The families of two “transgender” teenagers are suing the state over a new law that would ban them from playing sports as women. Governor Chris Sununu signed House Bill 1205 in July. The law, which is set to take effect today, “requires schools to designate sports by gender and prohibits biological males from participating in female sports.”
In a statement after signing the bill, Sununu said:
HB 1205 will ensure fairness and safety in women's sports by maintaining fairness and competitive balance in athletic competition. This broadly supported measure means New Hampshire joins nearly half of the states in the U.S. in adopting this measure.
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But footballer Parker Tyrrell, 15, and tennis and track and field athlete Iris Turmell, 14, say the new law is discriminatory.
Tyrrell said in a statement.
I feel the freest and happiest when I'm playing soccer with my teammates. Win or lose, we support each other. If I can't play with the other girls on my team, I'll be away from a lot of my friends and school life will be much harder. I just want to be myself and learn, play, and support my teammates like I did last year.
He concluded:
I am where I am because of 11 years of dedication to the sport I love. Not because of any biological advantage, but because of my dedication to the sport. This is total discrimination.
His mother, Sarah, agreed:
Every parent wants to know that their child is healthy, happy and feels like they belong, and as the parents of a transgender daughter, my husband and I are no exception. I am truly concerned that if Parker were told she had to start the school year without being on the field with her teammates, it would have a negative impact on her self-esteem and well-being.
Turmel, a freshman, lamented not being treated the same as female students, saying in a statement:
High school is an exciting and new experience. I played intramural tennis in middle school and I'm looking forward to trying out for the tennis and track teams because I think I'll be able to make more friends and learn a lot at my new school. I'm a transgender girl and I've known that my whole life and everyone knows I'm a girl. I don't understand why I don't have the same opportunities as other girls at school.
His mother, Amy, hoped that joining a sports team would help protect her son from bullying.
Iris experienced bullying in middle school, and my husband and I want her to feel safe, included, treated fairly, and have a positive, happy high school experience.
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The lawsuit names New Hampshire Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut and several other state officials as defendants. The ACLU of New Hampshire and LGBT advocacy group GLAD are supporting the plaintiffs in the case.
Henry Klementowicz of the ACLU said:
Parker and Iris, like all other students, have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Instead, HB 1205 discriminates against transgender girls, stigmatizes them, and tells them they are not entitled to the same educational opportunities (which are available) as other girls in our public schools. All students do better in school with access to resources that improve their mental, emotional and physical health, and Parker and Iris deserve the same access.
“Normal high school life”?
It's interesting to note what Tyrrell's mother had to say about the situation: “We just want our son to have a normal high school experience like everyone else, so we're trying really hard to make that possible for Parker.”
But as the lawsuit points out, “Parker has been taking puberty blocking medication since May 2023 and began hormone therapy in December 2023.” Surely this alone would prevent Parker from “enjoying a normal high school experience like everyone else?”
How does being a party to a very public lawsuit with the ACLU and GLAD fit into that “normal high school experience”? Do his parents really want their son to be “normal”? They seem to be treating him like a freak and wanting the attention that comes with it.
Neither Sununu nor the state have commented on the lawsuit other than to say the attorney general's office is reviewing it.
