New Hampshire
Facing legislation that could reshape their lives, transgender teenagers became advocates in N.H. – The Boston Globe
As she delivered her testimony, she was direct, poised, and articulate. At this point, she’s had years of practice advocating for herself and teenagers like her. It’s a role she never asked for but feels a duty to fill.
Iris became an advocate when she was just 10 years old, with written testimony that didn’t identify her by name, her mother, Amy Manzelli, told the Globe. Eventually, her parents allowed Iris to identify herself publicly.
“I was just, like, ready to do something,” Iris said from a perch on the couch during an interview at the family’s home.
Iris came out as transgender to her family when she was 7, although her mom said Iris had been giving indications she was a girl from the time she was able to string a sentence together. As a young child, Manzelli said, Iris would ask Santa to turn her into a girl for Christmas.
After Iris came out, she was finally able to live day-to-day as a girl. She wears girls clothes, uses the girls bathroom at school, and joined the girls tennis team at school, although she didn’t make the softball team.
This legislative session, Iris has been to the State House to testify against multiple bills, including one that would bar transgender girls like her from playing on girls sports teams in grades 5-12 (House Bill 1205), could block her from locker rooms or bathrooms (House Bill 396), and would require parental notification for her and her classmates to learn about gender or gender expression (House Bill 1312). Another bill, House Bill 619, would prevent minors from receiving genital gender reassignment surgery, and it would prevent doctors from providing referrals for the procedure, which they say is exceedingly rare.
Proponents of banning transgender girls from sports say it’s unfair for them to play on the same team because they have a biological advantage. They point to the increased strength men have after going through male puberty, which they believe will allow people assigned male at birth to overtake women in sports.
All four bills are headed to Governor Chris Sununu’s desk. Sununu has indicated he supports barring transgender girls from girls sports teams, although he hasn’t directly said if he will sign the bill. If he does, Manzelli said, her family will pursue a legal challenge.
“I’m just petrified,” Manzelli said. “I’ve heard rumors that some of them are going to be vetoed, but unless all of them are vetoed, it doesn’t really matter. … None of them are OK.” Waiting to learn what will happen, Iris said, feels like “just suffering.”
In March, Sununu said it is dangerous for transgender girls to play on girls sports teams. “I fundamentally don’t believe that biological boys should be competing in girls sports,” he said.
He has stood firm on that position in recent interviews, even after hearing stories from transgender athletes in New Hampshire.
“This bill is not about the individual,” Sununu said during a June 27 interview with WMUR.
“It’s about the system as a whole. It’s about fairness, about safety,” he said. “You’ve seen all across the country, other stories of, you know, state champions, biological boys becoming state champions. That affects scholarships. That affects the fairness of competition.”
In April, New Hampshire’s child advocate Cassandra Sanchez spoke against dozens of bills that she said would harm LGBTQ+ youth, including the effort to bar transgender girls from girls sports teams.
“We’re all about equity and fairness, and all children should have an opportunity,” she said. She doesn’t see transgender athletes “trying to get ahead or hurt others by engaging in sports. They’re trying to have a normalized childhood.”
She said many children find a sense of belonging by playing team sports. Sara Tirrell, whose daughter Parker is transgender and plays soccer, agreed.
“The goal is to be part of the team,” Tirrell said.
“Parker’s team in particular won zero games last year. She was not the kid that was bowling anybody over because that’s not who she is,” she said.
Parker stood in the crowd at the Legislative Office Building during the press conference in late April next to her dad, Zach. Tears ran down her face as she listened to her mom publicly explain how she tried to comfort her daughter after a classmate called her expletives and slurs and said she should kill herself.
“As her mother, I remain committed to fostering an environment where she can live authentically and unapologetically,” Tirrell said. That has meant two years of making the hourlong drive to Concord from her home in Plymouth to testify against bills that would impact her family.
In an interview, Tirrell said she first came to the State House in 2023 to testify against a bill that would have added gender-affirming health care to the definition of child abuse.
