Maryland Haters Fail In Trans Rights Law Repeal Effort

As I keep reminding folks here in the wake of the passage of our HERO, passing the human rights law is the easy part. 

Now we have to defend it.

The trans community in Maryland saw the fulfillment of a human rights dream of their own when Gov Martin O'Malley (D) signed the Fairness For All Marylanders Act into law on May 15. 

SB 212 passed by a lopsided 32-15 margin in the Maryland Senate and an 82-57 margin in the Maryland House back in March, and has the support of 71% of Marylanders.

But the predominately Republican opposition to the Fairness For All Marylanders Act predictably decided to attempt to get at the ballot box what it couldn't accomplish in the legislature. 

A hate coalition led by Maryland Del. Neil Parrott (R-Washington County) started an effort to collect the 55,737 signatures needed to force a repeal referendum vote on the midterm election ballot in November on the trans rights law.   The signatures needed to be collected by the initial May 31 deadline date to continue the process to June 30, but as of the initial deadline date the opponents had only collected 17,500 signatures.

Translation:  The GOP led repeal effort fails, and the law will take effect on October 1.   So Maryland trans community and our allies, you know who to punish at the polls on November 4. 

On that glorious October 1 date Maryland will become the 18th state plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico that bans discrimination against its trans citizens.

Good, because the expansion of human rights for a marginalized group is something that should never be subject to a majority vote.

Maryland Trans Rights Bill Passes House!

Today, the Maryland House of Delegates righted a human rights travesty that took place in 2001. 

It was in that disgusting year a gay-only human rights law for the state passed that deliberately cut transpeople out of it. 

That human rights wrong was corrected today when the Maryland House of Delegates voted 82-57 to pass SB 212, the Fairness for All Marylanders Act!  This bill, unlike the unjust 2011 one I blasted all over these TransGriot pages at the time along with a coalition of trans people just as pissed off about the unjust bill, expand Maryland's anti-discrimination laws to protect transgender people in employment, housing, access to credit and public accommodations.

SB 212 passed the Maryland Senate on an overwhelming 32-15 vote. 

Of course the right wing haters stuck on the wrong side of history tried to get amendments passed to strip out the public accommodations language and gut the bill, but they all failed in the Democratically controlled chamber. 

Elections matter.   Remember that on November 4. 

"After more than 15 years of advocacy for trans Marylanders, the tremendous work by all our legislative champions, and the solid support of the leadership in Annapolis, history was made today.  The House of Delegates sent the same loud and clear message the Maryland Senate did:  Every Marylander deserves equal rights under the law.  We welcome the Governor's promised signature and the full and successful implementation of this bill," said Jenna Fischetti of TransMaryland, an MCTE coalition member.        

Congratulations Jenna, Maryland Coalition for Transgender Equality, the legislative sponsors, and everyone else in Maryland who busted their behinds to get this inclusive bill passed.   I couldn't be happier for you and all my trans family living there to see this day finally happen. 

Transgender Marylanders now have legal recourse if someone messes with their human rights in their home state.   Break out the crabcakes! 

The bill now heads to Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) desk for his signature, and when he does sign it, Maryland will become the 18th state plus the District of Columbia in which the trans population of it will have full human rights coverage.   

The haters aren't going to give up, and will attempt to force a referendum by collecting enough signatures to place it on the November ballot for repeal.  The Maryland Coalition for Transgender Equality anticipated the Force of Intolerance, Maryland Division would go there.  They are already shifting to the next phase and preparing to defend this hard won human rights bill.

Maryland Trans Rights Bill Passes Senate

If you peruse my posts from the early part of 2011, you'll note a series of them in which I was part of a coalition of trans Marylanders and trans activists from different parts of the country working to get the word out and kill an unjust, unpopular and bad trans rights bill that didn't have public accommodations language in it.

HB 235 died a contentious, painful public death, and I gleefully celebrated it.     I hated being put in the position where I had to work to kill a needed trans rights bill, but killing a bad bill is better than letting it pass just so you and a organization can trumpet it as a legislative win.

Isn't that right, Massachusetts?  I also pointed out in the wake of that convoluted Maryland legislative mess the whole jacked up situation didn't have to happen .

It's now three years later.  Since then the states of Nevada, Connecticut, Massachusetts* and neighboring Delaware have passed statewide laws banning discrimination against trans people.  Baltimore and Howard counties have now joined Baltimore City (2002) and Montgomery County (2007) in barring discrimination based on gender identity.   Several other Maryland cities are also contemplating passing similar laws but unlike the gay and lesbian statewide we were cut out of in 2002, there is still no statewide anti-discrimination law in Maryland.

That might be about to change. 

Maryland is halfway down the legislative road to becoming the 18th state plus the District of Columbia to having a statewide law banning discrimination against trans* people.. 

On Tuesday the Maryland Senate voted 32-15 to pass the long overdue Fairness For All Marylanders Act, which would expand Maryland's anti-discrimination laws to protect transgender people in employment, housing, access to credit and public accommodations.

The bill now goes to the Maryland House of Delegates and if it is approved there, will go to Gov. Martin O'Malley's (D) desk for his signature. 

