez recalled.

“Even though it was not acknowledged that I had been kicked out, it was something that I did.”

Heather Oulette Cygan is a parent, educator, and said that she supported Cameron’s decision to come out as gay.

After reading his essay for college admission, she was shocked to discover how stressful the whole process was.

She recalled, “He was describing anxiety and fear and something that he had dealt with, and it was him coming to me.”

Megan Tuttle, President of the American Federation of Teachers, and Deb Howes, the American Federation of Teachers president, said that the legislation would inadvertently require teachers to “surveillance,” on students.

Tuttle said, “This bill also tries to put students into boxes based on their location, the color of them skin, or in this instance, their gender.”

The Senate bill will not charge educators with a crime, unlike the House bill. Teachers could lose their teaching license if they violate this version.

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