Roger Bleau is a lifelong Granite Stater who lives in Manchester.

As a Vietnam veteran, Christian, father, grandfather, and sports coach, I am deeply concerned about the ramifications on our children’s well-being and freedom if New Hampshire passes anti-LGBT+ legislation. These bills, if passed, would not only diminish the opportunities for open communication and inclusivity but also perpetuate discrimination and exclusion across the state of New Hampshire.

During my recent testimony at the New Hampshire State House, I shared my experiences and perspectives on why these bills are misguided and harmful to young LGBT+ people in our state.

In my years as a sports coach, I have seen firsthand the impact of creating a safe and supportive environment for students to express themselves and find a sense of belonging. My coaching experience has taught me that every student deserves respect, dignity, and equal opportunities, and that sports is an important outlet for all people to find those things.

Denying transgender girls the opportunity to participate in girls’ sports, as proposed in SB 375 and HB 1205, sends a harmful message of intolerance and denies these students the important experience of belonging and being part of something bigger than themselves when they need it the most. These transgender girls are known and loved in their communities; their coaches know they are girls, their friends know they are girls, and their parents know they are girls.

Instead of denying students the ability to participate on specific teams, we should promote sports as a way for all to learn the values of hard work, fairness, inclusion, and resiliency. We should invest in giving more opportunities to students across our state, not taking away opportunities from a small, already marginalized group.

As a father to a daughter who came out to me over 30 years ago, I was glad that, before she came out to me, she had her teachers to listen to her and provide a safe space for her to talk about what she was going through. They are qualified and they interact with and listen to students from all walks of life — religion, ethnic background, sexual orientation — every day.

Her being able to be open with her teachers and her peers in a safe and caring environment was so important because it gave her time to prepare to tell her parents, and it gave me, her then-homophobic dad, time to be ready to accept her and love her for exactly who she is.

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SB 341’s requirement for educators to surveil and report information about students to parents undermines the trust and confidentiality that is essential for students to be able to seek support and guidance, and essential for parents who may need extra time to process what their children are going through.

Instead of enacting legislation that harms our students’ well-being and rights, we should remember that Jesus was a teacher, and we should focus on initiatives that promote understanding, empathy, and support within our schools. Educators should be empowered to foster open dialogue, provide resources, and create safe spaces where all students can thrive.

As a grandfather to a transgender grandson, I can tell you that his life isn’t easy, and I’m proud that despite it not being easy for him, he has chosen to live authentically as his true self by transitioning. I am proud of him every single day, and our entire family is so lucky and blessed to have him in our lives. We don’t need politicians and their homophobic laws making his life even harder.

Finally, as a veteran who has fought for freedom and equality for all Americans, I urge lawmakers and Gov. Sununu to reject all of the anti-LGBT+ bills in the New Hampshire State House. These bills are about homophobia. They’re about cruelty to kids, and they chip away at the freedoms I fought for in Vietnam.

I urge the New Hampshire Legislature to reject these attacks on individual liberty and instead to prioritize policies that uphold the values of equality, freedom, and civil rights, and create a New Hampshire where everyone can be accepted, respected, and valued for who they are.