Headlines from the Granite State
Counselor of the Year
The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) has named Sara M. Sullivan, MA, LCMHC the recipient of the prestigious 2023 Mental Health Counselor of the Year Award.
The award recognizes Sullivan’s exceptional contributions to the field of mental health counseling and her commitment to providing outstanding care and support, particularly to the LGBTQ+ community and individuals with neurodiverse needs.
With a rich experience spanning over a decade, Sullivan operates a successful private practice in Greenland, New Hampshire, and is licensed in Maine and Massachusetts. She is renowned for her expertise in mental health care for LGBTQ+ youth and adults, and for her innovative approach in using evidence-based practices like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).
More: amhca.org
Federal Health care lawsuit
In November, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Lillian Bernier, a transgender woman who was denied insurance coverage by her employer, Turbocam, Inc., for necessary health care related to gender transition. Health Plans, Inc. (HPI) and Harvard Pilgrim Health Plan of New England, Inc. are also named in the complaint because together they developed, administer, and operate Turbocam’s health benefits plan.
GLAD had previously filed an employment discrimination case on behalf of Bernier at the New Hampshire Human Rights Commission under both state and federal nondiscrimination law, about a year before.
“I’m proud of my work as a machinist at Turbocam,” said Lillian Bernier. “Like everyone else I rely on the pay and health care coverage from my job to support myself and my family. Even though I pay into the employee health plan like everyone else, I have had to pay out-of-pocket for my health care in addition to that, which is a stress on me and my family. I’m just asking for fair coverage and to be treated the same as my coworkers.”
“Providing lesser health benefits to transgender workers is employment discrimination,” said GLAD Attorney Chris Erchull, co-counsel for Bernier.
No public art in Littleton?
Since late August, the three-person select board of Littleton, New Hampshire has been considering a ban on all displays of public art from the town in order to keep their neighbors from seeing such art as a Pride month mural on the side of a local restaurant sponsored by North Country Pride and the United Way.
The selectpersons also objected to their local theater’s recent production of “La Cage Aux Folles,” on stage in November, and tried to close the show, according to a report in the Boston Globe.
Reported the LA Blade, North Country Pride organizer Kerri Harrington contacted the ACLU of New Hampshire immediately after the select board introduced the idea for the ban, and the ACLU is now monitoring the situation.
The bans had not advanced by press time of this issue, but Harrington added that local groups are making sure people opposed to such a ban attend all town board meetings to ensure the board doesn’t introduce them again without notice.
As of November, postings on North Country Pride’s Facebook page were alerting residents before the meetings, which appeared well attended by folks against the ban.
Further, Harrington has announced she is running to take a seat on the select board.
HRC Municipal Equality Index
For the sixth consecutive year, scores increased across the United States on Human Rights Campaign’s 12th annual Municipal Equality Index, and New England communities were once again at the forefront.
On a scale of 0–100, the Index measures how inclusive municipal laws, policies and services are for LGBTQ+ people who live and work in select municipalities of various sizes within each state. Communities are rated based on nondiscrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality.
In New Hampshire: Durham scored 96, Portsmouth 89, Manchester 85, Dover 80, Nashua 75, Concord 69, Keene 67, Derry 58, Rochester 53 and Plymouth 44.
More: hrc.org
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