I am writing to express my concern with the focused attacks on the rights of transgender individuals, which is happening on both the national and local level. In New Hampshire, there have been numerous bills introduced this year regarding gender identity ranging from requiring school employees to disclose information to parents (SB 96), bills prohibiting “biologically male” students from participating in female designated sports (SB211), prohibiting gender-affirming care for those under 18 (HB377, HB 712), and rolling back nondiscrimination protections by permitting classification based on “biological” sex in bathrooms and detention facilities (HB 148). It is estimated that nearly $215 million dollars was spent on network TV ads targeting transgender people this past election. This estimate does not include additional money spent on streaming and cable ads. Approximately one percent of the U.S. population is comprised of transgender people and transgender rights are not at the forefront of the primary issues that Americans are concerned with. Yet, here we are seeing our trans service members being attacked, restrictions being placed on healthcare access and lifting of anti-discrimination laws for this specific population. Making matters worse, many of our elected officials are not listening to their constituents and recommending “ought to pass” on several bills despite in-person and on-line testimony reflecting the opposite. It is time that NH legislators listened to the people and address issues that matter to Granite Staters and stop just promoting the national agenda.

Art Wolfe

Concord