This year, with her family’s support, Parker decided to testify for the first time, speaking against the effort to bar transgender girls from girls sports teams.
Parker has played soccer since she was 4, and she said it’s become a big part of her identity. She has played every position: defense, midfield, and striker. Soccer is how she met many of her friends. She said it would be “devastating” if the bill becomes law. Joining the boys’ soccer team, she said, is not an option, and neither is using the men’s bathroom or locker room.
Advocating for herself and others has been difficult for the 15-year-old.
“I feel like I shouldn’t have to do it because it seems like a lot for me specifically to have to do as a freshman in high school still trying to figure things out school-wise,” she said. “I don’t want to be, but it’s something important that I have to do.”
“It’s been a lot for me,” Parker said, “just having to deal with all these people trying to dictate how my life is supposed to go.”
Parker is hoping to play soccer again with her team in the fall. But, for now, her future is an open question — one that both she and Iris are waiting for the governor to resolve.
Amanda Gokee can be reached at amanda.gokee@globe.com. Follow her @amanda_gokee.
Dover, New Hampshire is finally going to see something go into the old Ames Building, (same plaza as Hannaford) at 833 Central Avenue. It’s not just “something,” it’s a Community space we didn’t know we wanted.
Justin Grondahl is the owner of TRAENE Fitness & Pickleball and he’s opening one here in Dover. He has 63,000 square feet to make beautiful. Justin is the son of the co-founder of Planet Fitness that started right here in Dover, New Hampshire.
Justin spent some time with me here in the Townsquare Studios and told me everything we can expect.
You will not believe what he has in store for this place. It makes me want to move to Dover. (although it’s like my 2nd home – I’m here all. the. time.) Check out what his plans are:
- 10 indoor pickleball courts
- 3,000 Square Foot Classroom for Megaformer Pilates Classes
- 20,000 square feet of just gym equipment
- 2 Cold Plunges
- 3 Saunas, with three floors. Lots of people can fit into them
- Big Locker Rooms
- Red Light Beds
- Massage Chairs
- Massage Beds
- Tanning Booths
TRAENE Recently Added a Peptide Clinic to their Plans
If you are unfamiliar with peptides, they are chains of amino acids that help you heal injuries, build muscles and in some cases, lose weight.
After Justin told me all this, I asked if they will have food and drinks too because it was the only thing I could think of that they didn’t mention! He said, “yes, we’ll have something.”
What’s Up With the Penguin?
When Justin came into the studio, he had a TRAENE branded shirt that included a penguin. When I asked him why a Penguin, he said that it has always been his favorite animal because they are very tied to their Community. They never really leave and they are always together.
READ THIS: 6 Reason’s Why Brown’s Lobster Shack is a NH Seafood Treasure
Justin is already under construction of TRAENE. He said they should be open in the Fall of 2026.
Another incredible perk of being part of the TRAENE community is they are going to pick between 10 – 15 Members of the Month who are going to get rewards like:
- Renting out a race track
- Limo service to Bruins or Celtics games, whichever the member chooses
These trips will be all paid for, all free, Justin said.
New Fitness & Pickeball Center Opening Up in the Fall of 2026 in Dover, NH
As soon as I hear about when TRAENE is opening, I’ll let you know and you and I can get our pickleball team together. Justin did say sometime in the fall, but no specific date.. yet.
8 New Hampshire Restaurants That Closed in January/February 2026
Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna
All Team USA New England Athletes Who Won Medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics
As of Sunday, February 22, 2026, 10 athletes from New England won medals in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna
The New Hampshire Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Sunday, April 19, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 8-6-2
Evening: 8-8-9
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 7-6-9-2
Evening: 6-5-8-4
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the New Hampshire Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Pick 3, 4: 1:10 p.m. and 6:55 p.m. daily.
- Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Megabucks Plus: 7:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
- Gimme 5: 6:55 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a New Hampshire managing editor. You can send feedback using this form.
