I gave a speech on March 20 to my colleagues in the New Hampshire House in favor a bill that classifies people based on biological sex in certain circumstances, including lavatories, sports competitions, and locker rooms. Leading up to the vote on the bill, I heard from transgender people who said they want to be accepted in society. I also listened to many women who felt as though their privacy and concerns had been overlooked.

Every American deserves the respect they are entitled to in the Constitution. That includes transgender people, and it includes women. Transgender people shouldn’t be isolated from society. And we should listen to women who say that they feel their spaces are no longer theirs. The current political climate puts these two ideas in opposition, but they don’t need to be.