Stand With Us

New PSA from the Transgender Response Team

The Dallas Principles

The Dallas Montgomery / Howard County Principles

On May 15-17, 2009 in Dallas, Texas twenty-four thinkers, activists, and donors gathered to discuss the immediate need for full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender people in the United States.  Collectively we prepared The Dallas Principles.

PRINCIPLES

The following eight guiding principles underlie our call to action.  In order to achieve full civil rights now, we avow:

1. Full civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals must be enacted now.  Delay and excuses are no longer acceptable.

2. We will not leave any part of our community behind.

3. Separate is never equal.

4. Religious beliefs are not a basis upon which to affirm or deny civil rights.

5. The establishment and guardianship of full civil rights is a non-partisan issue.

6. Individual involvement and grassroots action are paramount to success and must be encouraged.

7. Success is measured by the civil rights we all achieve, not by words, access or money raised.

8. Those who seek our support are expected to commit to these principles.

Who are these “authors”?

You can find out here

Anyone look familiar?

Dr Dana Beyer, Executive Director, Gender Rights Maryland, former Vice President of Equality Maryland, and supporter of last years failed Gender Identity Anti Discrimination Bill, HB 235 which promoted a national fervor due to its lack of public accommodations protections.

Lisa M. Polyak, Acting Chair, Equality Maryland, Inc. Board of Directors promoter of HB 235

HB 235 fortunately never became law.

PRINCIPLES

1. Full civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals must be enacted now.  Delay and excuses are no longer acceptable.

Full is defined as complete; entire; maximum. HB 235 was certainly not that. Of course, there were excuses given for the delay.  Such as, “public accommodations needed to be removed for movement through committee”, “All civil rights are incremental”, “We’ll come back for you next year” (even though EQMD imploded immediately after the close of last ssession) etc.

2. We will not leave any part of our community behind.

See HB 235….

3. Separate is never equal.

The notion that “less than full protections now” can create equality must me smashed. It is a falsehood which leads to more members of the transgender community suffering dire consequences. See Transgender Day of Remembrance.

6. Individual involvement and grassroots action are paramount to success and must be encouraged.

The premise that just hiring a lobbyist at $20,000 a month will solve this issue is plain laughable. The entire trans community must work in the field and from the same play book in order to achieve success. The effort must include grassroots activism and personal commitments of the most precious commodity we need, man-hours. The truth is GRMD does not have the assets to do this sort of work, nor do they have the credibility with those who do and have done this level of work. Partnering would be a wise choice. 

7. Success is measured by the civil rights we all achieve, not by words, access or money raised.

See Principle 6

8. Those who seek our support are expected to commit to these principles.

Equality Maryland, Gender Rights Maryland, are both of you willing to check your egos at the door and actively partner with the American American trans community in Baltimore City and Prince George’s county?

Equality Maryland holds biweekly working groups seeking this in Baltimore City. They support the Transgender Working Group, a coaltion of various transgender groups for their stated purpose:

To form a broad coalition of Transgender Marylanders and their allies who are capable of working together by honoring each other’s opinions to find common ground across differences for the purposes of doing collective work that will better the lives of transgender and gender diverse people in Maryland through education, outreach, advocacy and, policy change.

Gender Rights Maryland held one “town hall” in suburban Howard County, a 2 ½ hour bus ride from Baltimore City. An even then, it was more of a “whole life” presentation than a town hall.

All of us want a full bill. On this there is not disagreement. However, there are some who believe a Les Trois Perdants, a sort of con man’s short con, can produce a referendum proof passage for gender identity protections. This approach is not only dangerous; it is not supported by the trans community as evidenced by the reactions at GRMD’s weak sales pitch.

Mark my words; if those of privilege have their way, a Three Bill Monte is coming to a General Assembly near you soon!

What Fills Our Hearts

“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex, but it takes a touch of genius to move in the opposite direction” – Albert Einstein

Here we are again. Our community has endured enough heartache and disappointment, however we are mobilized and unified for success.

In 2002, Then Mayor, Martin O’Malley, introduced and successfully shepherded through the City Council the Baltimore City ordinance which granted protections to all of its citizens and visitors based on their gender identity, and did so unanimously.

 Yes, every human being has a gender identity, and for many people it is in lock step with their physicality, and for some it is not. It’s just that simple.

 Baltimore’s push for such protections was based partly on the later regretted decision of Governor Parris Glendenning to exclude gender identity from the prior year’s anti-discrimination bill.  Governor Glendenning wasn’t the only one expressing regret. Del. Maggie McIntosh (D-43) expressed a similar regret about the 2001 bill after last year’s contested bill failed to convince Senate Leadership to allow its floor vote.

