Transgender Group Helping Martin Despite His Silence on Issue

A transgender rights organization is sending paid, out-of-state operatives to New Hampshire to elect “Bud” Martin to the state Senate, NowHampshire.com has learned.

The group, called the Human Rights Campaign, is dedicated to, among other things, “equal protection under the law” for “transgendered Americans.”

Transgenderism is a hot button issue in New Hampshire these days as the state House of Representatives recently passed the so-called “Bathroom Bill.” The measure will be taken up in the Senate after the April 21st special election between Democrat Martin and Republican Jeb Bradley.

Despite the Human Rights Campaign’s push to elect him, Martin has refused to state publicly how he will vote on the “Bathroom Bill.” Martin’s campaign manager Joe Elcock refused to respond to NowHampshire.com’s questions as to whether Martin has given assurances to transgender lobby groups he refuses to give to voters.

“I just arrived Thursday afternoon in Manchester, NH where I’ll be working with the New Hampshire Democratic Party to help build the base of fair-minded voters in preparation for 2010 and to help elect Bud Martin to the State Senate in the April 21st special election,” writes Karl Bach, a paid field operative for the Human Rights Campaign who resides in Washington, DC, not New Hampshire.

“New Hampshire is on the verge of passing two key pieces of legislation: marriage equality legislation and legislation to add gender identity to the state’s non-discrimination and hate crimes laws,” Bach continues.

Bach posted the note on both the Human Rights Campaign website and on Facebook.

The Martin campaign has been dogged by the candidate’s unwillingness to articulate himself on key issues and his manager’s history of dirty tricks.

A majority of the Conway Board of Selectmen endorsed Bradley on Monday. The New Hampshire Union Leader endorsed him today.