New Hampshire State Representative Gerri Cannon, who is trans, took the floor to criticize a bill that would ban gender-affirming procedures for minors.
“The question that we raise is not about surgery or not about who this applies to,” she said. “It's about why are we considering putting medical procedures into New Hampshire law. Medical science is constantly changing. New procedures, drugs, and treatments are introduced all the time. The medical community is constantly learning new ways to care for patients. Medical professionals are expected to attend conferences and even spend time learning new techniques in institutions other than their own. That's their job. So what is our job? Our job is to protect the people we serve. Statutes are written to protect us now and long term into the future. When we consider putting legislation into law, we should be asking ourselves, will this legislation stand the test of time? The problem with this amendment is that it's a band-aid. It's not something this legislature is capable of monitoring or changing as medical science continues to change.”
