Your Rights as an LGBTQ person in New Hampshire

Discrimination

In New Hampshire:

• State law bans discrimination in employment, credit, and housing, based on sexual orientation
• State law bans discrimination in public accommodations like restaurants or stores based on sexual orientation
• State law bans discrimination in employment and housing based on gender identity or expression
• State law bans discrimination in public accommodations like restaurants or stores based on gender identity or expression

Parenting

In New Hampshire:

• A single gay, lesbian, or bisexual person can adopt a child
• A person in a same-sex relationship can adopt their partner’s biological child
• State law provides other legal recognition of parent-child relationships

Health Care

In New Hampshire:

• Most insurers must cover transition-related health care
• There is no state-specific bulletin about transition-related health care
• State law bans discrimination in health care on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression

HIV/AIDS

In New Hampshire:

• It is not a crime to transmit HIV
• An HIV testing law protects against coerced and/or uninformed HIV testing
• State law protects privacy of HIV status
• State law bans discrimination based on HIV status

Transgender Rights

In New Hampshire:

• There is a straightforward way to change gender on a driver’s license or state ID
• There is not a straightforward way to change gender on birth certificates
• A state law is in progress to ban discrimination in employment, credit, and housing, based on gender identity or expression
• A state law is in progress to ban discrimination in public accommodations (like restaurants or stores) based on gender identity or expression
• There is state guidance for schools on fair treatment for transgender students.
• Most insurers must cover transition-related health care
• There is no state-specific bulletin regarding transition-related health care

Know Your Rights as an LGBTQ Student

New Hampshire:

• Has an LGBTQ-inclusive anti-bullying law
• Has state guidance for school on fair treatment for transgender students
• Protects the formation of non-curricular Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) groups in schools
• Does not ban the practice of conversion therapy for minors

Learn more from GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD).

What are my rights in a public or private school?

All New Hampshire public school students have the right:

• To be safe in school without being bullied
• To access information about LGBTQ subjects including educational website
• To dress and present yourself in a manner consistent with your gender identity
• To free speech and expression. This means you have the right to express ideas that may offend other people and you have the right to disagree with others, as long as you express those ideas in a respectful way

All New Hampshire public and some private school students have the right:

• To be protected from discrimination or harassment based on gender or HIV status
• To be protected from sexual harassment
• To form a Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) that gets treated the same as every other non-curricular group. This means equal funding, access to facilities, and the ability to choose your group’s name.

What are my rights outside school?

Outside of school you have the right:

• To be protected from discrimination based on your actual or perceived sexual orientation, HIV status, or sex in employment, housing, and public accommodations (like restaurants or stores). There is currently no protection in New Hampshire law that specifically states it is for “transgender person.” In some cases, a transgender person might be protected based on sexual orientation, sex or disability. Discrimination based on those things are not allowed.
• To give your own consent to get tested for HIV without your parents’ permission if you are over age 14. A doctor does not have to, but may, tell a parent or legal guardian about a positive test result if you are under 18. If confidentiality is important to you, talk to your doctor before the test and understand their policy on this issue.
• To report to the police anyone in or out of school who physically harms you, threatens you, or vandalizes your property.

What do I do if I am harassed, bullied or discriminated against?

• Tell somebody – friends, family, teachers, counselors
• Keep notes on what is happening – who, when, where and how
• Get a copy of your school’s policies on student conduct and discipline
• Report it to the person stated in the school policy – do it in writing or electronically so you can prove you reported it

Where can I get help?

SUICIDE HOTLINE (National) 1-800-273-8255

GLAD Free and totally confidential 1-on-1 help.

• Email or live chat: https://www.gladlaw.org/know-your-rights/glad-law-answers/ or
• 800-455-GLAD (4523).

New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights:

• Email:
• 603-271-2767
• humanrights.nh.gov

Department of Children, Youth and Families

• (800) 894-5533 (in-state) or (603) 271-6562
• https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcyf/

New Hampshire Department of Education

• 101 Pleasant Street
• Concord, NH 03301-3860
• General e-mail:
• Main Number: (603) 271-3494
• Fax (603) 271-1953
• https://www.education.nh.gov/

U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights

• Boston Office (covering New Hampshire):
• Office for Civil Rights
• US Department of Education
• 8th Floor
• 5 Post Office Square
• Boston, MA 02109-3921
• Email:
• 617-289-0111
• 1-800-421-3481 to report discrimination
• FAX: 617-289-0150; TDD: 800-877-8339
• https://www.ed.gov/about/ed-overview/ed-information-centers-and-hotlines

Local NH LGBTQ Youth Groups

Concord Outright

• PO Box 4064
• Concord, NH 03302
• Email
• (603) 223-0309
• https://www.nhoutright.org/

Manchester Outright

• PO Box 492
• Manchester NH 03105
• (603) 537-7004

Seacoast Outright

• Office: 25 Highland Street
• Portsmouth, NH 03801​
• Mailing: PO Box 842
• Portsmouth, NH 03802
• Email:
• 603-552-5824
• http://www.seacoastoutright.org/

Resources

New Hampshire’s anti-bullying law: RSA 193-F

GLAD’s pamphlet “Want to Know Your Rights as an LGBTQ Student?”