Blossom Dodge

I speak to you today not only as a longtime educator but as a parent deeply invested in the well-being of all children in our schools. I urge you to reject SB211, which seeks to restrict participation in school athletics based on so-called "biological sex at birth." This bill is discriminatory, unnecessary, and profoundly harmful to the students we are all charged to support and protect. As an educator, I have worked with countless students over the years—students with different abilities, identities, dreams, and challenges. I have seen firsthand how sports can be a lifeline: a place of belonging, growth, and confidence. When we exclude transgender youth from playing on teams that align with who they are, we are not protecting women’s sports—we are policing identity, fueling stigma, and alienating some of our most vulnerable kids. As a parent, I want my children to grow up in a world where fairness is rooted in empathy, where strength is measured not just by physical ability but by the courage to be yourself. SB211 tells transgender girls—kids who already face higher rates of bullying, depression, and even suicide—that they do not belong. It sends a chilling message that their identities are less valid, their participation less worthy. This bill solves a problem that doesn't exist in New Hampshire. There is no evidence of a crisis in girls’ sports here. Our schools already have guidelines that balance inclusion with competitive fairness. But this bill creates a solution in search of a scapegoat—and that scapegoat is transgender youth. Furthermore, SB211 may put New Hampshire schools at odds with federal Title IX protections. Lawsuits are likely, and federal funding may be jeopardized. Is this truly what we want our time, tax dollars, and children’s futures spent on? Let me be clear: We can support women’s sports and transgender youth. Those goals are not in conflict unless we make them so. Inclusion is not a threat to fairness—it is the foundation of it. I urge you, from the deepest place of my heart as someone who loves and teaches children, to vote NO on SB211. Our kids are watching. Let’s show them that every child belongs on the field—and in our schools—with dignity and respect. Thank you for your time and consideration.