CONCORD, N.H. (WCAX) – Protest signs are waving at New Hampshire’s statehouse as a set of controversial bills head to Governor Chris Sununu’s desk.
Among the hotly debated pieces of legislation Sununu can sign or veto are bills organizing interscholastic sports by sex at birth, a ban on genital gender reassignment surgery for minors, and a partial rollback of the state’s 2018 transgender non-discrimination law that Governor Sununu championed.
Advocates say the bills unfairly target the transgender community, taking to the halls of the statehouse to make their voices heard on Wednesday.
“Just have a spine. Like he doesn’t need to… there’s no reason he needs to give in. There’s no political points he’s gaining by attacking trans people,” said Alice Wade of Dover.
But they are facing opposition.
“I would urge Governor Sununu to stand up and protect girls’ sports. Girls’ sports are for girls. It’s common sense. We don’t want to see a girl get hurt, we don’t even want to see a girl lose a scholarship. That’s what’s happening down in Massachusetts, that’s not the New Hampshire way,” said Casey Crane, a New Hampshire congressional candidate.
Casey Crane is a candidate for New Hampshire’s second district, covering the north and west of the state, including Grafton and Coos counties. She spoke in favor of the bills, saying it was important to her campaign.
Sununu has declined to comment on the protests and has been non-committal regarding the bills.