Headlines from the Granite State
A Message from Seacoast Outright
Days after the Nov. 5 election, Seacoast Outright sent a message of support to the community which reads, in part:
“This is not the email we hoped to be writing you this week. This is a hard and scary moment for our communities, our kids, and our families. We share in your lament and grief. We echo our colleague, Tanna Clews of the NH Women’s Foundation, that we wish we could all be in a room together. Community heals.
“We take heart that our movement has endured through hard chapters before, and will do so again. …
“We’ll continue the work of serving, supporting and advocating for LGBTQ+ youth across NH, and creating welcoming and affirming spaces for all. With hearts full of love, a deep commitment to all of you, and an abiding faith in justice, we will go forward together. Our work is more needed than it has ever been. To quote longtime activist and icon, Urvashi Vaid: there are things to do. Thank you for your commitment to Outright and Affirming Spaces Project.”
More: seacoastoutright.org; affirmingspacesproject.org
‘No tresspass’ for anti-trans protesters
Four parents who protested the court-ordered inclusion of a transgender student athlete at a Bow School District high school girls’ soccer match are suing the school district for shutting them down. The parents claim their free speech was violated; the district called their actions harassment.
Reported the Boston Globe, the parents were protesting the participation of 16-year-old, trans Plymouth Regional High School student Parker Tirrell. The parents wore pink wrist bands brandished with a black “XX” (indicating two X chromosomes). One of the parents also held up a sign in the parking lot after the game, which read “Protect Women’s Sports for Female Athletes.” The protesting parents were issued “no trespass” orders.
“[S]chool officials cited policies requiring civility and prohibiting threats, intimidation, and harassment as the basis for their enforcement actions.”
In anticipation of their protest, the school’s athletic administrator, Mike Desilets, had notified parents that the school was following New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association guidelines, “and that those who attend the match would be expected to exhibit good behavior,” reported the Globe.
Name-change assistance
The New Hampshire–based law firm Shaheen & Gordon is partnering with 603 Legal Aid to help low-income LGBTQ+ individuals in changing their names.
Reports the Keene Sentinel, “The idea for the project came from Heather V. Menezes, a Shaheen & Gordon attorney and member of the firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, according to the firm’s marketing manager, Paige Moulton. When the firm suggested the idea to 603 Legal Aid, it was well received and the project was able to move forward quickly, launching about two months after the idea first came up.
“Moulton said the firm’s staff is excited about the project, which is different than many of the initiatives that have come out of the DEI Committee. ‘A lot of the efforts the committee does are internal, focused on training or offering opportunities for our staff,’ Moulton said. ‘This is a great opportunity for us externally.’”
HRC Congressional Scorecard
The Human Rights Campaign in October released its Congressional Scorecard, which measures support for LGBTQ+ equality in the 118th US Congress. Once again, US Senators and Representatives from New England earned a near-perfect score.
Scores are based on an assessment of each Senator’s and US Representative’s votes on key LGBTQ+ issues as well as their support for (or lack therefore of) LGBTQ+ communities.
Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen, both Democrats, earned perfect 100s. Both Democratic Congressmembers Chris Pappas and Ann McLane Custer also received 100s.
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