Yet 2002 was different. Mayor O’Malley knew an injustice took place and a remedy was in order. While most attorneys like to craft flowery pieces of legislation, the Mayor knew simplicity should rule the day.

"Gender identity or expression " means an individual 's having or being perceived as having a gender -related self - identity, self-image, appearance, expression, or behavior, whether or not those gender -related characteristics differ from those associated with the individual 's assigned sex at birth.”

In fact, this language is fairly consistent throughout the county where 43% of all Americans live in a jurisdiction which provides protections based on gender identity.  If almost half of the country has these laws on the books, then why not Maryland?

Leadership.

One week before the video of the beating at a Rosedale McDonald’s restaurant went viral, Senate President Mike Miller (D-27) stated HB235 (2011’s Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination bill) was “anti-family” and he was going to vote against it.  Some even suggest the Senate President killed the bill in retaliation for allowing the Senator to go on record with a vote on the Same Sex Marriage bill, only to have that bill fail embarrassingly in the House. It seemed like retribution for political ineptitude.

Governor O’Malley pledged support and stated he would sign a fully inclusive bill like 2010’s HB 1022, if such a bill which crossed his desk. The problem was no bill made it that far, or was so fashioned. So, the Governor in direct response the brutal assault on a member of the transgender community provided this vision and commitment:

“Even with Maryland's 'hate crimes' law, it is clear that more must be done to protect the rights and dignity of transgendered people. In the struggle for justice and equality for all, I'm committed to working with the Maryland General Assembly during the next legislative session to increase awareness and provide even greater protections for transgendered people.
“As some have noted, out of this awful beating has come a moment to foster a deeper understanding and respect for the dignity of all persons. We should not allow the moment to pass without greater action.”

Leadership.

The mouth speaks of what fills the heart.” – Matthew 12:34

We Have a Dream

Please note at writing, the planned dedication service for the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial has been postponed.

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.
We cannot walk alone. And as
we walk,
we must make the pledge that
we shall always march ahead.
We cannot turn back. - Martin Luther King Jr. August 28, 1963

The reason Martin Luther King Jr. will always be recorded as one of the greatest civil rights leader is his ability to speak to the truth, build a coalition and most importantly, inspire and lead a people through their struggle. His iconic speech, delivered 48 years ago was a masterful piece of rhetoric. From it’s invoking of the United States Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the United States Constitution to the clearly Biblical references and his masterful use of Anaphora, the repetition of a phrase at the beginning of sentences, he draws attention to the wisdom of Lincoln while standing in his shadow.

Dr. King knew our human struggles were linked. The basis of many of our faith directs us to this fact. And for many without such a belief structure, there is the common desire amongst our brethren to care for the needs of each other.

The LGBT Communities are looking for similar leadership. Someone capable of speaking to the truth, build a coalition and most importantly, inspire and lead a people through their struggle. Our struggles are no where near the challenges the African American struggles were and still are in some cases.

The recent charge that gender identity protections harm women has been shown as the intellectual dishonesty that it is. Those offering that mindset a forum, discredited. This “separatist” movement with transphobia at its core is not new. In the mid to late 70s, Sandy Stone a sound engineer at Olivia Records was criticized, verbally attacked and even received death threats from a para-military arm of the feminist movement.

Sue Hyde of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and specifically its Creating Change Conference was a signatory to that letter. She has since condemned her own behavior and asked that the body of her work since then be evidence enough of her change she created.

“Our job is not to get those people who dislike us to love us. Nor was our aim in the civil rights movement to get prejudiced white people to love us. Our aim was to try to create the kind of America, legislatively, morally, and psychologically, such that even though some whites continued to hate us, they could not openly manifest that hate.” -Bayard Rustin, organizer of the 1963 March on Washington

Sue Hyde is in an enviable position. You have an opportunity to Create Real Change. As a respected leader in our community, you can use the lessons you've learned from the past and channel it toward healing, towards unity, towards progress.

Leadership and leadership opportunities only happen every so often. You have found yourself at such a juncture. Time will judge all of us on whether we capture such moments or we choose inaction. You have the wisdom gained from your experience, the respect garnered from your years of dedication since and a captive audience of supporters in the community willing to embrace your vision for moving forward and leaving such harmful transphobic notions in the waste bin of our movement, where they belong.

The greater LGBT communities do not seek to eradicate those who hate us. Nor is our goal to get them to stop hating us. Our goal, like Rustin stated is to Creating Real Change, where legislatively, morally, and psychologically those that hate us can not openly manifest that hate.