There's still a lot of work to do before we can definitively add Maryland to that distinguished list of states that protect the human rights of their trans citizens, and it's past time for it to happen there.

Kelly Young Killed In Baltimore

Another day, another report of a dead Black girl like us.   This time it is 29 year old Kelly Young of Baltimore, MD who was shot and killed.

Police responded to a report of a shooting early Wednesday morning in the 2200 block of Barclay Street.  Thy found Kelly inside the home and rushed her to a nearby hospital where she died.

Last night family and friends got together to remember her life and call for the killer to be brought to justice.



 
“It’s too early in the investigation to call this a hate crime,” said Sergeant Eric Kowalczyk, LGBT Liaison for the Baltimore City Police Department.

This one is in the early investigative stages too, so if you live in the area and heard or saw something, please call the Baltimore City Police Department Homicide Division with that information at (410) 396-2100.

Rest in peace Kelly.  Here's hoping that the waste of DNA who committed this crime will be swiftly captured and brought to justice. 

Upcoming Trans POC Picnic In Maryland

For all you trans POC peeps in the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia area or you just want an excuse to go there, it's time for what has become an annual event in that area in the Trans POC picnic.

It's scheduled to be held on July 21 from 1 PM- 5 PM EDT at Wheaton Regional Park in Wheaton, MD. 

So this serves as your save the date post and please consider attending that event.  It's a wonderful way for you to get some fresh air, get to know your fellow transpeeps, make some new friends and get reacquainted with some old ones while y'all get your grub on, play cards and dominoes and have fun..

If I get any additional details I will definitely pass them on to you.

Baltimore County MD Passes Trans Rights Bill!

The Baltimore County Council on a 5-2 party line vote last night passed Bill 3-12, a measure designed to protect the human rights of its trans citizens.   Its passing makes Baltimore County the fourth jurisdiction inside the state of Maryland after the city of Baltimore, Montgomery County and Howard County to do so and it joins the more than 160 jurisdictions, Washington, D.C. and 16 states that have trans anti-discrimination laws

As usual, the Republicans on the County Council, David Marks of Perry Hall and Todd Huff of Lutherville voted against the measure. 

Marks had previously indicated that he would support it but when push came to shove, as usual Republican legislators like him can be counted on to revert to their predilection to oppress people, be on the wrong side of history, and try to justify it.

Of course, Marks tried to tap dance around the fact he will go down in history as being part of the Forces of Intolerance and voting against a human rights bill.

"I want all Baltimore Countians to have equal access to those opportunities that make them more productive citizens, but upon further reflection, I don't know if there are already protections under the law," Marks said in a statement released after the vote and reported in the Baltimore Sun. "I continue to have questions about the legislation, and would prefer for the state to act first on this issue."


Yeah, right Councilman Marks.  Peddle that bull feces elsewhere. 

It was obvious in the wake of transwoman Chrissy Lee Polis being viciously beaten inside Baltimore County last April and the stories of countless other trans Baltimore County residents recounting their struggles with discrimination aimed at them that the bill was needed. 

And Councilman Marks, the Maryland legislature since 2001 has repeatedly failed to act to protect its trans citizens.    

"Everyone deserves to be treated fairly," Tom Quirk said before he and his council colleagues voted. "This bill is a human rights bill, and I'm proud of Baltimore County tonight."

Amen, Councilman Quirk, you have every right to be.

The bill adds both gender identity and sexual orientation to Baltimore County's existing anti-discrimination laws, which protect people in the workplace, housing, finance and public accommodations.

There was some vague language added similar to Montgomery and Howard County that stated the protections do not apply to "distinctly private or personal" facilities and exempted religious institutions from it.

That's where I disagree, especially if said religious institutions are getting tax dollars. But it was still a major win for our transbrothers and transsisters in Baltimore County and congrats to everyone who worked tirelessly to get it passed.  

Now if only the Maryland state legislature would follow suit.

Baltimore County MD Trans Rights Bill Vote Tomorrow

It's a big day tomorrow in Baltimore County for Chrissy Lee Polis and the rest of our trans brothers and transsisters.

The Baltimore County Council will convene at 5:00 PM EST to vote on Bill 3-12, the human rights bills to add gender identity and sexual orientation to existing human rights statutes and add Baltimore County MD to the increasingly lengthy list of jurisdictions that do value their rainbow community citizens.

Bill 3-12 has already had two contentious hearings, with the Forces of Intolerance desperately trying to preserve their 'special right' to discriminate.
They have been sliming this much needed law with the usual 'bathroom bill' meme bull feces.  One major lie they were trying to pimp has already been thoroughly debunked.

But the haters will still repeat them anyway in the hope they get the desired result of Bill 3-12 being defeated or severely watered down.

So for those of you in the Baltimore area it would be incumbent upon you to be agents for your own liberation and let your county councilmembers respectfully know that you want the full menu of human rights, not an unjust public accommodations free bill.

Since the opponents are dragging in people from outside Maryland and Baltimore County into this human rights battle, it's in our best interests to help our trans brothers and sisters in Baltimore County beat back the haters. 

If you can, you may also wish to show up at the hearing at 400 Washington Avenue in Towson, MD clad in purple to express your support for the bill without amendments.

Good luck Baltimore County transpeeps!