The New Hampshire House and Senate are moving closer to voting on legislation that could restrict the participation of transgender athletes in youth sports, and some of those athletes are now coming forward to plead their case to lawmakers. , with Republican lawmakers arguing that children who develop physically as boys and then transition could endanger the safety of other girls, and Democrats saying injuries already happen.”Regardless of gender, injuries in the way sports teams are currently built are not going to happen,” said state Sen. Sue Prentiss, a Democrat from Lebanon. “The difference here is the physical abilities of transgender women versus biological women,” said state Rep. Glenn Cordelli, R-Tuftonboro. >> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | GooglePlay
The New Hampshire House and Senate are moving closer to voting on legislation that could restrict the participation of transgender athletes in youth sports, and some of those athletes are now coming forward to plead their case to lawmakers.
Lawmakers continue to clash over transgender athletes in interscholastic sports, with Republican lawmakers arguing that children who develop physically as boys and then transition could put the safety of other girls at risk, and Democrats saying that injuries already occur.
“Regardless of gender, injuries to the way sports teams are constructed right now are going to occur,” said state Sen. Sue Prentiss, D-Lebanon.
“The difference here is the physical abilities of transgender women versus biological women,” said state Rep. Glenn Cordelli, R-Tuftonboro.
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Some trans athletes are coming forward to testify, including Maelle Jacques of Newbury, who won a high school girls high jump championship earlier this year.
“I didn’t get into the sport with the goal of dominating the competition or being better than anyone else,” Jacques said. “No one would go through bullying and self-hatred in transition just to win a sport.”
Opponents of trans athletes playing on teams that match their gender identity point to a recent incident during a high school basketball game in Massachusetts that left players injured.
“The remaining players didn’t want to continue because they feared more injuries, and yes, if you watch the video, it’s the trans student throwing the girls to the ground,” said parental rights activist Ann Marie Banfield.
The Senate and House have passed similar legislation attempting to organize school sports starting in high school according to gender assigned at birth. Republicans have the votes to pass the bills in the name of what they say is justice. Democrats claim the status quo is fair, even if a trans athlete can dominate the competition.
“In sports, there are winners and losers, and it’s actually a good part of life to learn how to lose and figure out how to move forward,” said state Rep. Hope Damon, D-Croydon.
