Opponents of efforts to expand New Hampshire’s excellent anti-discrimination laws to include gender identity have resorted to fear mongering about bathrooms because they don’t have a factual argument to make.

People whose job it is to keep our communities safe have expressed overwhelming support for the bill.

Consider the fine words of Anthony Colarusso: "As chief of the Dover Police Department and a member of law enforcement for over 31 years, I know our communities are safer when everyone is treated fairly and equally under the law and that includes transgender people. This group is actually disproportionately targeted for harassment and assault. However, in places where legal protections are in place, rates of violence against transgender individuals go down with no uptick in public safety incidents. Transgender equality and equal treatment for all is ultimately about building stronger communities for everyone."

The bill is supported by the New Hampshire Police Chiefs Association and the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, two organizations on the front lines of the fight for public safety. The idea that they would support legislation that would expose anyone to danger in a restroom is on its face absurd and should give people peddling this calumny reason to rethink their irrational statements.

We’re confident that the overwhelming majority of people in New Hampshire support the state’s “Law Against Discrimination” which declares: “The general court hereby finds and declares that practices of discrimination against any of its inhabitants because of age, sex, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability or national origin are a matter of state concern, that such discrimination not only threatens the rights and proper privileges of its inhabitants but menaces the institutions and foundation of a free democratic state and threatens the peace, order, health, safety and general welfare of the state and its inhabitants.” The law further stipulates “no person shall be discriminated against on account of sexual orientation.”

The areas where people cannot be discriminated against are listed as: “employment, in places of public accommodation and in housing accommodations.”

One area not protected by the state’s anti-discrimination law is “gender identity.” To remedy this omission, a group of bipartisan lawmakers introduced House Bill 478, which adds the words “gender identity” between the words “sex” and “race” to the state’s anti-discrimination law everywhere those protected by the law are listed. The bill also defines gender identity.

After listening to more than six hours of testimony from transgendered people and their families; from law enforcement officers, members of the military and businesses who spoke of the advantage to the state being seen by workers as supportive and inclusive, the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee voted to recommend the full House support the bill by a margin of 15-2.

Then, over the weekend, lawmakers were flooded by cut-and-paste emails opposing the “Bathroom Bill.” In response, the AP reported House Speaker Shawn Jasper will try to table the bill Wednesday so it cannot be debated and voted on, delaying much needed protections for transgender individuals. We urge representatives to vote against tabling the bill and to vote in favor of protecting their fellow citizens from discrimination.

Regardless of what the House does today, we feel it’s important to say we respect the courage of those who testified in support of this bill, particularly those who have been discriminated against because of their gender identity. As transgendered people bravely share their stories, we’re certain fear will be replaced by understanding. Gender identity protections will be added to state law because the people of New Hampshire do not support any form of discrimination.