Two transgender teenagers, Parker Tirrell, 15, and Iris Turmelle, 14, have filed a lawsuit against New Hampshire education officials in response to a newly enacted state law that prohibits them from participating in girls’ sports teams at public high schools. The legal action, submitted to the US District Court in Concord on Friday, seeks to overturn House Bill 1205, which is set to take effect on Monday.
The bill, recently signed into law by Governor Chris Sununu, aims to “ensure fairness and safety in women’s sports by maintaining integrity and competitive balance.” According to court documents, this legislation would bar Tirrell from playing on the girls’ soccer team at Plymouth Regional High School and Turmelle from trying out for the girls’ tennis and track and field teams at Pembroke Academy.
The advocacy groups GLAD, the ACLU of New Hampshire, and the law firm Goodwin Procter, representing the plaintiffs, argue that this law infringes on their constitutional rights by denying equal educational opportunities and discriminating against them based on their gender identity. They contend that the law violates federal protections and the right to equal protection under the Constitution.
GLAD emphasized in a statement that the law unjustly isolates Tirrell and Turmelle from their peers and denies them the benefits of sports participation, which includes important educational, social, and mental health advantages.
This lawsuit reflects a broader national debate on the inclusion of transgender athletes in sports. Recently, a South Florida school district faced backlash after suspending an employee who allowed her transgender daughter to participate in girls’ volleyball, while a federal appeals court ruled against a similar ban in West Virginia.
Tirrell and Turmelle, who have both been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and are undergoing medical treatments to align their physical characteristics with their gender identity, have been accepted as girls by their families, schools, and communities. Tirrell, who played on the girls’ soccer team last year, expressed her distress at potentially being excluded from the team, citing the strong sense of community and support she feels with her teammates.
Turmelle, who is about to start high school, had looked forward to joining the tennis and track teams. She and her family are concerned about her well-being, especially given past experiences with bullying in middle school.
New Hampshire joins a group of 25 states with laws restricting transgender students’ participation in sports that align with their gender identity, according to Movement Advancement Project. The lawsuit names New Hampshire Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut and other state officials as defendants. The New Hampshire Department of Education and the Attorney General’s Office have not yet commented on the matter.