Chris Sununu on Civil Rights

	Chris Sununu on Civil Rights

Vetoed "no excuse" absentee voting bill

Sununu vetoed the so-called "no excuse" absentee voting bill, warning it would erode the state's vaunted political tradition of in-person participation at the polls. Advocates of the bill had wanted New Hampshire to join 28 other states, which allow voters to obtain an absentee ballot without having to give a reason for why they can't make it to the polls.

Legislative outcome:Senate voted 171-11-0 on May 30; House voted 222-157-18 on Sept 18 veto override

Source: New Hampshire legislative voting record, bill HB611 , Sep 8, 2019

Gender identity/sexual orientation protection in schools

SB263: Relative to anti-discrimination protection for students in public schools.

Concord Monitor summary, July 18, 2019: Gov. Sununu signed a bill to create state-level anti-discrimination protections in public schools. The new law adds state-level protections that effectively back up existing protections in federal law under Title IX. But the federal Title IX law does not include protections for gender identity or sexual orientation, after the Trump administration reversed an Obama-era executive order to create them. The state law under SB 263 would create those protections under state law.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 211-141-48 on Jun/5/19; passed Senate 15-9-0 on Jun/13/19; Signed by Governor Chris Sununu on Jul/24/19.

Source: new Hampshire State Legislature voting records SB263 , Jul 24, 2019

Gender identity non-discrimination in employment & housing

Transgender Americans were watching the Granite State's House of Representatives: A win for transgender rights bill HB 1319 wouldn't just be significant for the estimated 4,500 transgender people in New Hampshire, but for anyone who wants to see such protections spread even further beyond progressive bastions like the West Coast and New England.

And that win came in the form of a decisive 195-129 vote in favor of HB 1319--all in a Republican-controlled legislative body, no less.

HB 1319--which adds gender identity to New Hampshire's existing non-discrimination legislation in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodations--will have to clear the Senate next, and then be signed by Republican Governor Chris Sununu, who has already suggested he will support the bill. [Governor Sununu signed the bill on June 8].

Source: The Daily Beast on New Hampshire voting record HB 1319 , Mar 7, 2018

No personal opinion on equal transgender rights

Sununu, unlike his predecessors, neglected to even once mention LGBT Pride Month in any platform, proclamation, statement, event or interview this past June. Unfortunately for New Hampshire, Sununu has an embarrassingly weak record when it comes to defending transgender rights.

In March, New Hampshire had a chance to join every other state in New England in passing legislation to give transgender Granite Staters equal protection under the law. The bill was derailed by New Hampshire House Republicans using a bogus bathroom argument, and the GOP members were too cowardly to even debate the measure, deciding to table the bill instead.

Sununu made only one comment: He had "no personal opinion" on whether transgender Granite Staters deserved equal rights.

When Sununu says he has "no opinion" or works to deny Granite Staters their civil liberties, he is saying that rights of transgender Granite Staters don't matter.

Source: Concord Monitor on 2018 New Hampshire governor race , Mar 6, 2018

Establish state's first Civil Rights enforcement unit

Governor Chris Sununu announced an executive order establishing the Governor's Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion, and the formation of a new Civil Rights Unit at the New Hampshire Department of Justice. New Hampshire NAACP State Coordinator Rogers Johnson & community leaders joined Governor Sununu at today's announcement.

Said Governor Chris Sununu. "we must ensure that New Hampshire is a place where every person, regardless of their background, has an equal and full opportunity to pursue their dreams and to make a better life for themselves and their families. I am proud to establish the first Civil Rights Unit in the history of the New Hampshire Department of Justice. The actions we are taking today will keep New Hampshire on the forefront of efforts to combat discrimination and promote diversity and inclusion. As Governor, I am committed to ensuring that everyone is welcome and valued in the Granite State."

Source: 2017 Gubernatorial press release, "New Civil Rights Unit" , Dec 14, 2017

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*Other governors on Civil Rights:*			*Chris Sununu on other issues:*
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