Lynn Lippitt

Dear Honorable Members of the Judiciary Committee, I am Lynn Lippitt, a resident of Milford, and I oppose HB1299. This bill states that the "general court reaffirms New Hampshire’s commitment to treating all people with dignity and without discrimination. However, the general court also finds that there are limited circumstances where separating individuals based on biological sex is appropriate to protect privacy and physical safety." The state should not carve out exceptions to treating people with dignity and without discrimination. This bill does not protect the privacy and physical safety of transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people. In fact, it will expose them to intrusive and invasive questioning at a minimum. Transgender women have a legitimate fear of violence from cisgender men and should not be forced to share bathrooms, lockerrooms, or prison cells with them. The harrassment and assault of transgender people by cisgender men is well documented. It is also cisgender men that women and girls are basing their fears on - that cisgender men and boys will wear a dress in order to harm them. Transgender and non-binary people have been protected by New Hampshire’s anti-discrimination laws for years based on the due diligence of prior legislators and the support of the majority of New Hampshire’s citizens. Nothing of substance has changed, just the political climate, and people should not be used as political pawns. There is no evidence that, as a group, transgender and non-binary people using the bathroom, participating in sports, or being in a shelter, prison, or other publicly funded facility based on their true gender causes harm to others. If an individual member of any group causes harm there are laws that cover that. The fear that an individual might cause harm is not a reason to deny a group of people their freedom and liberty. For these reasons, I oppose HB1299 and any similar bill and I urge you to please oppose this bill or at least find it ITL. Thank you, Lynn Lippitt