New Hampshire Legislators Push for Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
New Hampshire is on the verge of becoming the first New England state to enact a ban on gender-affirming care for minors, including puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, through House Bill 377. Another proposed measure, House Bill 712, aims to expand last year’s legislation banning gender-affirming genital surgeries for youth. If approved, these bills will join over 25 other states in restricting such medical treatments for transgender minors.
The New Hampshire Senate’s current version of HB 377 allows minors already receiving care to continue their treatment, while shifting violations from felony charges to oversight by the state medical board. Critics argue this legislative move undermines parental rights and could seriously impact families’ abilities to make informed healthcare decisions for their children.
Legal experts, including Shannon Minter from the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, have condemned the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, which endorsed the legality of banning medical care for transgender minors, arguing it disregards discrimination rights. Some Republican lawmakers, like State Representative Sayra DeVito, support the ban, framing it as protection for children against irreversible medical decisions.
Opposition from Democrats is staunch, with House Minority Leader Alexis Simpson asserting these measures could endanger the lives of transgender youth, citing significant spikes in mental health issues among this demographic following anti-trans legislation. Families with transgender children, such as the Emrich family from Hooksett, NH, are contemplating relocating to states with more supportive healthcare policies.
As negotiations on HB 377 wrap up, New Hampshire’s Governor Kelly Ayotte has yet to reveal her stance on the proposed bans, as advocates stress the urgency for preserving access to gender-affirming care.
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