Gerri Cannon made history as transgender state rep, will step away from NH House

SOMERSWORTH — Rep. Gerri Cannon, D-Somersworth, one of the first two openly transgender women to serve in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, is set to retire at the end of the 2024 legislative session.

Cannon has represented Strafford District 12, which includes Somersworth and the town of Rollinsford, since being elected in 2018. She was on the Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee.

“I spent a good six years. But it has been six years,” Cannon said. “I didn't expect to be there six years, so I feel that's a win for the transgender community, as well as Somersworth. They've continued to vote me into office.”

At 71 years old, she said she would like more free time to enjoy her retirement, as well as the flexibility to work full-time or part-time at Home Depot, where she currently works full-time.

Cannon made history when she was elected to the House, not just as one of the first two transgender women in New Hampshire to be elected, but as one of the first four transgender people on elected state legislatures across the country.

When Cannon was first elected, she says family members of transgender children thanked her for running and becoming a role model.

“I still feel very proud of being able to step out and let people know it's OK to be who they are and to do whatever they set their mind on,” Cannon said.

One of her biggest accomplishments was her very first bill, which was to add a box on a driver’s license for nonbinary people to check instead of just male and female. Gov. Chris Sununu allowed the bill to become law without his signature. Cannon said U.S. Sen. Ro Khanna, D-California, used the bill as a basis for his own bill to change U.S. passports to include nonbinary people.

Cannon is also proud of bills she has passed to help protect New Hampshire wildlife from dangerous substances like certain pesticides and rodent traps.

She said one regret she has is never getting a bill passed to make it easier for transgender people born in New Hampshire to change their birth record information to reflect their preferred gender. Right now, New Hampshire requires a court decision to change one’s birth certificate. Cannon’s bill would change that requirement to a statement from the individual’s physician.

Cannon said that “surprisingly” and “for the most part,” being a transgender lawmaker in Concord has been pretty good. She thinks she proved herself to be a good legislator.

However, she said, it has become a little harder the last couple of years.

“Being a trans person, especially last year, and this year with all of the anti-transgender legislation, was a challenge for me,” Cannon said. “It's feeling like one of the few champions inside the House, and that was that was a little awkward in many ways.”

More: Why are there so many bills about gender identity in New Hampshire? Experts weigh in

Overall, however, she feels proud to be one of the few transgender people in the House, and to have the chance to educate representatives who have questions.

Cannon said she still expects to be “sharing her voice” in Concord by talking to legislators and writing articles for newspapers, and she is considering running for Somersworth City Council.

She hopes that someone young with “new, aggressive ideas” will run to take her place.

“It’s enough of this old stuff,” she laughed.

Cannon said it’s really been a pleasure to serve.

“I'll admit it, I came in primarily to fight for the transgender community,” said Cannon. “In the process, I found myself fighting for all of New Hampshire."

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Gerri Cannon made history as transgender NH rep, will step away