Today, New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan issued an historic Executive Order prohibiting discrimination in state employment, programs and government contracts based on gender identity and expression.

“We applaud Governor Hassan for signing this Executive Order, which will provide real, critically needed protections for transgender people whether they work for or contract with the state, or receive services from a state program,” said Janson Wu, executive director of GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD). “While this is a tremendous step forward, it also highlights the ongoing need for explicit comprehensive protections for all transgender people across the state, in private as well as public employment, and in housing and public spaces as well.”

“Transgender individuals are our neighbors, our friends and our co-workers. They are an intrinsic piece of the fabric of our state and deserve the same fair protections as everyone else,” said Christen Bustani, a representative from Transgender New Hampshire (TG-NH). “TG-NH stands behind Governor Hassan’s decision to create a non-discrimination policy for state government that is inclusive of transgender individuals. We thank the governor for being a leader for all Granite Staters.”

New Hampshire is the only state in New England with no explicit statutory non-discrimination protections for transgender people.

Through strategic litigation, public policy advocacy, and education, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders works in New England and nationally to create a just society free of discrimination based on gender identity and expression, HIV status, and sexual orientation.

Transgender New Hampshire (TGNH) is committed to supporting and building community between transgender and gender non-conforming people, as well as significant others, friends, families, and allies, in New Hampshire.