New Hampshire
‘Not cosmetic’: NH lawmaker wants state to cover GLP-1 drugs for weight loss – Concord Monitor
Two years ago, Sue Prentiss got a sobering reality check at her doctor’s office. The news was blunt: She qualified for bariatric surgery, a procedure for patients whose weight poses life-threatening risks.
She was aware of her weight and had tried everything from high-intensity workouts to weight loss programs and diets. Nothing seemed to help until she started taking GLP-1 medications.
Prentiss said between then and now, she had lost almost 80 pounds.
But at a $500 out-of-pocket monthly fee, every refill is a financial pinch.
“I’m just getting by, but I’m so much healthier, and if this can work for me, think about everybody else’s life where this would impact,” said Prentiss, a state senator.
To keep up with the cost, she’s made hard choices like cutting back on retirement contributions and squeezing her budget wherever possible.
Now, Prentiss is sponsoring Senate Bill 455, which would require the state to provide GLP-1 medications under the state Medicaid plan as a treatment for people with obesity.
As of January, New Hampshire’s Medicaid program has ended coverage for GLP-1 drugs like Saxenda, Wegovy and Zepbound for weight loss. The state still covers the medications when they’re part of a treatment plan for other chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, certain cardiovascular diseases, severe sleep apnea and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH).
According to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, the state paid managed care organizations $49.5 million to cover GLP-1 medications between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. The policy change in January reduced that cost to $41 million.
With these drugs gaining popularity, the state estimated that if were to resume covering GLP-1s for weight loss, it would need to spend an additional $24.2 million on top of the $41 million per fiscal year.
Jonathan Ballard, chief medical officer at DHHS, said the agency opposes the bill, which would require Medicaid coverage for anyone with a body mass index above 30 seeking GLP-1 medications specifically for weight loss.
Ballard said the state cannot afford such an expansion when budgets are already tight.
“The department does not have this money today,” he said. “So, living within the realities of our current budget, there will be significant trade-offs. We will have to cut other things that are very important to the health and well-being of New Hampshire to pay for this unless there’s some change.”
GLP-1 drugs carry a steep price tag that puts significant pressure on state budgets, particularly within Medicaid programs. Several states, including California, Pennsylvania and South Carolina, have moved to drop coverage of these medications for weight loss.
Prentiss initially drafted her legislation with private insurers in mind, but later pivoted to focus on Medicaid to serve more vulnerable populations. She is covered by commercial insurance and said the outcome of the bill will not personally affect her.
Lost coverage
GLP-1 medications mimic a natural hormone in the gut that helps regulate blood sugar, digestion and appetite.
Sarah Finn, section chief for obesity medicine at Dartmouth Health, said she has seen firsthand the impact on her patients after the state dropped Medicaid coverage for weight-loss GLP-1 drugs.
Without access to these medications, patients experience increased hunger, cravings and persistent “food noise,” as their bodies attempt to return to a higher fat percentage, a process known as metabolic adaptation, she said.
“This is the reality of the state I’m in right now, where I don’t have options except bariatric surgery for my Medicaid patients and a lot of times patients don’t want to do a surgery,” said Finn, at a hearing for the bill on Wednesday. “What I have to tell that patient is there’s nothing I could do to advocate.”
The Department of Health and Human Services faced a $51 million budget cut when the New Hampshire Legislature passed its biennial budget last year, forcing the department to reduce several services.
While Prentiss acknowledges the financial strain on the department, she wants the state to consider the long-term impact of using GLP-1s to prevent chronic conditions like diabetes, which is largely linked to weight gain and can drive up costs for the state over time.
“By driving down obesity, we can drive down the costs that are related to it,” she said.
Prentiss remains on GLP-1 medications and said she feels much healthier than before.
She said that after a few months on the drugs, her blood sugar levels and kidney function began trending toward more normal ranges.
“It’s not cosmetic,” she said. “Obesity is a medical condition.”
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