I think more of us understand now that you can’t engage hate with reason, even when hate presents itself in the guise of reason.-Allucquere Rosanne "Sandy" Stone

There is no need to reason with people like this:

When someone uses the word "freak" to describe a transgender people, they are seeking to tear away our humanity, to make us less human, which makes us easier to kill. This is what the uses of pejoratives against African Americans also do.  No one who uses that word towards a transgender person should ever sit a table designed to promote trans equality, let alone be invited to the table a scant month after those statements.

"When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love." - Martin Luther King

WWTGSKWaHD? (What Would Tolstoy, Gandhi, Sakharov, King, Walesa, and Havel Do?)

I dread writing this post. Not because it is laborious, or texting on my personal resources, but because my sensibilities are afflicted by the subject matter.

It is neither my desire nor intent to further inflame an already hot topic. There are plenty willing and so capable of stoking that fire. It is my only desire to offer a consideration, a course of action which may or may not resolve the matter, but it will define us as a community and how others outside the community view us.

On July 1, 2011 the novice Managing Editor of a small Baltimore based LGBT biweekly newsletter granted a public forum to two radical feminist wishing to make the argument that “gender identity” is a concept, and that protections based upon gender identity will promote harm to “women born women”. The Baltimore based broadside followed this up with an additional elevation of hatred on July 29, 2011 in which one of the previous writers expanded her viewpoints on why gender identity protection through hate crime laws is unacceptable. This in direct response to the pending trial of Teonna Brown, the 18 year old woman accused of assaulting a transgender woman at a local McDonalds in April.  It is not the purpose of this commentary to debate these issues. They are receiving enough of that already. Nor is it to challenge the blatant transphobia proffered by the authors’ assertions. Yet this topic has now been advance to the United Nations and has set the debate ablaze.

It is my firm belief that it matters not what befalls our community, however what is of significance is how we, as a community, respond which, in turn will define us.

Above all the transgender community is without question the most misunderstood and maligned minority group in our society. Much of this manifests itself in a state of ignorance, short of enlighten reasoning and latent hatred in respect both gender identity and gender expression. Every human being possesses a gender identity and expresses gender. For most their gender is consistent with the physicality and for some it is not. It is that simple and we are that some.

Tolstoy, Gandhi, Sakharov, King, Walesa, and Havel are mortals which have offered us pathways to non violent actions that have liberated millions. Our deliverance may well follow in these models.

When an individual is protesting society's refusal to acknowledge his dignity as a human being, his very act of protest confers dignity on him. – Bayard Rustin



 Many members of the transgender community have suffered long and enduring abuses to our persons, our dignity and to our loved ones. These hate filled essays are no different than the hate fill spats to the faces, the hate physical assaults with the genitalia of others thrust unto our faces, the hate filled degradation and humiliation of being told we were less than human. One might be considered justified to retaliate in like kind. But it is my firm belief that we lose if we do so. That in my eyes, our only solution is as the organizer of the 1963 March on Washington suggested, protest for dignity confers the very same dignity.

Non violent civil disobedience and direct action have proven to be the most successful tools to authoritarianism whether its from our government or members of the broader coalition communities. including TransTories. How that protest presents itself is for or community to decide. I pray the spirit of nonviolence prevails

For Weddings, Yet a Funeral

On January 28th, 2011, if you were told that the Trans community would be more organized than the LGB community moving forward in the next legislative session, that Marriage and the Gender Identity anti-discrimination bills would both come razor close to passage yet fail and the Equality Maryland (EQMD) would for all intents and purposes, cease to exist, you'd laugh until you dropped.

I don't hear any laughter today.

On January 28^th, 2011, Delegate Joseline Pena-Melnyk introduce in the Maryland House of Delegates House Bill 235, titled Human Relations - Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity – Antidiscrimination. Even the title was ominous. It spoke of a unity and support, which at least from the strategy and board’s positions, did not exist.  Much has been written and rehashed over the last session but the stark fact remains. Equality Maryland will close its doors come June 28^th unless a large infusion of cash materializes.

In April, beleaguered Executive Director Morgan Menesse Sheets was fired and replaced with Interim Director Lynne Bowman. Ms Bowman’s immediate task was to circle the wagons, and assess the damage. EQMD launched a series of Listening Tours.  An examination of the organizations financial house and its database of contributors and supporters revealed as much serious damage to them as there was to their reputation. Finger pointing ensued between the Board and the ousted Ms Menesse Sheets.  In the end, its non grant funded field organizers were laid off and later given the opportunity to be rehired, but only through the end of June at which time only the Office Manager would remain on staff.

