Rev. Jonathan Hopkins lives in Concord.

Recently I was at the State House to try and get the Senate to vote against passing HB 1185, HB 1205, HB 1312, and HB 1356. These are all anti-trans bills that were part of this legislation session.

At the State House a woman was there with a sign that read, “Gender Care Harms Children.” I wonder if this person has ever talked to an actual trans person, or a parent of someone who is trans. I can tell you that sign is a lie. I know it is a lie because it was a gender clinic that saved my trans son’s life, and our family.

When my child first came out as non-binary, and then trans, I told him, “I love you more than your name or pronouns, but I am going to need a minute to educate myself and understand better.” Over the next two years we had many difficult but honest conversations. Finally, we realized that we needed more help. We needed caring professionals to help us navigate what came next, and what was best for my son.

We looked for a place in New Hampshire to help us as a family navigate what happened next. We couldn’t find one. Luckily, we have excellent health insurance and after a lot of work we found a gender clinic in Boston. It was a lifesaver. It gave us professional care medically and psychologically. It helped our child figure out what was best for him. It helped our whole family understand what was going to happen and why. We would not have done as well without their help.

People who are against gender care seem under the misunderstanding that it is a bunch of liberals telling everyone that they should be trans. It is not that at all. It is a group of caring people who have studied and know both the science and psychology of gender. It is people who have no agenda except to help families and individuals navigate what is too many unfamiliar waters. What is wrong with helping families like ours in this way? What is wrong with helping individual kids find their way in the world?

I will tell you that before the gender clinic my child always felt anxious and unsure of his place in this world. Because of the gender clinic my child is self-confident and self-assured about who they are in this world. Before the gender clinic, I didn’t know what to think or feel about this change. Today I know it was the right and good thing for our child and our family.

I would hope that the Senate would be sober enough to vote down these ridiculously prejudicial and hateful bills. I hope that next session we get bills that expand gender care in our state because I know from experience that they save lives!