Headlines from the Granite State
A cry for support
In late August, US Rep. Chris Pappas, the openly gay Congressman from New Hampshire, led a group of 64 members of Congress calling on the US to help evacuate LGBTQ Afghans. The call came in a letter by Pappas, cosigned by the others, to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the US Refugee Admissions Program “to explicitly include LGBTQ+ Afghans” into the State Department’s Priority 2 (“P-2”) designation.
The aim was to help LGBTQ Afghans get out of the country before the US left by Aug. 31. But the status could still help them with credentials to flee and resettle even now that the oppressive leadership has taken control of their country.
“With the Taliban’s takeover of the country, LGBTQ+ Afghans face the prospect of violent death. Sharia law, cemented in Afghanistan’s constitution, prohibits all forms of same-sex activity, and makes same-sex activity punishable by death,’ the letter states.
The Human Rights Campaign and other major advocacy groups have joined the Congress members’ call to protect LGBTQ Afghans.
Beyond ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
In late September, US Rep. Pappas also co-led a resolution to recognize the 10th anniversary of the enactment of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Under this policy, any member of the Armed Forces that was identified or identified themselves as non-heterosexual, either through actions or words, was subject to investigation and discharge. President Obama signed the repeal to the policy in 2010, though trans service-members were still barred from serving until 2016.
“The repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ a decade ago was a critical step forward to ensure equality for all members of our Armed Forces. But there is still more we must do to ensure that our Armed Forces are inclusive, accepting places for LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans,” said Pappas in a press release.
“Discriminatory policies like DADT have caused lasting harm, and a double standard continues to persist for LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans who suffered from government-sponsored discriminatory policies simply because of who they are,” said Pappas.
Gender ID update
New Hampshire’s Division of Motor Vehicle’s has simplified the process of correcting one’s gender marker on a driver’s license or state ID. Now, they’re no longer requiring a health care provider to certify the applicant is under “change of gender care” in order to receive a nonbinary gender marker on their ID.
According to a press release from GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), “New Hampshire now joins 17 other states, including every neighboring New England state, as well as New York City and the District of Columbia, in providing a straightforward process for residents to designate the gender marker – X, F, or M – that reflects their identity.
“The change, which was rolled out on the DMV website on August 2, came about thanks to a Granite State university student whose experience designating an X gender marker highlighted the unnecessary barrier presented by the medical requirement.”
“My client, Rho, simply wanted a New Hampshire state ID that accurately reflects their nonbinary gender,” the attorney, Andru Volinsky, told GLAD.
Return of Portsmouth Pride
After COVID-19 forced the annual event online in 2020, Portsmouth Pride returned to downtown Portsmouth in early October to celebrate the diversity of the Seacoast LGBTQ+ community. After gathering at Market Square, everyone marched down to Strawbery Banke Museum for a festival featuring speakers, a youth talent showcase and musical guests, plus a marketplace with food, activities, vendors and more.
Hosted by Seacoast Outright since 2015, Portsmouth Pride has always been “youth oriented, family friendly, and community focused,” said Hershey Hirschkop, executive director of Seacoast Outright.
“This year is no exception. With continuing COVID concerns and ongoing political attacks on vulnerable members of our communities, it’s more important than ever that we come together safely to show our LGBTQ+ youth they have community-wide support,” Hirschkop said.
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