In a move that has intensified the national debate surrounding transgender athletes, two transgender teenagers and their families filed a lawsuit on Friday against New Hampshire education officials. The lawsuit challenges a new state law that prohibits the teens from competing on girls’ sports teams at their public high schools. The case, which was filed in the U.S. District Court in Concord, New Hampshire, seeks to overturn House Bill 1205—a law set to take effect on Monday, which would prevent both girls from participating in sports teams aligning with their gender identities.
The Lawsuit and the Plaintiffs
Parker Tirrell, 15, a rising sophomore at Plymouth Regional High School, and Iris Turmelle, 14, an incoming freshman at Pembroke Academy, are the plaintiffs in this pivotal lawsuit. Both girls have known from a young age that they are girls and have experienced acceptance from their families, friends, and schools as such. Despite their acceptance in most areas of their lives, the new law threatens to bar them from participating in the sports they love, solely because they are transgender.
The ACLU of New Hampshire, the law firm Goodwin Procter, and the advocacy group GLAD (GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders) filed the lawsuit, which claims that the law discriminates against Tirrell and Turmelle because of their transgender identity and denies them equal educational opportunities. The complaint alleges that this discrimination violates federal law, including Title IX and the constitutional right to equal protection.
The Impact of House Bill 1205
House Bill 1205, which New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed into law last month, is part of a broader trend of legislation across the United States aimed at restricting the rights of transgender individuals, particularly in the realm of sports. The law mandates that students must participate in sports teams that correspond with the gender listed on their birth certificates. For transgender girls like Tirrell and Turmelle, this means being excluded from the teams that align with their gender identity.
Governor Sununu defended the law, stating that it “ensures fairness and safety in women’s sports by maintaining integrity and competitive balance in athletic competitions.” However, the families of the plaintiffs, along with their legal representatives, argue that the law does not take into account the physical and mental health benefits of sports participation, nor does it consider the impact on the self-esteem and well-being of transgender youth.
Voices from the Plaintiffs and Their Families
Parker Tirrell, who played on the girls’ soccer team last year, expressed her deep distress over the potential of being excluded from her team this year. “Playing soccer with my teammates is where I feel the most free and happy. We’re there for each other, win or lose,” Tirrell said in a statement. “Not being allowed to play on my team with the other girls would disconnect me from so many of my friends and make school so much harder. I just want to be myself and to learn, play, and support my teammates like I did last year.”
Tirrell’s mother, Sara, echoed her daughter’s concerns, emphasizing the importance of belonging and acceptance in a young person’s life. “Any parent wants to know their child is healthy, happy, and feels like they belong. That is no different for my husband and me as parents of a transgender daughter. I am really worried about the harmful impact it will have on Parker’s self-esteem and well-being if she is told she has to start the new school year without joining her teammates on the field,” Sara said.
For Iris Turmelle, who is starting high school this year, the stakes are equally high. She had been looking forward to trying out for the tennis and track and field teams as a way to integrate into her new school environment. “Starting high school is exciting and new. I played intramural tennis in middle school. I’ve been looking forward to trying out for the tennis and track teams because it will be a way to make more friends in my new school, and I know I’ll learn a lot from it,” Turmelle shared in a statement. “I’m a transgender girl, I’ve known that my whole life and everyone knows I’m a girl. I don’t understand why I shouldn’t get to have the same opportunities as other girls at school.”
Turmelle’s mother, Amy, expressed her fears about the potential consequences of her daughter being excluded from sports. “Iris experienced bullying at her middle school, and my husband and I just want her to be safe, feel included, and to be treated fairly so she can have a positive and happy high school experience,” Amy said.
The Broader Legal and Social Context
New Hampshire’s law is one of many similar laws passed in recent years by GOP-led states across the country. According to the Movement Advancement Project, a nonprofit think tank, New Hampshire is among 25 states with laws that ban transgender students from competing on sports teams that align with their gender identities. These laws have sparked fierce debates and numerous lawsuits, as advocates for transgender rights argue that they are discriminatory and harmful.
The families of Tirrell and Turmelle filed a lawsuit, but it is not an isolated incident. Just weeks ago, a federal appeals court in West Virginia ruled that the state could not enforce its anti-transgender sports ban against a 13-year-old girl. This ruling was seen as a significant blow to similar laws across the country. Additionally, a South Florida school district recently suspended an employee for allowing her transgender daughter to play on a girls’ high school volleyball team, in violation of state law.
A Fight for Equal Opportunities
The legal battle in New Hampshire highlights the ongoing struggle for transgender rights in the United States, particularly for transgender youth. Advocates argue that these young people deserve the same opportunities as their cisgender peers, including the right to participate in sports that align with their gender identities.
Chris Erchull, a senior staff attorney at GLAD, emphasized the importance of this case in a statement: “New Hampshire cannot justify singling out transgender girls to deny them essential educational benefits available to other students. Tirrell and Turmelle are being denied a critical aspect of their education, and this exclusion is based solely on their transgender identity.”
As the case moves forward, the plaintiffs and their families are seeking an immediate ruling that would allow the girls to participate in their respective sports while the legal challenge continues. The court is expected to hold a hearing on Monday to address the emergency motion.
The Bottom Line
For Tirrell and Turmelle, the lawsuit is about more than just the right to play sports. It is about being recognized and accepted for who they are—transgender girls who deserve the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. As this case unfolds, it serves as a powerful reminder of the challenges faced by transgender youth and the importance of standing in solidarity with them in the fight for equality and inclusion.
The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications, not just for the plaintiffs, but for transgender students across New Hampshire and beyond. As the legal process continues, the transgender community and its allies will be watching closely, hoping for a ruling that upholds the rights of these young athletes to participate fully in the educational and social opportunities that sports provide.