The little discussed fact that The Human Rights Campaign’s( HRC) Field Organizer Sultan Shakir had set up shop inside of EQMD’s headquarters as early as 4^th quarter 2010 with the intent of “running the marriage campaign”. His title was in fact, Campaign Manager. Mr Shakir is no stranger to the Maryland LGBT landscape, having served as former Vice President of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB). HRC and other national organizations like Freedom to Marry (FtM) and The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) also provided resources for the marriage cause.

While they planned weddings, the transgender community planned even one more funeral. Tyra Trent was found without identification and strangled in the basement of an abandoned Baltimore house. An unacceptable statistic is that transgender women accounted for 11% of hate crimes reported and 50% of all murder cases in 2009 as compiled by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs.

From those EQMD staffers on the street and in the halls of Annapolis there was a desire for gender identity rights first, and marriage second. The board felt otherwise and enlisted the “advocacy coalition” from outside the state to push this. It was this advocacy coalition’s decision to push to recommit the marriage bill when the vote count looked lost. It was their decision to pack up shop on March 12^th, the day after the marriage bill died. But wait; there was still the gender identity bill. No matter. They were not there for that battle. Have they ever been?

The aftermath is an EQMD with substantial financial difficulties and a future which is quite unclear. In a world where just being a 501(c)3 or (c)4 makes you relevant, they sure are non relevant.

In their zest for Marriage, there is yet one more funeral…

Congratulations Nevada

CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval has approved Senate Bills 331 and 368 to ban transgender discrimination in public accommodations and housing. Sandoval earlier signed a bill to prohibit discrimination in employment gender identity.

Legislatively, one more state gets it. They understand the need for critical human rights in regard to protecting the members of their transgender community. Too often legislators and even the state's own LGB organizations do not fully understand the immediate need for such protection.  Maryland had its difficulties last legislative session namely due to the lack of transparency and a poorly conceived strategy for success. As a result, its main equal rights organization, Equality Maryland paid a heavy price. Its reputation is severely damaged, half of its staff is no longer affiliated with the group and its Board Chair has resigned in disgrace.

Fortunately, its Transgender Working Group was survived, due to the efforts of Transgender Field Organizer Owen Smith and fellow Field Organizer Damon Hardline.  While their future is uncertain, what is certain is the group continues because it is not a program of EQMD, nor is it dependent on EQMD.  Smith's commitment to the group extends beyond his uncertain employment with the troubled LGB organization.

So if empowering yourself and others to help better the lives of transgender Marylanders is something which you feel is worthy of your time and effort, let us all come together. There is a seat for you and contrary to some part-time bloggers, we do not have to be an incorporated non profit to change the world, at least our state....

Does a group need to an IRS recognized organization to be relevant?

Recently a part-time blogger at a well known LBG blog suggested that a group must be a 501(c)3 or (c)4 in order to exist.






There are numerous groups which are quite relevant in the political universe which are not 501c3 or c4s. The notion that they must be regulated by the Internal Revenue Service is laughable. Ask the DC TransCoalition if they wish to be a c3 or c4? I'm positive their response will be a resounding "Hell No!"

Please take note at the time of Ms Ramseyer's statement and in fact her original post, the organization she was shilling for did not even exist in the eyes of the State of Maryland and was not and is still not an approved "501c3 nor c4" It wasn't even registered with the State of Maryland until May 24, 2011.

Let's review the "political players" in Maryland last legislative session.

Equality Maryland - Pro HB235
Trans Maryland and TransUnited- Pro amending HB235/comprehensive bill
(please note members of The Maryland Transgender Alliance lobbied with TransMaryland and TransUnited against passing a bill without public accommodations.

Status today?

Eqaulity Maryland lost most of its staff including Executive Director Morgan Menese-Sheets and its Board Chair has resigned in disgrace. They are a501c3 and have a Foundation which is a c4. They are in disarray.

TransMaryland and TransUnited welcomed the formation of MTA and encourage others to become involved in the political process. We are still " in business".

What Ms Ramseyer is truly suggesting is, unless you believe in her 'political ideology" you don't exist.

Grassroots exist for a reason. What happened to Equality Maryland should be a cautionary tale to those who wish to run roughshod over others.

We own our Voices.

