Rights!!! NH conservatives propose legislation infringing on the civil liberties of trans people in the state of New Hampshire!

Currently, in New Hampshire, Republicans are attacking trans rights and infringing on civil liberties by attempting to obscure fundamental healthcare access to people identifying as trans. 

Barriers to healthcare access for trans individuals often include but aren’t limited to access to knowledgeable and ethical providers specialized in trans healthcare, systemic discrimination, fiscal obstacles, and navigating a healthcare system not created for trans and non-binary people. “Anti-trans legislation across the U.S. has increased in record amounts, from 79 bills in 2020 to 147 bills in 2021, with 2022 already showing signs of reaching a new historical high.” (Kinney et al., 2022) In short, gender-diverse people are anyone who does not identify as cisgender. The diversity of gender identity and expression is vast and occurring among civilizations worldwide. Many do not understand gender-diverse individuals and how public policy impacts their health and well-being and has adverse ripple effects on bordering subcultures within the community. (Kinney et al., 2022) The 2021 National Survey on LGBTQ “Youth Mental Health found disproportionately high rates of discrimination and concerning mental health outcomes, and it connected these with issues such as conversion therapy and lack of access to gender marker changes, which are also subjects of current policy initiatives.” (Kinney et al., 2022, p.493) Due to discriminatory legislation being green-lighted around the United States, the actualization of adverse effects on trans individuals’ well-being and mental health is becoming a public health concern and having a profound effect on human service delivery programs.

“Anti-trans legislation across the U.S. has increased in record amounts, from 79 bills in 2020 to 147 bills in 2021, with 2022 already showing signs of reaching a new historical high.”

(Kinney et al., 2022)

LGBTQIA+ Activist Erin Reed of New Hampshire published a thread to twitter of a filed 2023 Republican bill to refuse gender transition approaches for all, youth and adults alike. The proposed New Hampshire bill LSR0071 demands the detransition of all trans people. (Chudy, 2022) Not only will this have lethal effects on the Trans community members by obstructing medical care, but adversity spills into adjacent cultures, reaffirming extreme disparities and delivering undesirable fiscal consequences on the country. “Lack of resources precludes these community members from some life options that are available to more affluent persons, such as safe neighborhoods, adequate housing, and economic security.” (Jansson, 2017, p.5) Perpetuating a caste system and failing to invest in trans communities depletes community infrastructure, jobs, and efficacious constituents. Acknowledging the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of policy advocacy determines the resolution areas on multiple scales. However, this is the inhumane experience that people in the queer community experience daily. Blocking critical healthcare access for the most vulnerable community members has long-term adverse outcomes for society and the human services delivery system. Potential proposed anti-trans state legislations not only directly impact people’s lives, health, and welfare of trans people, but they also shape one’s vision of society; in how we treat others different from ourselves. (Kinney et al., 2022) It is imperative to obliterate ignorant and biased proposals in combating social discord within which anti-queer sentiment and rhetoric cultivate misunderstanding of, hostility towards, and even violence against the queer community, perpetuating social dissent.

Perpetuating a caste system and failing to invest in trans communities depletes community infrastructure, jobs, and efficacious constituents.

Moreover, envision one’s social “status and access to opportunities are reciprocal; people whose income increases, can afford expensive housing, which tends to be near better schools and jobs and gives them access to opportunities, which, in turn, allows their income to increase again.” (Jansson, 2017, p.34) Adopting a multicultural and diverse lens allows policy advocates to promote cultural competency and inclusion by promoting equity within the implemented policy legislation to ensure equitable access for all individuals. Leveling the playing field of social equity would promote access to opportunities for marginalized community members who experience the adverse effects of structural discrimination, allowing once-limited opportunities for growth within society to be accessible. In that case, one has an ethical obligation to attempt to improve the social experience of trans residents and other persons who experience inequality for the greater good.

References 

Chudy, E. (2022, December 15). New Hampshire Republicans want to erase trans people – banning kids and adults from transitioning. PinkNews | Latest Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans News | LGBTQ+ News. https://www.thepinknews.com/2022/12/15/new-hampshire-transition-ban-kids-adults/ 

Jansson, B. S. (2017). Empowerment Series: Becoming An Effective Policy Advocate (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Kinney, M. K., Pearson, T. E., & Ralston Aoki, J. (2022). Improving “Life Chances”: Surveying the Anti-Transgender Backlash, and Offering a Transgender Equity Impact Assessment Tool for Policy Analysis. Journal of Law, Medicine &Amp; Ethics, 50(3), 489–508. https://doi.org/10.1017/jme.2022.89