The families of two New Hampshire public high school students are challenging a new state law, HB 1205, which categorically bans all transgender girls in grades 5-12 from participating in school sports.

Parker Tirrell is entering tenth grade this year. Parker played on her high school girls’ soccer team in ninth grade and is excited to rejoin her teammates when competition starts again on August 30. 

Iris Turmelle is entering her first year of high school and is looking forward to trying out for and playing with the tennis and track and field teams. 

Under HB 1205, Parker and Iris’s schools are forced to bar them from their teams. The law denies them the many educational, social, and physical and mental health benefits that come with playing sports, isolating them from friends and teammates.

Filed in U.S. District Court, the lawsuit alleges that HB 1205 denies Parker and Iris equal educational opportunities and singles them out for discrimination solely because they are transgender, in violation of federal law and constitutional guarantees of equal protection.

The families, represented by GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), the ACLU of New Hampshire, and Goodwin, asked the court to stop the state from enforcing the ban so Parker can play with her team and Iris can participate in tryouts for this year’s tennis and track and field teams. The district court judge temporarily blocked the ban for Parker, allowing her to attend soccer practice.

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