Statement from Governor Martin O'Malley on Baltimore County Hate Crime Case

Annapolis, MD (May 17, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley issued this statement today following the hate crime charge in the beating of Chrissy Lee Polis last month in Rosedale:
“I want to commend Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott D. Shellenberger for using every available means to prosecute the heinous beating of Chrissy Lee Polis last month.
“Even with Maryland's 'hate crimes' law, it is clear that more must be done to protect the rights and dignity of transgendered people. In the struggle for justice and equality for all, I'm committed to working with the Maryland General Assembly during the next legislative session to increase awareness and provide even greater protections for transgendered people.
“As some have noted, out of this awful beating has come a moment to foster a deeper understanding and respect for the dignity of all persons. We should not allow the moment to pass without greater action.”

Founder of Equality Ohio named interim head of EQMD

On Thursday, the Board of Equality Maryland announced they had chosen an interim Executive Director in the wake of the fired of Morgan Menese-Sheets. That chose is Lynne Bowman, recently with the Equality Federation and founder of Equality Ohio. Charles Butler, board chair, said in a statement:

“Ms. Bowman will step in to lead Equality Maryland on an interim basis following the departure of Morgan Meneses-Sheets, who has stepped down as executive director,”

Ms Bowman offered this;

“I absolutely have no desire to make it a permanent thing. I think it benefits the organization to have an interim come in that doesn't have an interest in becoming the full-time executive director.”

“My role at Equality Maryland will be to help stabilize and to move things forward and to prepare the organization for their new executive director,” she added.

Equality Maryland recently suffered two legislative defeats with their Civil Marriage and Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination (GIADA)bills. The Same Sex Marriage bill won passage in the more conservative Maryland Senate, yet faltered in what was to be a victory lap in the House. Consequently, GIADA, opposed by some members of the transgender community, gained release from committee and a favorable vote in the House, only to get stalled in the Senate. While EQMD denied involvement with the drafting of GIADA, its complete support, in light of the lack of public accommodations protections, was criticized by those seeking a full bill.

Throughout the legislative session, EQMD's Facebook page was the subject of great controversy over the deletion of comments from supporters of a full GIADA and even supporters of same sex marriage, including former EQMD board member and past interim ED David Toth.

Ms Bowman has a considerable challenge in cleaning up the image and reputation of EQMD. Unless these measures include a shakeup on the board, expect a Spackle and paint job.

Equality Maryland kicking off Transgender Issues Working Group for 2012

From Equality Maryland's website

 Equality Maryland is fully committed to ending discrimination against all Marylanders on the basis of their gender identity and expression.

The input and perspective of our transgender supporters is absolutely vital for the advancement of transgender issues, legislation (including public accommodations) and education in our community. Please join the Equality Maryland team at our biweekly Transgender Issues Working Group on Wednesday, May 5th in Baltimore at the Equality Maryland offices (1201 S. Sharp Street, Baltimore, MD 21230).

Feel free to invite others that should be included in this ongoing conversation.

Due to the nature of these meetings, we ask you to register ahead of time so we can supply adequate spacing needs and any materials. 

Together, we'll make the Free State a place where all Marylanders can live without fear of discrimination and violence.

If folks cannot attend in person, but are interested in listening in to the conversation please contact Linsey at linsey@equalitymaryland.org.  Folks will need to connect with Linsey to be given call-in information.

Event Location

Equality Maryland Offices1201 S. Sharp Street,
Baltimore, MD 21230

Community rallies around victim of McDonald's attack

Article from the Baltimore Sun

Community rallies around victim of McDonald's attack

From Delegate Pena-Melnyk to her Assembly colleagues --

From: Pena-Melnyk, Joseline Delegate Date: 4/25/2011 1:55:38 PM To: MD House of Delegates;  Senate of Maryland Subject: Attack on Maryland transgender citizen To My Maryland General Assembly Colleagues, I respectfully ask that each of you take the time to view the video at this link, but please be advised that it is disturbing and portrays a horrific hate crime:  http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/04/23/2011-04-23_mcdonalds_beating_video_victim_is_transgender_maryland_attack_is_hate_crime_says.html?r=news Incidents such as this illustrate why the transgender community in Maryland and elsewhere needs to be protected through antidiscrimination legislation.  Supporters of House Bill 235 in this past legislative session recognized this need and stood up for the rights of this community.  While HB235 did not include protection from discrimination in public accommodations due to the intense pressure opponents placed on the bill’s supporters, the bill would have raised public awareness of the issue and paved the way for complete protection for Maryland’s transgender population.  Contrary to statements made by those who should be leading the fight for civil rights in Maryland, this was not an anti-family bill, but a basic civil rights bill.  The failure of this bill goes against Maryland’s long history of being in the forefront of civil rights movements. This attack, which took place in District 8, has been broadcast all over the national news, and the video has gone viral, bringing shame to the State of Maryland for allowing such things to take place.  I challenge each of the Senators who voted to recommit HB235 on sine die (see the link at http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/votes/senate/1123.htm) to serve as primary sponsors of a stronger version of HB235 in the 2012 legislative session.  It is time to rectify the wrong that has been done to transgender citizens of our State. Sincerely, Joseline

Woman Beaten in Baltimore McDonalds

We at TransMaryland are completely disgusted at the appalling assault that took place in a suburban Baltimore McDonald's on April 18th, 2011. Details of which went viral on Friday April 22, 2011 as news of the attack, sparked by the horrific images captured on video were posted online.

