Trans-gender rights bill passes (New Hampshire) House by one vote

[Ian David]

Source: Union Leader

By TOM FAHEY
State House Bureau Chief
1 hour, 22 minutes ago

Concord – By a single vote, the New Hampshire House today reversed itself and passed a bill that bars discrimination on the basis of gender identity. The proposal was dubbed the "bathroom bill" by its opponents.

The bill, House Bill 415, allows individuals to bring actions at the Human Rights Commission when they feel they have been discriminated against on the basis of their sexual identity, or the way they express it, such as with their clothing or makeup.

Gov. John Lynch did not endorse the bill after its passage. His spokesman, Colin Manning, said, "We have a comprehensive anti-discrimination law here in New Hampshire. We are not convinced that the concerns raised by the supporters of this legislation aren't already covered under existing law."

<snip>

The bill adds the words “gender identity or expression” to the state’s anti-discrimination laws that protect people from discrimination based on race, sex, religion, age, and national origin.

Read more: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Trans-gender+rights+bill+passes+House+by+one+vote&articleId=c0687353-74a5-4278-ba46-6c016c2e32a3

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Hat tip to http://twitter.com/JoinTheImpact

[hedgehog]

1. You know, no one really cares what people who are born with

indeterminate sexual organs do with their lives. While there is some debate about whether the parents should make irrevocable decisions, we pretty much leave it up to the people involved to decide how they want to live. So what's all the fuss about people whose brains are not wired the same as the majority's?



Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides should be required reading in high school!

[Politicalboi]

3. Trans Gender

People who change sexes to match what their brain tells them who they are later in life. Men who still have penises but ID as a woman can use the women's restroom.

[ShareTheWoods]

5. Is that unconditional?

Or does a penis packing person need credentials to whip it out in the Ladies room?
Has there been any thought to adding urinals?

[AlbertCat]

11. Has there been any thought to adding urinals?

I imagine if your brain really identifies itself as female, you won't want to stand and pee.

[LeftHander]

20. I am all for unisex facilities...

makes bathroom and locker room gender issues non-existent.

Someday like in Starship Troopers the genders can mix in facilities without the leering and titillation.

Maybe when we are at war with giant bugs...

[FreeState]

2. Lets hope it makes it to the Governors desk and he signs it into law...

we may need to start calling him.

[ShareTheWoods]

7. Calling the NH Governer as a non-citizen

Will they take calls from those out of state who do not reside in NH?

[myrna minx]

4. Excellent! K&R. This has been a great week for GLBT equality.

:bounce:

[chollybocker]

6. This is great news.

[happygoluckytoyou]

8. I HAVE A DREAM... before a gender change, get married... it really f's with the GOP mindset...----->

extra credit for marrying someone of the opposite gender and then getting changed to match....
extra credit for marrying an illegal alien
extra credit for ANYTHING that the GOP can't put in a box and label..........

IT IS TOO FUN TO WATCH THEM EXPLAIN "when divorce would be okay" or "who get's the mom rights"

The one I am waiting for...... HE MARRIES HER
................................THEY HAVE A BABY
................................HE BECOMES A SHE
..................................SHE BECOMES A HE
...................................THEY APPLY FOR DIVORCE AND FIGHT OVER CUSTODY

awwww.... come on... you know it would drive Rush up a wall

[momdogz]

9. I know....how about 2 opposite genders marrying, one is a Muslim from Cuba

and then they both have sex reassignment surgery, but before they do one gives birth to their child while they are in Iran, so the family now has citizens from Cuba and from Iran, and they lose their jobs and business in the recession so now muslims and illegal aliens and transexuals are getting bailouts and also collecting unemployment from the US government.....that would really rile OReilly and Rush!!

[sarcasmo]

18. That might give Limpballs a heart attack.

[Ken Burch]

10. Glad to hear it.

And let me be the first to say that the fact that New Hampshire has enough transgendered people to get this passed makes that state seem sound MUCH more interesting to me than it ever did before. Adds a whole new meaning to "Live Free or Die!"

If only Meldrim Thomson and William Loeb had lived to see this day. They'd be crying in the snow!

[tomm2thumbs]

12. this is some pretty amazing stuff - the younger generation thinks nothing of it, but for me

it's a huge change happening - and the youth of today are going to continue to 'not care' about people's differences as much as accept them for their uniqueness. It's a totally different perspective than we had growing up.

[JerseygirlCT]

13. Wow. Quite a streak lately!

Good news all around!

[Politicub]

14. What a great two weeks it has been for equality!

You rock, New Hampshire!

[pink-o]

15. All these states are just making California look even stupider!

I'm still hoping Prop 8 is just gonna sit on the books without being enforced, until it can be quietly killed in a few years!

[knitter4democracy]

16. Yay! This was the right decision!

I think people get all bent out of shape over nothing. Who cares if someone defines him/herself differently? I've had lovely chats with transgendered people during knit-ins, and I never worried which bathroom they used. It's not a big deal.

[sarcasmo]

17. Kick back to the top for my Transgender friends.

[AB_Positive]

19. Ahahaha, my bigot boss now has no recourse.

Go ahead... TRY to fire me for being trans NOW! Sometimes I love this state. Wish it were by more than one vote though, but a win's a win!

[Ian David]

21. Still needs to be signed by the governor, still probably has an "effective date." n/t

[Vidar]

22. Good for New Hampshire.

[Zhade]

23. YAY! I love transpeople! They are courageous.

And they can be quite attractive to boot! : )

(I have a soft spot for MTFs. Swoon.)