When LGBTQ+ young people feel support from their family or community, they have much better mental health outcomes. In fact, LGBTQ+ young people who had access to affirming homes, schools, community events, and online spaces reported lower rates of attempting suicide compared to those who did not.
However, nearly 1 in 3 LGBTQ young people said their mental health was poor most of the time or always due to anti-LGBTQ policies and legislation.
Despite this, a series of 2024 bills in New Hampshire targeted LGBTQ+ youth and families. Learn more below.
Bills Signed into Law
On July 19, 2024, Governor Sununu signed three discriminatory bills into law:
- HB 1205 bans transgender girls from playing on school sports teams that align with their gender identity at public middle and high schools.
- HB 619 restricts access to medical care for transgender teens. Specifically, HB 619 bans gender-affirming surgery for transgender teens and prohibit doctors from referring care to out-of-state doctors.
- HB 1312 silences discussions of gender and sexuality in the classroom by implementing a two-week advance notice of any curriculum including those topics.
The Governor vetoed one bill:
- HB 396 would've rolled back some bipartisan protections that the Governor signed into law in 2018. These protections will remain in place, which protect transgender people from discrimination in restrooms and locker rooms.
If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally following the Governor’s signing, please reach out for support:
- National Crisis Lifeline: Dial or text 988
- Trevor Project 24/7 Hotline: 866-488-7386 or Text: 678678
- NAMI New Hampshire Information & Resource Line: 1-800-242-6264 or info@naminh.org
- Seacoast Outright: seacoastoutright.org/resources
The Areas Under Attack
View the One-pager
Bills Not Advancing
The following bills were defeated in the 2024 legislative session. However, certain language and terms from some of these bills were incorporated into other bills that were passed into law.
SB 341: Mandatory Outing in Schools
SB 341 would have required teachers to "out" students to their parents when requested. Bills with mandatory disclosure, like SB 341, discourage young people from finding support that is so critical to their well-being. On May 2, the House of Representatives defeated SB 341 by a vote of 185-172. This harmful bill will NOT advance this session.
HB 1660: Ban on Medical Care
HB 1660 would have banned Medicaid insurance plans from covering gender-affirming surgeries for trans teens. Although it passed the House of Representatives, the Senate voted to table the bill on May 22, meaning that it will not move forward this session.
SB 375: Ban on Sports Participation
SB 375 proposed to ban transgender girls from playing school sports or using female locker rooms. It was amended to extend the ban to include collegiate athletics, making the determination based on biological sex at birth, discriminate against trans people by prohibiting them from using the locker room aligned with their gender identity, and allow legal recourse for those harmed by people who violate the law. On May 2, the House of Representatives voted to refer the bill to Interim Study. However, another similar sports ban bill, HB 1205, is still advancing.
SB 562: Discrimination in Public Spaces
SB 562 is a bill that would have allowed for discrimination against transgender people by banning them from using restrooms or locker rooms and participating in sports that align with their preferred gender identity. The Senate voted to table the bill, meaning that it will likely not advance this session. However, HB 396 is a similar bill that is currently advancing.
SB 524: Ban on Sports Participation
SB 524 proposed to ban transgender student-athletes from playing on school sports teams that align with their gender identity at both the interscholastic and intercollegiate level. The Senate referred SB 524 to Interim Study, meaning it will not move forward this session. However, another similar sports ban bill, HB 1205, is advancing.
HB 1356: Censorship in Schools - Names and Pronouns
HB 1356, the bill that would ban public school employees from using students’ preferred names and pronouns without written permission from the students’ parents or guardians, was defeated in the House. In the House vote, the committee recommendation of Inexpedient to Legislate was upheld, meaning that the bill will not advance this session.
HB 1419: Censorship in Schools - Materials
HB 1419, the bill that would limit a school’s ability to have materials regarding gender identity or sexual orientation, was defeated in the House. The House voted to Indefinitely Postpone the bill, meaning that it will not move forward this session.
HB 1011: Ban on Medical Care
HB 1011, the bill that criminalizes medically necessary care for transgender youth, was defeated in the House. The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted on a recommendation of Inexpedient to Legislate on this bill. In the full House vote, the committee recommendation was upheld, meaning that the bill will not move forward this session.
