Latest news with #YoungAmericansforLiberty
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Both sides lobby Ayotte over parental rights, trans bills
Conservative and liberal organizations lobbied Gov. Kelly Ayotte for and against legislation promoting parental rights, which critics unfairly contend target transgender residents. Last week, the Legislature completed action on a series of bills that conservative groups have dubbed a 'landmark parental rights package.' The coalition includes RebuildNH, Young Americans for Liberty, Citizens Alliance of New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance and Health Freedom N.H. 'These bills collectively ensure that parents — not government institutions — retain the primary role in guiding their children's development,' said Melissa Blasek, executive director of RebuildNH. 'This package embodies New Hampshire's commitment to freedom and personal responsibility. It's time to lead the nation once again.' The Parental Rights Package includes the following bills: • Parental rights: HB10 and SB72 would establish a Parental Bill of Rights, codifying parents' fundamental rights to make decisions regarding the care, custody, education and medical treatment of their children. • Risk surveys: HB446 requires parental notice and opt-in consent for non-academic surveys administered in public schools. • Child's library records: HB273 would grant parents access to their child's records, which supports said would ensure transparency. • Mandating student info disclosure: SB 96 would require school district employees to disclose material information regarding a student's mental, emotional or physical health to parents. • Ban mask wearing: HB 361 would outlaw mandatory mask policies in schools, reinforcing the right of parents to make medical decisions for their children. • Obscenity definition in schools: HB324 would prohibit obscene or harmful sexual materials in schools, protecting children from age-inappropriate content. 'The Parental Rights Package is about trust — trusting parents to know what's best for their children,' said Dan Gray, executive director of Citizens Alliance of New Hampshire. 'Governor Ayotte has an opportunity to affirm the rights of every New Hampshire family and to send a clear message that our state values liberty and family sovereignty.' Ayotte urged to veto 4 bills A liberal bloc of organizations called upon Ayotte to veto four bills, starting with the parental rights bill they charge would leave students dealing with gender identity issues without a 'trusted adult' to confide in. 'The majority of New Hampshire politicians chose to insert themselves in conversations between young people, their parents, and doctors, by passing a ban on medically necessary health care that has vastly improved the well-being of transgender young people,' said Linds Jakow, founder of 603 Equality. 'Politicians likewise chose to insert themselves in conversations between young people, their parents, and teachers, by passing bills that would require teachers to reveal a student's gender or sexuality, rather than suggest a conversation between the parent and their student. We control our bodies and lives. Gov. Kelly Ayotte must swiftly veto this legislation, which has no place in any state that claims to value individual freedom.' These groups include 603 Equality, Planned Parenthood of New Hampshire Action Fund, N.H. Outright, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD Law) and the American Civil Liberties of New Hampshire. Other bills these advocates opposed included: • Gender-affirming care: HB 712 would ban all elective surgeries for transgender patients under 18 years old, even with parental consent and after consultations with medical professionals. On Thursday, the House will decide whether to concur with changes made to this bill along with HB 377 that restricts access for minors to puberty blockers. • Allow segregation of spaces: HB 148 would allow government agencies and private businesses to restrict access to restrooms, sports teams and prisons to members of the same biological sex. Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed an identical bill (HB 396) in 2024. 'It is clear that these bills would cause harm, permit discrimination, and heighten cruelty and harassment in our communities — and they have no place in New Hampshire,' said Courtney Reed, ACLU-N.H's policy advocate. 'Every Granite Stater deserves the freedom to control their bodies and to seek the health care they need free from government intrusion — period. These merciless, cruel, and endless legislative attacks against LGBTQ+ Granite Staters need to end.' What's Next: Most of these bills that both sides are working on have passed both branches of the Legislature and are on the way to Ayotte's desk. Prospects: Ayotte has expressed support for the parental rights bills and publicly she hasn't raised an objection to any of the other measures. klandrigan@
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former and current students continue to protest CPS parking fees
Former and current high school students are continuing to fight against Chickasha Public School's vehicle policy, which requires students to purchase a parking pass. According to the CPS Student Handbook, students who wish to have a vehicle at school must park in an assigned parking area, drive in a careful manner, have a driver's license and insurance, register the vehicle with the school district, pay a parking fee and display a valid parking permit. The annual registration fee is $20. Trenton Rippy, a Chickasha High School alumnus representing Young Americans for Liberty, said this is an issue he was been fighting against since he was a student and on student council. He said he believes the school is 'taxing' students for coming to school by requiring parking permits. Young Americans for Liberty is a nonprofit student organization that helps launch 'student rights campaigns' across college and high school campuses to challenge 'tyrannical' student polices, according to Rippy. He said that he's worked as a member of the community to vocalize the perceived issues with the policy to inform others and get them involved. The movement started to gain more traction in Nov. 2024 when a group first appeared at the CPS Board of Education meeting. 'We decided to start protesting back in November and we've been showing up and having at least some sort of presence at the board meetings ever since,' Rippy said. Rippy said he has spoken with CHS Principal Debby Davis and briefly with CPS Superintendent Rick Croslin about the policy but feels there was little success in those conversations. That hasn't slowed Rippy or other supports though. 'We probably doorknocked at least 800 homes this last weekend and we did flyer drops with all that we know about the policy and this protest (Monday),' Rippy said. 'It's one of those... you really don't see a lot of grassroots organizing and Chickasha.' Trenton Shadoan, a current CHS student, said he doesn't feel like students should have to pay for a parking pass when the school receives 'taxpayer money' to help fund the school. He also got involved to help students know they can speak up if they're unhappy with a policy. 'I'm doing this mainly because I want students to know they have a voice if they face oppression by a school,' Shadoan said. 'They can speak out. They don't have to just put their heads down and just accept it.' Croslin addressed the efforts to change the policy during Monday's meeting. 'In conjunction with our CHS student advisory program... students have been working on suggestions regarding this matter,' Croslin said. 'These suggestions will be reviewed by leadership, being student and adult leadership at CHS. They will discuss and they will decide how they are going to move forward with this issue.' Croslin said he hopes to have all the information to those in leadership in April and a decision will be made from there. Following the meeting, Rippy said he feels like Croslin does not want to listen to the current and former students actively speaking out against the parking policy. Rippy said Shadoan is a member of the student committee Croslin referenced in the meeting and that other students have brought this issue up in the past. 'He never wants to actually listen to the students or it's kind of like... He hears you, but he's not listening,' Rippy said, adding that he believes the 'grassroots pressure' is the reason it was addressed at Monday's meeting. 'We started this and there was maybe me and one other student here,' Shadoan said. 'Now we have seven or eight students here. That just shows the growth we've made showing people that they can get out and do stuff like that. And it's legal, it's free speech.'
