ACLU of New Hampshire

People and the press – despite pressure and intimidation from those with financial resources who vehemently disagree with them – have a First Amendment right to voice their opinion without fear of litigation from those who seek to stifle criticism.

Read more about the decision here: https://www.aclu-nh.org/en/press-releases/richards-v-union-leader-corporation-decision

The New Hampshire state primary is Tuesday, September 10th, are you registered to vote?

Your vote is your voice - if you or someone you know is looking for information on how to register to vote in the Granite State tap the link here: https://www.sos.nh.gov/elections/register-vote

There are many reasons as to why someone may be eligible for an absentee ballot, for example:

- You'll be out of state on Election Day
- You have a religious commitment
- Disability or accessibility needs
- Child or impaired adult care
- Public health considerations

If you, or someone you know, may be eligible for an absentee ballot, tap the link here to learn more: https://www.sos.nh.gov/elections/absentee-ballots

"The Policy does not prevent parents from observing their children’s behavior, moods, and activities; talking to their children; providing religious or other education to their children; choosing where their children live and go to school; obtaining medical care and counseling for their children; monitoring their children’s communications on social media; choosing with whom their children may socialize; and deciding what their children may do in their free time," the ruling states.

New Hampshire Supreme Court upholds school policy against forced outing The state's highest court ruled that a parent's challenge to a policy protecting student privacy was invalid.

New Hampshire students deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and have a right to freely express who they are without the fear of being forcibly outed at school.

We are pleased with the court’s decision to uphold Parker’s right to play, as she is entitled to by Title IX, while our case against the state’s unconstitutional sports ban (HB 1205) moves forward.

“I just want to play soccer. … It’s part of me,” she (Parker Tirrell) said. “It will never not be a part of me. It’s half of what’s shaped me into who I am.”

Transgender girl’s family sues N.H. after school bars her from soccer practice under new state law - The Boston Globe Plymouth Regional High School banned a 15-year-old from girls' soccer practice, citing a New Hampshire law that excludes transgender girls from girls’ school sports based on their birth certificates.

Go get em' Parker.

WE’RE SUING: We, alongside GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders - GLAD, just filed a lawsuit against the state of New Hampshire challenging HB 1205, a law that bans all transgender girls in grades 5-12 from playing on school sports teams.

Transgender youth, like all adolescents, want and deserve every opportunity to experience joy, including through activities like school sports. We won’t stop fighting until they have that opportunity again.

Until then, see you in court.

BREAKING: Governor Sununu just signed HB 619, a bill that targets healthcare for transgender adolescents in NH, into law.

The law interferes with the ability of parents, transgender adolescents, and doctors to make individualized healthcare decisions and opens the door to further restrictions on established standard-of-care medicine that is recognized by every major U.S. medical association as the only evidence-based approach to addressing the physical, mental, and emotional needs of transgender people.

Families, especially kids and parents, and their healthcare providers, not politicians, have a right to make their own personal healthcare decisions.

BREAKING: Governor Sununu just vetoed HB 396, a bill that would have rolled back anti-discrimination protections for trans people in bathrooms and locker rooms, on sports teams, in jail and prison housing placements.

Although we applaud the veto of HB 396, we are disappointed to see the mixed message the Governor has sent by signing HB 619, HB 1205, and HB 1312.

BREAKING: Governor Sununu just signed HB 1205, a trans-exclusionary sports ban in grades 5-12 in NH public schools, into law.

Furthermore, HB 1205 would require all girls to show a birth certificate — or “other evidence” — to prove their eligibility, which could include shockingly invasive “sex verification” measures for all girls, such as ge***al inspections.

Policies developed by local schools and the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association which ensure both transgender students’ equal access and a level playing field for all students have been in operation for years without incident and we strongly oppose the signing of this bill into law.

BREAKING: Governor Sununu just signed HB 1312, an anti-LGBTQ+ classroom censorship bill that would require schools to give parents a two weeks’ notice and an opt-out provision for LGBTQ+ related content, into law.

We are concerned that HB 1312 will stigmatize classroom instruction involving LGBTQ+ people by equating any school content related to gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression to “objectionable material.”

LGBTQ+ voices and perspectives should not be silenced and harmful bills like HB 1312 have no place in NH.

Join us Thursday, July 25th from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M. for our Beachability event at Hampton Beach State Park!

Help us envision and create more accessible, inclusive beaches across the NH Seacoast while hearing from informative speakers, engaging in live demonstrations, and creating beautiful arts & crafts.

Tap the link below to RSVP, we hope to see you there, and don’t forget to register to park!

https://mobilize.us/s/B92GQC

HB 396, a bill that would rollback anti-discrimination protections for transgender Granite Staters, is on its way to Governor Sununu’s desk where it could be signed into law.

This bill would specifically sanction the unequal treatment of transgender people in bathrooms and locker rooms, on sports teams, in safer carceral housing placements, and other spaces.

Harmful bills like these, that aim to deny equal access based solely on one’s gender identity, have no place in NH and must be stopped. Tap the link here to take action: https://action.aclu.org/send-message/nh-lgbtq-gov

We continue to warn New Hampshire officials and law enforcement that efforts to criminalize the unhoused may still violate the New Hampshire Constitution–and we’ll be watching.

Read more about the ordinance here: https://www.wmur.com/article/manchester-police-camping-ban-homeless-7324/61500483

Last week, the Supreme Court delivered a historic ruling against unhoused Americans in Grants Pass v. Johnson and now the consequences have already reached the front steps of the Granite State.

