Earlier this year the Maryland Legislature debated but ultimately rejected the Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act (HB 235), a non-comprehensive bill that would have prohibited discrimination in housing, employment and credit on the basis of gender identity or expression. Though the bill did not become law, progress for Maryland’s trans community was realized in several ways. [...]

Maryland House Bill 235, the Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act, is moving to the Senate.  This afternoon, the House of Delegates voted 86-52 to pass HB 235.  The bill provides job, housing and credit protections for transgender Marylanders. Equality Maryland is asking bill supporters to keep the momentum going by contacting their Senator and asking them [...]

Maryland’s gender anti-discrimination bill HB 235 was successfully voted out of the House Health & Government Operations Committee by a vote of 15-8.  Next stop, debate on the floor of the House of Delegates.  The bill must be approved by the House by midnight on Monday, March 28th to remain eligible for Senate consideration and [...]

Last week when I watched videos of the prayer breakfast that Equality Maryland sponsored for pro-equality faith leaders, I realized that although it’s probably happened before, it was the first time the I’d seen clergy making public statements in support of gender identity and expression anti-discrimination legislation.  I wanted to hear more from these folks [...]

Equality Maryland’s annual Lobby Day is happening on Monday, February 14th at 5pm in Annapolis.  Show your little love bug how much you care by bringing hir, her or him by the state house for a spot of lobbying for the gender identity anti-discrimination and marriage equality bills.  You can find more details and sign [...]

The hate group hard-line anti-gay National Organization for Marriage (NOM) is making long-distance calls into Maryland.  Makes one hopeful that they’re not getting much love from Maryland’s state legislators because if they were, they wouldn’t spend money on long-distance telephone surveys push polls opposing the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act (SB 116).  This [...]

Braving the evening cold and an impending ice storm, a spirited crowd of Maryland voters rallied in Annapolis Monday evening in support of the Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act (HB 235) and the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act (SB116) before heading indoors to lobby their legislators on both bills. Equality Maryland asked voters to [...]

The Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination bill was officially introduced on Thursday by Delegate Joseline Pena-Melnyk (Dist. 21) and Delegate Ariana Kelly (Dist. 16). The bill would prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity in the areas of employment, housing and credit.  From the Equality Maryland press release: “All hardworking people in our state, including transgender [...]

Maryland state Senator Rich Madaleno (D-18) posted “Rich Madaleno’s Equality Agenda” over at Maryland Politics Watch on Monday.  Saying he is “proud honor Dr. King’s legacy through two civil rights initiatives I am working to pass this year in the Maryland General Assembly”, he lists the marriage equality bill and…the Maryland DREAM Act.  What’s glaringly [...]

Next week Equality Maryland, along with key legislative partners and community groups, will formally announce the introduction of two bills, the Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act and the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act (SB116). Lead Sponsors of the Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act are Del. Joseline Pena-Melnyk and Del. Ariana Kelly.  The bill would prohibit [...]