Gen Z lawmaker in New Hampshire fights for LGBTQ rights

Democrat Alissandra Murray talks to Zivvy News about serving in New Hampshire's state house and representing LGBTQ youth.

Zivvy News is committed to highlighting the work of young changemakers who are tackling key issues and making a difference in their communities and beyond. Ahead of Election Day, Zivvy News has spoken to several Gen Z politicians. View our Gen Z Spotlight series here.

When Alissandra Murray was first elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives, their primary focus was on facilitating cannabis legalization and enhancing housing access across the state. However, a new priority emerged soon after they were sworn in.

A Leader for LGBTQ Rights

Murray told Zivvy News they were first elected at “the beginning of the height of all this anti-LGBTQ legislation that was being introduced across the country.” 

It was “kind of a new thing for New Hampshire, because New Hampshire has always been a pretty accepting state,” they said.  “Even though I didn't go into office with the intention of being so focused on LGBTQ rights, because of my identity, I very quickly became kind of like a leader on those issues.”

Murray, who is non-binary and identifies as transgender, isn’t the only trans lawmaker in the New Hampshire legislature. Despite New Hampshire’s reputation as a leader in transgender representation, several bills labeled as anti-LGBTQ by critics continue to appear in the state’s political sphere. 

This prompted Murray to introduce a hate crime reporting bill mandating that law enforcement statewide report all hate crimes. This bill successfully passed both legislative chambers and was signed into law by Governor Chris Sununu.

Balancing Work and School with Lawmaking

Murray has had to juggle their responsibilities as a state legislator while attending school and managing multiple jobs.

“I'm lucky that my job is at a nonprofit that I founded,” they said. “We're a very small group, and my work is pretty flexible, so I can do work outside of normal hours and bring my laptop into session days and do work while I'm on the House floor voting on bills. And then, with school, it's all just about having a really good system to try and put deadlines in place for yourself.”

Since New Hampshire House of Representatives’ annual salary is just $100, having another job is essential for representatives like Murray, who also see it as an opportunity to connect with the community.

“When I was bartending downtown, people would come in sometimes and be like ‘you look really familiar. I think I've seen you on TV,’” they said. “I'd be like ‘yes, I'm actually a state representative, et cetera’. Always positive reactions. People were interested in seeing someone that they see around the community being in the state house, someone that they know and recognize.”

Using Their Identity as Motivation

Like other Gen Z legislators in this series, Murray initially faced doubts about their qualifications and experience. Over time, however, colleagues came to understand and respect their capabilities. Additionally, Murray has observed skepticism tied to their identity as a non-binary person, which has further fueled their LGBTQ advocacy.

“It can feel very isolating within the state house to be someone whose identity is being so publicly debated,” they said. “But I take the responsibility very seriously. I do everything I can to make sure that LGBTQ people in New Hampshire feel represented and feel like someone is fighting for them.”

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