Stephanie CAWLEY

Because there is no decent or clear way to enforce sex identity, business owners and private security will be empowered to invade the safety and privacy of their patrons. Will people have to show their birth certificate? Submit chromosome and or genetic testing? Hormone levels? Genital inspection? There are many accounts of active harassment of non-transgender women in the news. It will lead to trauma and lawsuits. What problem is this trying to solve? There are no instances of Trans women being inappropriate in public restrooms or locker rooms. And further more, there are already laws which prevent voyeurism, exhibitionism, physical or sexual assault so why are we targeting a small minority of people based on their status rather than their behavior? This bill does nothing to advance the cause of safety and privacy in the spaces it proposes to protect. In the Live Free or Die State, it is a dangerous precedent to redefine what characteristics qualify as "unlawful discrimination." I am a post-op transgender woman and I can NOT use a men's restroom anymore than any woman. Why am I, a 70 year old law abiding mother of 3 grown productive adult children, retired nurse and former Emergency Medical Technician and presently a volunteer with the USFS White Mountain trail volunteer having my rights stripped from me in my beloved home state? This is un-American and makes a mockery of the "Live Free or Die" motto and ethos that have defined us for generations! Safety in restrooms is important for all of us. That’s why we already have laws in place that make it illegal to harm or harass people, or invade their privacy.