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WEBVTT AS NEWHAMPSHIRE DEMOCRATIC PARTYCHAIR.A CONTROVERSIAL BILL TAKESCENTER STAGE AT THE STATEHOUSENEXT WEEK AS LEGISLATORS WILLDEBATE TRANSGENDER RIGHTS.FOR SOME NEW HAMPSHIRE FAMILIES,THIS IS A POLICY ISSUE THAT ISVERY PERSONAL.LIKE ANY TEENAGER GETTING READYFOR A SCHOOL DANCE WITH HERFRIENDS, EMILY FISHBAUGH ISEXCITED.>> I'VE GOT TO DO MY MAKE-UP, MYHAIR, MAKE SURE MY OUTFIT LOOKSGREAT.THINGS LIKE THAT.CHERISE: EMILY IS TRANSGENDER.EVEN THOUGH SHE'S JUST 15, SHE'SALREADY A TRANS ADVOCATE ANDSHARES HER STORY OPENLY.>> MY GOAL IS TO HELP PEOPLE.AND I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO FEELLIKE THEY'RE ALONE BECAUSE BEINGTRANSGENDER ISN'T A BAD THING,AND IT DOESN'T DEFINE WHO YOUARE.CHERISE: EMILY'S PARENTS, LINDAAND MARK, ARE ACCEPTING ANDPROUD OF THEIR DAUGHTER.THEY SAY HER GENDER IDENTITY WASOBVIOUS FROM THE TIME SHE COULDBEGIN EXPRESSING HERSELF.>> EARLY ON, SHE WOULD ASK USQUESTIONS LIKE, 'DAD WHY DID GODMAKE ME A BOY?'CHERISE: EMILY TRANSITIONED INTHE THIRD GRADE.>> WE SAW THIS CHILD THAT WASREALLY MISERABLE AS A BOY, LIKEREALLY MISERABLE.I DON'T THINK SHE'D BE ALIVETODAY TO BLOSSOM INTO THEHAPPIEST PERSON.CHERISE: THE FISHBAUGHS ARECLOSELY TRACKING THE PROGRESS OFHOUSE BILL 478 IN CONCORD,LEGISLATION THAT WOULD AMENDSTATE LAW TO PROHIBITDISCRIMINATION BASED ON GENDERIDENTITY.EMILY WANTS OPPONENTS OF THEBILL TO SEE HER LIFE STRUGGLESARE REAL.>> TRY TO PUT YOURSELF IN THESAME SITUATION.IMAGINE YOURSELF BEING IN THEWRONG BODY, BEING THE OPPOSITEGENDER.CHERISE: EMILY SAYS SHE ANDOTHER TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AREN'TASKING FOR ANYTHING MORE THANEQUALITY.>> I WANT TO BE TREATED JUSTLIKE EVERY SINGLE OTHER PERSONBECAUSE I AM JUST LIKE EVERYONEELSE.CHERISE: THERE IS VOCALOPPOSITION TO HOUSE BILL 478.SHANNON MCGINLEY OF THE SOCIALLYCONSERVATIVE GROUP CORNERSTONEACTION TELLS NEWS 9, "WE RESPECTTHE DIGNITY OF EACH OF OUR NEWHAMPSHIRE NEIGHBORS.THIS INCLUDES RESPECTING PRIVACYAND SAFETY.WE'RE CONCERNED THAT THOSE

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A controversial bill will take center stage at the Statehouse next week as legislators debate transgender rights. For some New Hampshire families, this policy issue is very personal. One such family is the Fisbaughs in North Hampton. Like any teenager getting ready for a school dance with her friends, Emily Fisbaugh is excited. "I've gotta do my make-up, my hair, make sure my outfit looks great, things like that," she said. Emily is transgender. And even though she's just 15, she's already a trans advocate and openly shares her story. "My goal is to help people, and I don't want people to feel like they're alone," she said. "Because being transgender isn't a bad thing and it doesn't define who you are." Emily's parents, Linda and Mark, are accepting and proud of their daughter. They said her gender identity was obvious from the time she could begin expressing herself. "Early on she would ask us questions like, 'Dad, why did God make me a boy?'" Mark said. Emily transitioned in the third grade. "We saw this child that was really miserable as a boy. Like, really miserable. I don't think she'd be alive today to blossom into the happiest person," Linda said. The Fishbaughs are closely tracking the progress of house bill 478 in Concord. The legislation would amend state law to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. Emily said she and other transgender people aren't asking for anything more than equality, "I want to be treated just like every single other person because I am just like everyone else," she said. There is vocal opposition to house bill 478. Shannon McGinley, of the socially conservative group "Cornerstone Action," tells WMUR, "We respect the dignity of each of our New Hampshire neighbors. This includes respecting privacy and safety. We're concerned that those considerations might be lost in this legislation."