U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) was one of a handful of Democrats who took the microphone at a D.C. press conference Tuesday to tout his sponsorship of legislation mandating that biological males be allowed in women’s locker rooms and bathrooms.
Polls consistently show voters in New Hampshire and nationwide oppose Pappas’ stance.
The legislation, named the “Equality Act” by its sponsors, would change the 1964 Civil Rights Act language, adding “transgender status” and “sexual orientation” as protected classes when it comes to discrimination. Treating a biological male who identifies as a woman as though he’s a man would be the same as discriminating against an actual woman, for example.
“Passing the Equality Act is consistent with the basic promise of America, and it has never been more urgent that we confront the politically toxic attacks on our community and that we move forward,” Pappas said Tuesday. “I think of the LGBTQ+ community members that we all talk to, (these) people who are beyond afraid about the direction of our nation.”
Under this legislation, which was supported by every Democrat in the U.S. House in the last session, a New Hampshire law currently under consideration protecting girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms from biological males would be overridden.
“An individual shall not be denied access to a shared facility, including a restroom, a locker room, and a dressing room, that is in accordance with the individual’s gender identity,” the bill reads.
In a statement urging passage of the Equality Act, the left-wing group Human Rights Campaign called out what it calls “anti-LGBTQ+ attacks,” including executive actions from President Donald Trump that “restrict access to health care for transgender people of all ages” and “restrict transgender youth from participating in sports.”
“The Equality Act seeks to address these inequities by providing consistent anti-discrimination protections nationwide. It ensures that LGBTQ+ individuals can live without fear of harassment or discrimination,” the group wrote.
John McCormack, a reporter who has covered the Equity Act for years, wrote during the last Congress’ debate that the legislation also targets the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, stripping religious individuals and organizations of their right to practice their faith.
“The Equality Act would affect religious schools as well as public schools because it supersedes the Religious Freedom Restoration Act,” McCormack reported. And he quoted the legislation, “The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993… shall not provide a claim concerning, or a defense to a claim under, a covered title, or provide a basis for challenging the application or enforcement of a covered title.”
A woman who identifies as a man who wants to enter a seminary to become a priest could theoretically be covered by the law Pappas is promoting.
Two weeks ago, Britain’s highest court unanimously ruled that its “Equality Act” does not treat self-identified women as biological females, declaring that the term “woman” and “sex” refer to “a biological woman and biological sex.”
The Democrats’ version of the Equality Act would force public institutions and many private ones to do the opposite.
Earlier this year, both Pappas and his fellow New Hampshire Democrat Rep. Maggie Goodlander voted against the Protection of Women’s and Girls’ Sports Act.
Pappas recently announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate in 2026, and since then, he has gone out of his way to highlight social issues, in particular those related to the LGBT community.
On Wednesday, Pappas sent a fundraising email highlighting the fact that, if elected, he would be the first openly gay man to serve in the U.S. Senate.
“We’ve made tremendous progress since I was younger. But there’s still something we’ve never done. We’ve never elected a gay man to the Senate,” Pappas wrote to potential Democratic donors.
No other Democrat has announced their candidacy in the U.S. Senate race, and, with every major Democrat in the state endorsing Pappas, it’s unlikely he’ll face serious competition. If Pappas is moving to the left on social issues to avoid a progressive primary opponent, political professionals tell NHJournal they don’t see any viable candidates on the horizon.
On the Republican side, former ambassador and U.S. Senator Scott Brown has made no secret of the fact that he’s very interested in running next year. Brown has also been an outspoken advocate of protecting girls’ sports and spaces from biological males.
“Among a sea of extremists, Congressman Pappas stands alone. His belief that men should participate in women’s sports might resonate with out-of-state donors bankrolling his campaign, but is deeply out of touch with the vast majority of Granite Staters,” Brown told NHJournal.
“This is a matter of fairness. I will always fight for the right of my granddaughters and everyone else’s daughters to fulfill their athletic dreams without the interference of Congressman Pappas and his fellow liberals.”
Meanwhile, Pappas continues to push the Equality Act.
“We are gonna get this done, whether it is in the next few weeks, few months, or a few years,” Pappas said Tuesday. “We all have to stay committed to this fight.”
