It seems that the hard work of Transgender and Transsexual activists inside and outside of Maryland are getting some movement regarding the discriminatory Maryland Bill HB235. Equality Maryland aka "InEquality Maryland" tried to sneak this bill through the Maryland House of Delegates and the Senate WITHOUT including TG/TS people in the "Public Accommodations" part of the bill. Of course EQMD allowed for gays and lesbians to be protected but excluded only transgender and transsexual people who were left on the curb by this bill.
A wave of online activism from blogs such as Transgriot, ENDAblog, TransAdvocate, various Facebook sites and individuals asking for a petition to be signed, as well as TransFM have been exposing the lies and deception and many have called for immediate inclusion of gender identity and expression to be protected in the realm of public accommodations.
Senator Rich Madaleno's below press statement is a clear example of a positive action reacting to the voices of Transgender and Trannsexual individuals and organizations which are no longer going to be duped by the Equality Federation members like EQMD. To this day Equality Maryland has not apologized or provided a game plan to the greater transgender community regarding HB235. But what we may be seeing here is a new game being organized. One in which Transgender and Transsexual people are writing the rules.
Tom Lang, Director
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Adam Fogel (301) 858-3137 afogel@senate.state.md.us
March 3, 2011
Senator Rich Madaleno’s statement on HB 235: Human Relations - Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity – Antidiscrimination
I have been the lead sponsor or lead cosponsor of the Gender Identity Antidiscrimination Act for the past four years. In advance of the 2011 Session, I had a bill drafted that is identical to the bill I had introduced previously. This draft prohibited discrimination based on gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations. However, our advocacy coalition asked me to not introduce the bill, preferring a strategy of pursuing a House bill alone. This approach has not diminished my commitment to enacting these much needed protections, and I urge the House of Delegates to pass HB 235, with an amendment that prohibits discrimination against transgender individuals regarding public accommodations.
Providing transgender individuals with basic protections against discrimination is long overdue. Although much of the media attention this legislative session has centered on marriage equality, we cannot let that debate overshadow efforts to enact these essential protections. Protection against discrimination, including gender identity discrimination, is a basic human right. Our state laws must reflect the values of equality and equal opportunity – values that are central to who we are as Americans.
Now is the time for Maryland to join thirteen other states, Washington, D.C., Montgomery County, and Baltimore City in protecting individuals from discrimination on the basis of gender identity. In 2007, Governor O’Malley signed an executive order adding protections against discrimination to our state personnel policies. We now must pass a statewide law that protects transgender individuals from discrimination when seeking employment, housing, and public accommodations.