Our first concern is for the well being of the victim in this violent assailment. We are encouraged to hear she received treatment from a local hospital and none of her injuries were reported to be life threatening. Our thoughts go out to her for her continued recovery, not just from the physical injuries she received, yet from the deep trauma one has incurred from a victim of such acts of violence. The members of our community know oh too well the emotional scars it produces. We pray she can bring a community of healing around her through what is to be assuredly a very difficult time for her.

To the incident and the video. We wish not to repost the images here.

There is much discussion and debate swirling around the release of the story and its accompanying video. TransMaryland wishes not to muddle through the speculation  and accusations of responsibility for this attack. We will merely firmly state that Maryland's Hate Crimes were enacted for the protections of our citizens, however, an assault is an assault, regardless of the victim's status as a member of a protected class. We are encouraged at the relative rapid rate in which this incident is being investigated by the proper authorities. We are confident that the public statement released by the McDonald's Corporation is sincere in its statement.

Let's all remember there is a victim here. Our concerns should be on preventing that from happening again.

Maryland House Bill Ultimately Failed on Several Levels

Today is not a day to celebrate, for it is still one more year without the critical and necessary public accommodations protections for transgender Marylanders and those transgender individuals merely visiting our state. Today is a day to remember that every November 20 we hold a vigil, a Day of Remembrance Service for those we lost due to violence because they are transgender or transsexual. That with HB 235 or without it, the list will grow longer until full protections are in place. It must be the stated goal of every transgender person in Maryland and any like minded ally, in or out of our state, transgender or not, to see the day that we stop adding to that list.


TransMaryland believes the goal of every member of Maryland's transgender community should be the day in which the Governor of Maryland signs into law an anti-discrimination bill which includes public accommodations protections based on gender identity. Today is not a victory for our community as we have no such bill to present to the Governor. We wish to thank our allies for their support in fighting for that goal, both now and in the future.


Why Maryland House Bill 235 needed to be defeated


In the last 90 days, the state of Maryland, the greater transgender community across the country and the blogosphere has been ablaze over a piece of legislation introduced in Maryland, House Bill 235.


HB235 was the Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination bill intended to provide anti-discrimination protections for the transgender community. Prior legislative sessions of Maryland’s General Assembly have introduced bills for protection, but none like HB235.
It was a flawed bill. Its authorship lacked community involvement, its level of protections lacked community buy-in and its messaging spoke to the flawed strategy of deceiving the community of what real protections look like. We can simply examine one of 13 states or the District of Columbia if we wish to see how a state achieves that. HB235 followed none of those success stories.


The Authorship


TransMaryland has sought to clarify the exact nature in which this bill came into existence. We do not wish to condemn those involved, but to assure such mistakes are not repeated. We insist on transparency throughout this process as a necessary foundation for community involvement.


The Level of Protections


Members of Maryland’s transgender community have grown accustomed to seeking a measure consistent to last years bill, HB1022 (which received no action during an election year) which itself was a carry over of 2009’s HB 474. HB474 included employment, housing and public accommodations. Thee greater community was betrayed when the most vital piece of that legislation, public accommodations had been removed and no community buy-in was sought. We insist on a seat at the table for members of the community in determining protections.


The Messaging


Words mean something and we find it unacceptable to use terms of “just like” and “similar” when defining a bill intended to save the lives of our peers. The truth of what it does or doesn't do needs no obfuscation. The deflection of criticism, censoring of expression or other means to perpetuate an untruth is unacceptable. We own our voices and expect them to be heard and never silenced.


Intentions are never grounds to excuse poor actions. We re committed to not repeating the mistakes of HB 235

TransGriot: WYFF-TV, Read Your AP Stylebook

TransGriot: WYFF-TV, Read Your AP Stylebook

Is Frosh to blame?

In yet another development likely to trouble the bill's supporters, Frosh said his office was "inundated" on Monday by calls from transgender activists opposed to the bill because it has been stripped of a provision banning discrimination against transgender persons in the area of public accommodations.

