New Hampshire Outright is a pro-LGBT advocacy organization focused on youth programming and public policy activism in New Hampshire. The group promotes gender identity education in elementary classrooms through young adult settings, sponsors statewide gay-straight alliance (GSA) networks, and organizes events such as Portsmouth Pride. ^{1  2  3}

It has opposed Republican-backed laws signed by New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte (R) restricting puberty blockers and gender-reassignment surgeries for minors. New Hampshire Outright has partnered with groups including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLAD Law) to challenge limits on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and youth gender-transition interventions. ^{4  5  6}

Activities

New Hampshire Outright offers several programs and initiatives through which it advocates for LGBT youth. It offers a Little Outrighters Youth Group program for “LGBTQ+ kids in grades 2-6 (ages 8-12).” New Hampshire Outright also has youth groups for LGBT middle and high schoolers and young adults. It also provides support training for gay people and their families. New Hampshire Outright maintains an Educational Outreach Team that offers LGBTQ Cultural Proficiency Trainings for educators, schools, businesses, and other entities. The group also hosts a statewide network for gay-straight alliance (GSA) clubs. ²

New Hampshire Outright also hosts LGBT-themed events in New Hampshire. In May 2025, New Hampshire Outright planned to host a “Practical Allyship 101” class for youth at the Rye Public Library, but the event was postponed by the library trustees to maintain political neutrality in a public space. After protests from New Hampshire Outright and counter-protests from Rye Republicans, the library agreed to rent a room to New Hampshire Outright to conduct its class without officially sponsoring the event. ^{7  8}

New Hampshire Outright organizes Portsmouth Pride, the annual LGBT Pride festival in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. ³

Advocacy

New Hampshire House Bill 2

In August 2025, New Hampshire Outright joined a group of educators, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the National Education Association New Hampshire teachers’ union in a lawsuit against the New Hampshire Department of Justice challenging House Bill 2, a bill signed into law by Governor Kelly Ayotte (R) in June 2025 that banned diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programming pertaining to race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability in New Hampshire schools, including both K-12 public schools as well as both public and private colleges and universities, and public entities like police departments and libraries. ⁶

In October 2025, a federal court in New Hampshire issued a preliminary injunction blocking House Bill 2. The Court held that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on their claims that the law violates due process and is contradicted by federal disability civil rights laws.  ^{9  10}

Opposition to other New Hampshire Laws

In August 2025, New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte (R) signed into law two bills, House Bill 377, which banned puberty blockers for children, and House Bill 712, which banned chest surgeries for minors. New Hampshire Outright executive director Heidi Carrington Heath opposed both laws, claiming they cause “unnecessary harm and undue hardship” for LGBT youth in New Hampshire. ⁴

In 2024, New Hampshire Outright joined GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD Law) in opposing New Hampshire House Bill 619, a policy that would ban sex-change medical interventions for minors, require students to use the bathroom that corresponds to their natal sex, and prohibit natal males from playing on female sports teams. ⁵

Leadership

As of 2026, Heidi Carrington Heath was the executive director of New Hampshire Outright, a position she had held since 2023. ¹¹ Previously, she worked as a private consultant for educational and religious organizations. She also previously worked as the executive director of the New Hampshire Council of Churches, as the director of religious and spiritual life at Phillips Exeter Academy, and as an associate pastor. ¹² Carrington Heath received her bachelor’s in Religious Studies and Psychology from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, her Master’s of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological Seminary, and a professional diploma in leading spiritual diversity in higher education from New York University. ¹³

As of 2026, Michael Haley was the chair of the board of directors at New Hampshire Outright. ¹⁴ He was also a staff attorney at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD Law) at the time, as well as an adjunct professor at the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law. Haley formerly worked as Assistant Attorney and Assistant Director of Charitable Trusts at the New Hampshire Department of Justice. He received his bachelor’s in German Language and Literature from Colby University and his law degree from Harvard Law School. ¹⁵

Financials

In 2024, New Hampshire Outright reported $475,657 in total revenue, $363,275 in total expenses, and $660,409 in total assets. ¹⁶

1. “About Us.” NH Outright. Accessed February 23, 2026. https://www.nhoutright.org/about-us
2. “What We Do.” NH Outright. Accessed February 23, 2026. https://www.nhoutright.org/what-we-do
3. Lenahan, Ian. “Portsmouth Pride 2025: A time to unite and celebrate despite legal and political setbacks.” Seacoast Online. June 20, 2025. Accessed February 23, 2026. https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/local/2025/06/20/portsmouth-pride-2025-unite-celebrate-despite-setbacks/84227497007/
4. Fleming, Imani. “Ayotte signs bills blocking gender-affirming care for minors.” WMUR. August 2, 2025. Accessed February 23, 2026. https://www.wmur.com/article/ayotte-laws-minors-puberty-blockers-surgery-8125/65578450
5. “Defend Transgender Youth in New Hampshire.” GLAD Law. June 2024. Accessed February 23, 2026. https://www.gladlaw.org/cases/defend-transgender-youth-in-new-hampshire/
6. “Educators, ACLU, NEA-NH, and GLAD Law Sue New Hampshire Over Yet Another Unconstitutional Attack on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” ACLU. August 7, 2025. Accessed February 23, 2026. https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/educators-aclu-nea-nh-and-glad-law-sue-new-hampshire-over-yet-another-unconstitutional-attack-on-diversity-equity-and-inclusion
7. Bean, Michael. “Rye Republicans: Our Rye Public Library, elected representatives, and why it matters!” Seacoast Online. May 25, 2025. Accessed February 23, 2026. https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/opinion/columns/2025/05/25/rye-republicans-disappointed-in-library-reversal-on-lgbtqia-event/83852749007/
8. Dandurant, Karen. “Rye library reschedules LGBTQ+ ‘Allyship’ event, but won’t sponsor it.” Seacoast Online. June 12, 2026. Accessed February 23, 2026. https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/local/2025/06/12/rye-library-lgbtq-allyship-101-no-sponsor/84113242007/
9. “Federal court grants preliminary injunction blocking NH state law attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion.” ACLU-NH. October 2, 2025. Accessed February 23, 2026. https://www.aclu-nh.org/press-releases/federal-court-grants-preliminary-injunction-blocking-nh-state-law-attacking-diversity-equity-and-inclusion/
10. “NEA-NH v. New Hampshire Department of Justice.” ACLU. August 7, 2025. Accessed February 23, 2026. https://www.aclu-nh.org/cases/nea-nh-v-new-hampshire-department-of-justice/
11. “About Us – Heidi Carrington Heath.” NH Outright. Accessed February 23, 2026. https://www.nhoutright.org/about-us
12. “Heidi Carrington Heath.” LinkedIn. Accessed February 23, 2026. https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidicheath/
13. “Heidi Carrington Heath – Education.” LinkedIn. Accessed February 23, 2026. https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidicheath/details/education/
14. “About Us – Michael Haley.” NH Outright. Accessed February 23, 2026. https://www.nhoutright.org/about-us
15. “Michael Haley.” LinkedIn. Accessed February 23, 2026. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-haley-bb63a38b/
16. “New Hampshire Outright – 2024 Federal Form 990.” ProPublica. Accessed February 23, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/20470822/202511359349306566/full