The families of two transgender teenagers in New Hampshire have filed a lawsuit challenging a new state law that bars them from playing on girls' sports teams at their public high schools.
Parker Tirrell, 15, and Iris Turmelle, 14, have identified as girls from a young age and have both been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, feelings of distress due to a mismatch between their birth sex and their gender identity.
The lawsuit alleges that the New Hampshire law violates constitutional protections and federal laws because the teens are being denied equal educational opportunities and are being discriminated against because they are transgender.
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In May, a bill was passed in New Hampshire that would ban trans athletes in grades 5-12 from participating as their gender identity. (Fox News)
Republican Gov. Chris Sununu signed the Women’s Sports Equity Act into law last month, saying it had broad support. The measure is set to take effect next week, as nearly half the country has laws placing limitations on transgender people in women’s and girls’ sports. The law says athletes must play based on their gender on their birth certificates.
Tirrell, who starts 10th grade this year at Plymouth Regional High School, played soccer with the girls team in ninth grade and said she wants to start practicing with the team again before the first game on Aug. 30.
“Playing soccer with my teammates is where I feel the freest and happiest. We're there to support each other, whether we win or lose,” Tirrell said in a statement. “Not being allowed to play on my team with the other girls would disconnect me from a lot of my friends and make school a lot harder.”
“I'm a transgender girl, I've known it my whole life and everyone knows I'm a girl,” Turmelle said in a statement. “I don't understand why I shouldn't have the same opportunities as other girls in school.”
New Hampshire Republican Governor Chris Sununu (AP Photo/Charles Krupa/File)
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Both have been taking puberty-blocking drugs to prevent bodily changes such as muscle development, facial hair growth or a deeper voice that could add to that distress.
The lawsuit was filed the same day the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to reject an emergency request by the Biden administration to enforce parts of a new rule that includes nondiscrimination protections for transgender students under Title IX.
The request would have biological men allowed in women's bathrooms, locker rooms and dormitories in 10 states where state and local laws exist to prevent it.
President Biden (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images/File)
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More than two dozen Republican attorneys general sued over the rule, arguing it would conflict with some state laws that bar transgender students from participating in girls' sports.
The Associated Press and Fox News' Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
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