603Equality

Dear Friends:

We have made the difficult decision to wind down operations of 603 Equality. We wanted you to hear this from us first.

While 603 Equality in its current incorporated form will be no more, we are dedicated to ensuring our advocacy and policy work continue for the benefit of our LGBTQ+ community throughout New Hampshire.

We are working diligently to ensure a smooth wind-down and programmatic transition.

We also have some exciting news to share: we have partnered with NH Outright to ensure continuity and scale of our work. Aimee Terravechia will be joining NHO as their inaugural Director of Advocacy & Education in September.

Over the coming weeks, we will be in touch to share more details about an October 15th summit we are planning with NH Outright (3-6pm, Harpoon Brewery in Manchester).

We will gather as a community to reflect on current times, celebrate our successes, and enhance partnerships to ensure our collective work moves forward in an aligned manner.

Thank you to all of our volunteers, Board Members, partner organizations and funders for your engagement over the years. We have done so much together. We will share a Retrospective at the fall summit.

You can read our full statement to the community & share your favorite memories or moments with 603 Equality at www.603equality.org/statement
Sincerely,

The 603 Equality Board of Directors

Veto day was yesterday, and we have some good news to share from the results of the voting. All of the vetoed anti-lgbtqia bills that were up for consideration had their vetoes upheld - which means that they will not become law.

Veto Day is an opportunity for the state legislator to overturn any vetoes issued by the governor. Bills are returned to the legislative body of origin first and voted on to determine if the veto will be upheld, or if the bill will advance towards having the veto overridden. A 2/3 vote in BOTH legislative bodies is required to fully override the veto. This year, we were tracking several bills


HB1442 (Bathroom Ban) - the veto was sustained in the House, stopping it from advancing to the Senate for reconsideration. The bill will not become law.

SB552 (Bathroom Ban) - the veto was overridden in the Senate, but upheld in the House. The bill will not become law.

SB434 (School Censorship) - the veto was overridden in the Senate, but upheld in the House. The bill will not become law.

SB268 (Bathroom ban) - the veto was sustained in the Senate, stopping it from advancing to the House for reconsideration. The bill will not become law.

A brighter future is built through CULTURE.
Who are the LGBTQIA+ culture keepers, curators, and creators that you love?

Reminder: this is what makes communities safer.

Folks are dm'ing us DAILY to ask about resources for the LGBTQIA+ community in NH. Check out our growing list of community resources and let us know if there is something we should add. Tag your favorite org, business, or resource in the comments below. While we're working to defeat discriminatory legislation, let us not forget what we're fighting for - a community where we can connect and engage as our authentic selves.
https://www.603equality.org/resources

When is the election?! It depends what one you are talking about.

NH has multiple election days throughout the year to allow for folks to civically engage. Next up: the primary on Sept 8th.

The trans pride flag was designed by Monica Helms, an openly transgender American woman, in August 1999. The colors are representative of the gender spectrum, and the design is meant to celebrate the vast diversity across the entire gender spectrum, from one end of the binary to another.

Pride isn't over in June. As we approach September, there's still plenty of pride events happening in the state!

Help us Hold the Line in NH against discrimination.

We are NH's only state-wide, policy-focused organization serving the LGBTQIA+ population.

Donate today: www.603equality.org/donate

This year, our legislators have moved Veto day to August 19th. What is veto day? It's a day in the NH Legislature where the houses can reconvene to attempt to overturn the Governor's vetoes by a 2/3 vote.