Katherine Engebretson

As a high school social worker in NH, I know that the passing of this legislation will be detrimental to the mental and physical health of our transgender and non-binary students. According to the Trevor Project's NH State Report from 2024, students in NH stated that 46% feel that schools are safe and affirming spaces. We can do better in all environments, but schools are where our students learn to be kind, respectful, contributing members of society and we cannot expect that of them if we do not respect them as individuals who know themselves better than anyone else does. According to the same report, 36% of LGBTQ+ youth considered suicide, including 40% of trans and nonbinary youth and 10% of these youth attempted suicide, 9% including trans and nonbinary youth. We know that this political climate has been detrimental their mental health and their overall well-being. We can save lives by opposing this type of legislation.