As soon as this week, the Manchester Board of Mayor, and Aldermen may attempt to rollback protections for unhoused individuals as outlined in the city’s existing ordinances.

This swift plan would criminalize homelessness instead of addressing and fixing the institutional issues that perpetuate the problem in the first place. While Manchester has made positive steps in confronting homelessness, this plan is unjust and must be stopped.

Tap the link here to urge local Manchester, NH lawmakers to protect, not criminalize unhoused individuals: https://action.aclu.org/send-message/nh-manchester-gp-24

At any moment, Governor Sununu could sign HB 1205, a trans-exclusionary sport ban in grades 5-12 in NH public schools, into law.

Let's be clear: when a law or policy excludes transgender people from spaces and activities because they are trans, it is discriminatory.

Discrimination has no place on the field or in our schools, and bills like HB 1205 must be stopped.

Tap the link here to take action and tell Governor Sununu to veto this bill: https://action.aclu.org/send-message/nh-lgbtq-gov

TAKE ACTION: In the coming days, Governor Sununu could take action on a number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills heading to his desk and we need your help.

One of the bills, HB 1312, is an LGBTQ+ classroom censorship bill that would require parental notification on any course material referencing LGBTQ+ health and identities.

This bill would not only create yet another chilling effect for educators in NH public schools on how to discuss certain topics but would also silence LGBTQ+ voices and perspectives in the classroom.

Join us in the fight against classroom censorship and support LGBTQ+ rights by tapping the link here: https://action.aclu.org/send-message/nh-lgbtq-gov

The Supreme Court’s decision to effectively allow cities and towns to criminalize and dehumanize unhoused people may have devastating reverberations in New Hampshire.

Unhoused people deserve dignity, not criminalization for simply existing.

We warn New Hampshire officials that local efforts to criminalize the unhoused may still violate the New Hampshire Constitution - and we urge them to exercise both restraint and humanity in addressing this vulnerable population going forward.

BREAKING: The Supreme Court has failed to make clear once and for all that anyone who is pregnant has the basic right to the emergency abortion care they need to protect their health and lives.

Instead of recognizing this right, the Court has simply kicked the can down the road by sending the case back to the lower courts, where anti-abortion politicians will continue to fight to deprive us of essential and life-saving care.

Anti-abortion extremists have made clear they are coming for every aspect of our reproductive health care - and in the Granite State, this is a fight at our front steps. There will be no place for politicians who advocate for these bans and restrictions to hide from the consequences of their cruel actions.

Soon, a slate of anti-LGBTQ+ bills will be heading to Governor Sununu’s desk, where they could be signed into law.

The bills, HB 396, HB 619, HB 1205, and HB 1312, cover a wide range of issues from rollbacks on discrimination protections for transgender Granite Staters, restricting access to gender affirming care, a trans-exclusionary sports ban, and a classroom censorship bill.

All session long, we’ve fought over 15 anti-LGBTQ+ bills at the State House and this is our last chance to ensure that hate has no place in New Hampshire.

Tap the link here to tell Governor Sununu to veto ALL of these bills and protect LGBTQ+ rights in the Granite State: https://action.aclu.org/send-message/nh-lgbtq-gov

BREAKING: The NH House just voted 178-173 against HB 1633, the recreational ma*****na legalization bill. The bill is now defeated for the year.

Pushing legalization off yet another year makes clear that lawmakers are willing to ignore the will of their own constituents and are okay with continuing to needlessly ensnare around a thousand people -- disproportionately Black people -- in New Hampshire’s criminal justice system every year.

Our state must stop its practice of arresting Granite Staters for its possession at the cost of millions of dollars to taxpayers, and for something that nearly three-quarters of Granite Staters believe should be legal.

VICTORY: The NH House just voted to table HB 1370, a bill that would have put in place needless barriers to vote in our New Hampshire elections. But the fight isn't over: HB 1569, a similar bill, is already on the way to the Governor's desk.

Let us be clear: voting is the cornerstone of our democracy and politicians should never act as barriers to the ballot.

VICTORY: This is a win for New Hampshire’s immigrant community, public safety, and affirms that no one should be detained without due process.

BREAKING: The Supreme Court just unanimously rejected a request by anti-abortion extremists to impose medically unnecessary restrictions on mifepristone, a safe and effective medication used in most abortions nationwide.

We are relieved that medication abortion remains available, safe, and legal in New Hampshire, however, today’s decision does not stop what we already know: that anti-abortion extremists are pushing lawsuits and legislative bills to prevent patients from accessing the reproductive healthcare they need.

Tap the link here to read the full decision:https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/23-235_n7ip.pdf

This year, for NH Gives 2024, please consider giving to the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire.

BHTNH is a non-profit organization that promotes the awareness and appreciation of African American history and culture in New Hampshire through education and public programs including creating appropriate memorials at significant locations within the state. To donate, tap the link here:

Support Black Heritage Trail of NH | NH Gives 2024 I’m ready to support Black Heritage Trail of NH on June 11, 2024 during NH Gives 2024. Learn more about Black Heritage Trail of NH and all the other organizations participating in NH Gives 2024.

BREAKING: The fight to legalize recreational ma*****na isn't over just yet.

“When an individual becomes a law enforcement officer, that individual should expect that their conduct will be subject to greater scrutiny because that is the nature of the job…this is scrutiny that the court thankfully affirmed.” - ACLU-NH legal director Gilles Bissonnette.

READ/LISTEN MORE:

How recent NH Supreme Court rulings have expanded public access to records, government transparency The state Supreme Court has ruled that internal police disciplinary files are subject to disclosure under New Hampshire’s public records law.