TransMaryland wishes to commend Senator Frosh's legislative aide, David Brewster for his dedicated work in fielding the numerous calls placed to the Senators office. He is professionalism exemplified.

We additionally wish to recognize Senate President Mike Miller's decision to concentrate of securing a final budget for the State of Maryland. He stated this as a primary reason for referring the bill to the Rules Committee.

We also wish to thank Senator Rich Madaleno and his support yet again this year for a fully inclusive bill, even if he was asked by an "advocacy coalition" to not introduce such legislation prior to the start o this year's session.

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.

We will continue to withhold our support for legislation or legislative strategies which exclude input from the greater transgender and transsexual community in Maryland, while seeking workable and long term solutions to the needs of our community.

Lastly we wish to acknowledge the hard work of Delegate Pena-Melnyk. We feel she was betrayed by her advocacy partners into believing she had community "buy-in". This simply was false. The frustration was evident in her tone on our phone conversation of February 16th. She deserved better than to have been placed out to dry without a workable strategy, with all players on page and on message.

So now what?

There are two weeks left in the legislative session.

We could continue to argue over the bill and seek its resurrection from the Rules Committee. This would create more adversarial responses and conflict, sure to catch the eye of Senate President Mike Miller. He may entrench himself in the belief that such a hotly debate bill is too much for the Senate.

We could seek to openly discuss the legislative strategy used by "our advocacy coalition" as a means of finding workable solutions around such problems in the future.

Yet whatever path is taken, we the transgender and transsexual community of Maryland and our allies nationally must finish the hard work put in by volunteers in Maryland's transgender community on BOTH sides of this bill. We both want the same end game. We were not properly unified behind a community embraced plan of action for a common goal. We lacked true leadership throughout.

This leadership must be shared in the community by all voices, from all parts

The process of education must continue today and consistently until the day the Governor of our great state signs a bill which insures anti-discrimination protections based on gender identity in areas of employment, housing AND public accommodations

CALL TO ACTION- Senate Rules Committee

The time is now. We have the chance to make a difference of whether Marylanders are denied full protections or not. The House of Delegates believes its okay to discriminate against members of the transgender and transsexual community in Maryland with respect to our basic human rights.

This is unacceptable. The recent passage of HB 235 in the House of Delegates will legalize discrimination based on gender identity in areas of public accommodations and must be amended or withdrawn.

Join us in this action.

Contact the Senators on the Rules Committee and let them know you do not support the passage of HB235 as written and to amend or withdraw it.

Dear Senator [ insert Senator's name ] ,

All of Maryland's protected classes deserve full and equal protection under the law. The civil rights movement in our country was founded to protect rights in public accommodations.  Transgender and transsexual people experience grave abuses when accessing everyday goods and essential services, from retail stores and buses to police and court systems. From disrespect and refusal of service to harassment and violence, this mistreatment in so many settings contributes to severe social marginalization and safety risk. 

HB 235 serves to perpetuate this by creating a further inequity in Maryland in which residents in Montgomery County and Baltimore City have full protections in their everyday lives, but the rest of the state is forced to suffer dire consequences. There is a member of the transgender and transsexual community murdered every 3 months just because of how they were born.

Please vote to end this needless loss of life, please amend HB  235 to include public accommodations or vote an unfavorable report. The life you save may be mine,

Respectfully yours,

[your name]

Katherine A. Klausmeier, Chair (410) 841-3620, (301) 858-3620
Brian E. Frosh, Vice-Chair (410) 841-3124, (301) 858-3124

David R. Brinkley

Richard F. Colburn

Ulysses Currie

Roy P. Dyson

George C. Edwards

Edward J. Kasemeyer

Nathaniel J. McFadden

Thomas M. Middleton

Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr.

Clicking each member opens a link to their Senate age with email and phone numbers.

Equality Maryland interested in monologue not dialogue

After three weekly transgender legislative workgroup meetings designed to bolster support for the flawed Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Bill (HB235) Equality Maryland has decided to walk away from dialogue with the transgender community and has canceled all further meetings until after the legislative session is over. Executive Director Morgan Meneses-Sheets explains this as a “scheduling conflict.” Truth and justice apparently conflicted with her organizations agenda.

Nearly a month after HB235's introduction and the extreme backlash from the Maryland transgender community, Equality Maryland called together a "Transgender Legislative Workgroup" session to be held at the City Cafe, a busy coffee shop in Mt. Vernon in Baltimore's Cultural District.

Such a venue could never support the number of individuals and that is was absolutely a poor choice for such a sensitive subject. The meeting location was changed the day of the event.

