JoAnne Coles

I strongly oppose this bill. There is no evidence that allowing transgender people to use public facilities that align with their gender identity increases safety risks. If passed, this law would likely cause more harm to children and youth, especially transgender and non-binary youth. Forcing transgender youth to use bathrooms that don't align with their gender identity, would create far greater risk to their mental and physical health. This population is already at higher risk of mental health challenges and suicidality. These risks would only increase should a bill like this pass. As a social worker, and someone who worked with children and youth in state care for over two decades, I have been privy to the mental health impacts this population experiences. Forcing children in detention to be housed with young people of a different gender identity, would place that young transgender person at greater risk of physical and or emotional harm. A policy change at NH's DCYF regarding placement of children, would lead to greater risk for already marginalized young people. There is no viable data that I know of to support or justify why children in treatment facilities, or detained or committed young people should be housed in units with young people of a different gender identity. In my opinion, a policy change like this, at best, would only lead to exacerbated mental health symptoms for young people. I worked with young people in state care when the state system was just beginning to understand how to handle placement of transgender children. The state has come a long way, and a bill like this would set well-being and likely safety outcomes back dramatically. The data already shows poor outcomes for youth in state custody (DCYF). This bill would not protect the public welfare, health, and peace of the people of this state. This bill is discriminatory, bad for children, youth, families, and communities, and bad for NH.