bonnie bruno

HB 1447 is not a narrow facilities policy. It inserts rigid biological definitions of “male” and “female” into New Hampshire statute and requires government entities to structure public facilities around those definitions. It does not simply permit classification — it mandates it. And it declares that this mandated separation does not constitute discrimination. That is a significant shift in how our state understands sex, gender identity, and equal protection under the law. This bill does not increase safety. It increases regulation of a small and vulnerable group of residents. It places the force of state policy behind exclusion and tells public institutions that separation is required. Laws communicate values. When the state mandates exclusionary policies and shields them from discrimination claims, it sends a clear message about who must navigate additional barriers in daily life. New Hampshire should not be using its statutory code to police identity or to codify division.