WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, praised the New Hampshire State House of Representatives for its 188-187 vote today in favor of legislation updating existing anti-discrimination and hate crimes laws to cover gender identity. House Bill 415, which now moves to the Senate, would add gender identity and gender expression protections to the state's anti-discrimination statutes and would also update state hate crimes law to ensure that perpetrators of hate crimes against transgender people are subject to the same extended sentencing terms as perpetrators of hate crimes based on other prohibited bases, such as race, religion, sex and sexual orientation.

"We applaud the New Hampshire's House of Representatives for voting to update existing anti-discrimination and hate crimes laws to include protections for gender identity or expression," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "We congratulate Representatives Ed Butler and Barbara Richardson for their leadership in sponsoring this bill in the House, as well as GLAD, PFLAG New Hampshire, and the many activists, including HRC members, who have been working to build support for this bill. This legislation is simply about making sure that everyone in New Hampshire receives equal protection under the law. We hope that this bill will pass the Senate and these important protections will be enacted into law."

HRC Associate Director of Diversity Allyson Robinson had traveled to Concord to testify on behalf of the non-discrimination bill.

"Hundreds of our transgender brothers and sisters have lost their lives to targeted hate violence," said HRC Associate Director of Diversity Allyson Robinson. "Passing this important legislation will help determine the way of life for future generations of transgender New Hampshirites. For some, it will make the difference between life and death. I thank the lawmakers who supported House Bill 415 for affirming their basic humanity, and mine, by advancing this important legislation."

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The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.