Nicole Bates

I am a social worker in the states of NH and ME, I currently have multiple transgender and gender non conforming clients and I am writing to advocate for them as well as all the other trans and gender non conforming individuals in the country. We as a society need to show them that we support and are willing to protect them. This bill opens the door for discrimination of trans individuals in the most dangerous locations for them. The LGBTQ Teen Study, an anonymous web-based survey of US kids ages 13 to 17 from 2019 found that over 25% of trans teens reported being a victim of sexual assault in the 12 months prior. Those who were subject to restrictions in bathrooms or locker rooms had an even higher rate of 36%. The national average for non trans (cis) teens was at the time 15% for girls and 4% for boys (according to the CDC). We are failing this population and our youth already and this bill would create even greater danger for all trans and gender non conforming individuals.