Republican governor vetoes anti-trans bill... yes, really

"Republicans just had their broken clock moment after a GOP state governor vetoed an anti-trans bathroom bill. New Hampshire governor Kelly Ayotte made the unexpected decision to shut down a GOP-led anti-trans bill on Friday (6 February). The Senate bill, SB 268, would have amended anti-discrimination laws to allow the banning of trans people from public spaces such as toilets and changing rooms. It would have also banned trans people from joining gender-specific sporting events that are consistent with their correct gender identity."

"The bill was effectively a copy of one that Governor Ayotte vetoed last year over concerns that it was "overly broad" and "impractical". She told the New Hampshire Bulletin on Monday that she overturned the latest GOP bill because it contained "minimal difference" to its predecessor. "I made it clear this issue needed to be addressed in a thoughtful, narrow way that protects the privacy, safety, and rights of all Granite Staters," she said."

"New Hampshire LGBQ+ organisation 603 Equality's executive director, Aimee Terravechia, celebrated the win for LGBTQ+ rights, saying that the governor's decision is a "huge relief" for all trans people within the state. "In a time of unrelenting legislative attacks and misinformation campaigns around transgender people and their rights, Gov. Ayotte's veto affirms the basic rights and dignity for all Granite States," they said. "Transgender and gender nonconforming people deserve safe access to public spaces as they go about living, working, and contributing to our communities.""

Governor Kelly Ayotte vetoed SB 268, a Republican-sponsored bill that would have amended anti-discrimination laws to allow banning transgender people from public toilets, changing rooms, and gender-specific sporting events aligned with their gender identity. Ayotte previously vetoed a similar measure last year, citing that it was overly broad and impractical, and she said the new bill offered minimal difference. She described the issue as one requiring a thoughtful, narrow approach that protects privacy, safety, and rights. GOP lawmakers have vowed to attempt an override, but they are unlikely to secure enough votes. Advocates called the veto a huge relief.

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