Democrats Save Republicans' Transgender Surgery Ban

Democratic lawmakers saved New Hampshire Republicans' ban on gender-affirming health care for transgender youth in a close vote this week.

The state's House of Representatives passed the ban on Thursday, weighing in on a cultural issue that has divided Americans in recent years. Proponents of these bans argue that transgender individuals should have to wait until they are adults to undergo surgery to aid in their gender transition. Critics, however, say that these bans unjustly target the transgender community and that the government should not be involved in these medical decisions.

The bill passed 199-175, and if it becomes law, it would ban gender-affirming care for anyone under 18 and living in the state. It still must pass the Republican-led Senate and be signed by GOP Governor Chris Sununu, who has not said whether he will sign the legislation.

Republicans, who hold a very narrow advantage—just three votes—in the House, were forced to rely on Democratic votes to pass the bill after three Republicans voted against it and 11 others either did not vote or were absent.

Democrats saved the bill from failing, as just enough of their members bucked their party to pass it.

In total, 184 Republicans, 14 Democrats and one independent voted for the legislation, while 172 Democrats were joined by three Republicans in opposing it. If these Democrats had voted against the bill, it would have narrowly failed, 189-185.

New Hampshire House Deputy Democratic Leader Alexis Simpson told Newsweek Friday afternoon that the legislation "opens the door to further eroding" the rights of transgender people across the state. She vowed that Democrats will "continue to fight for legislation that lets all our young people know that we see them, care for them and want them to thrive."

Simpson continued: "We had the opportunity to stand up for the nondiscrimination policy we approved in 2018. I'm extremely disappointed that the attacks on LGBTQ+ people and medical providers continue in the N.H. House."

In a speech on the House floor, Representative Jonah Wheeler, another Democrat, explained his vote.

"Despite the fact that I am a liberal, despite the fact that I believe in nondiscrimination for trans people, for gay people, for queer people and that I will fight until my very last day until they are recognized as human beings, the question before us is whether or not children under the age of 18 should be able to get these surgeries. And I, despite being a liberal who believes in those human rights, do not think that is the case," he said.

Newsweek reached out to the New Hampshire House Minority Leader Matt Wilhelm, another Democrat, for comment via email.

The bill drew pushback from one of the state's transgender lawmakers.

Democratic Representative Alissandra Murray wrote in a post to X (formerly Twitter), "I knew being a trans legislator wouldn't be easy, but I learned today just how hard it could be. Listening to my colleagues debate my humanity and my rights, and to have people I thought were my friends vote against them. Words can't describe the pain of betrayal like this."