A controversial bill has been proposed in Maryland, HB 235, which protects against discrimination concerning gender identity and gender expression. The bill originally included protections in housing, employment and public accommodations. Unfortunately, the alarming compromise was recently made to remove protections for public accommodations, which will legalize second class citizenship to transsexual and transgender Marylanders. The community has mobilized to counter this unconstitutional agenda, and to oppose Equality Maryland and the elected officials who support the fractional bill.

Maryland State Senator Rich Madaleno states, “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…protecting individuals from discrimination on the basis of gender identity.”

Jenna Fischetti, Media Director for Trans Maryland, explains, “Trans Maryland is overwhelmed by the support and solidarity shown by our local and national peers and allies this evening. We wish to thank them all. We marched up 1st Street, past The Cannon House Building, on our way to the Capitol Grounds across from the Supreme Court.The destination was 1st and Maryland. In exercising our 1st Amendment rights, We members of Maryland’s transsexual and transgender communities made a statement that We Own Our Voices, that House Bill 235 in the Maryland House of Delegates needs to be amended, and that going forward, it is OUR community’s responsibly, in conjunction with supportive allies when needed, to educate our legislators and the population as a whole.”

Denise Leclaire, Donna Plamondom, Ashley Love, Jenna Fischetti

Human rights advocate Ashley Love attended the rally and writes, “Many transsexual and transgender (TS/TG) Marylanders express that since Equality Maryland has no transsexual staff, and no TS/TG female board members, then it’s colonization for the organization to (mis)speak for them. Equality Maryland has been censoring and misrepresenting TS/TG opposition to the compromised bill repeatedly. Though I support gay marriage, it’s disappointing that Equality Maryland overwhelmingly prioritizes gay issues over TS/TG issues, especially considering that MD gays and lesbians already secured public accommodations protections for themselves a decade ago, a basic human right. Being used as a bargaining chip by the gay and lesbian leadership in Equality Maryland, and many other gay and lesbian organizations, both state and national, (who call themselves “LGB’T’” groups), is unacceptable.”

Jenna Fischetti says Trans Maryland is committed to ensuring that citizens and elected officals become educated of why the the removal of public accomadations in HB 235 is discrimination and goes against what this country stands for.

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