While testifying against anti-trans healthcare bans, a piece of my testimony was quoted by the Concord Monitor and WMUR saying “Why would I want this for my child?” I want to be clear that what I never wanted for my child was the hate, vitriol and political attacks aimed at them and other trans, intersex and gender non-conforming people. My trans child has given our family a wonderful gift. We are more comfortable in our skins and in the ways we don’t meet impossible standards of the gender binary. We are more understanding and are more willing to seek to understand. We are fiercer and more likely to stand with those being marginalized and most importantly- we have more love because we have created an amazing community for ourselves. My child’s transness is a tiny part of who they are, and a part of them that I love deeply. Having a trans child is not what brought me to tears at the State House, having a trans child who is being demeaned, threatened and attacked by our local and federal government is. My child deserves to play sports, see books that reflect who they are, use a restroom in public without threat, have documentation that matches their name and pronouns, be safe in school, have access to the same medical care and live a long and happy life, just like other children.

Rosie Emrich

Hooksett