After only three weekly meetings it has been canceled until after the legislative session in Maryland ends on April 11, 2011. In other words, Equality Maryland does not wish to be part of any discussion which furthers the interests of the greater transgender community of Maryland nor does it wish to seek solutions to the greater problems with this bill.

The last three weeks have seen attendance of around two dozen. Of this attendance, a minimum of 8-10 were members of Equality Maryland’s Board, Staff or Volunteers. Of the remaining 14-16, real members of the community, support for public accommodations was 3-1.

What was Equality Maryland’s purpose for the meetings?

By the very nature of its hurriedly conceived workgroup, its nonexistence in the months prior to the bill's introduction and its sudden cancellation until after The House and Senate adjourned their 90 day session in Maryland, it is evident Equality Maryland did not like the voices or message coming from the group and in fact, that message had staying power and impact of others in attendance. By continuing these meetings, Equality Maryland realized the stranglehold of the community was eroding. Its purpose was to appear to be working with the community, something it absolutely failed to do in the months leading up to HB235's introduction and for 3 weeks after.

Some individuals attending the workgroups were notified, but certainly not all. Here is an email sent to one such attendee.

“Due to scheduling conflicts, the transgender issues working group meeting originally scheduled for tonight has been postponed.

Thank you for coming out to Baltimore these past few weeks, lending your time and your voices to the discussion.

We believe these meetings have been constructive. We are committed to continuing these conversations after the legislative session so we can best formulate a coordinated, long range educational and legislative agenda.

We look forward to continuing this important dialogue. The next meeting will be scheduled for Wednesday, April 13th at 7:30 PM in the Equality Maryland offices. At that time we hope to have a system in place that will allow folks to join via a conference call. We'll keep you posted as the date draws closer.

We are of course aware that some members of the group disagree with the strategy behind HB 235. For those who are interested in supporting this legislation, please consider getting in contact with our deputy field director, Aimee Martin at aimee@ equalitymaryland.org. We're committed to winning these vital protections for the transgender community now, and hope you'll join us.

We look forward to seeing you on April 13th.

Sincerely,

Morgan Meneses-Sheets
Executive Director”

If you are of the majority which believes this bill is fatally flawed, this is no surprise to you. If you are still clinging to the idea that incremental protections is a pathway to full equality we suggest you seek the examples of where it has been attempted. There has not been success with this approach. The vast majority of states with transgender protections are fully inclusive. In Maryland, the City of Baltimore and Montgomery County offer full protections. Glendora Hughes, General Counsel for the Maryland Commission on Human Relations stated:

“Yes, Baltimore City and Montgomery County covers gender identity. So now we have an inequity in the State of Maryland. Based on your geography, where you live will determine whether you have protection against being discriminated against.”

We agree with Glendora Hughes that there is an inequity in the State and the only way to eliminate the inequity is to provide the exact protections as currently offered to 25% of our citizens by amending HB235. Anything less is an inequity itself and as we all know, two wrongs don't make a right.

Trans Maryland and Allies Organize March 15th Education Rally in Washington DC to Demand HB 235 Fully Protect Transsexual & Transgender Marylanders

Trans Maryland and Allies Organize March 15th Education Rally in Washington DC to Demand HB 235 Fully Protect Transsexual & Transgender Marylanders



WHAT: The Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Bill (HB 235) proposal in Maryland is supposed to protect people from discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression; however, a compromise has been made to remove protections against discrimination in public accommodations for transsexual and transgender (TS/TG) Marylanders, and is about to be sent to the committee for a vote in its tainted format. Maryland State Senator Rich Madaleno has made a call to amend HB235 to put public accommodations protections back in, yet gay and lesbian leadership via Equality Maryland and elected officials, all who are not TS/TG, have decided to edit out lifesaving protections, outraging many TS/TG community members who are being misrepresented, censored, shut out of the decision making process and are unwilling to accept a bill that will create second class citizenship and legalize discrimination.
The education rally will appropriately be on Maryland Ave and 1st Street, right next to The Supreme Court

WHEN: March 15th 7:00pm-8:00pm

WHERE: On the North West corner of 1st Avenue & Maryland Ave, Washington D.C., DC 20002

Jenna Fischetti, Media Director for Trans Maryland, explains, “Trans Maryland originated in 2009 to educate the citizens of Maryland, legislative leaders and policy makers as to the needs of Maryland’s transsexual and transgender community. In the aftermath of HB 235 being compromised, collective members of our community have now joined together to oppose Equality Maryland’s misrepresentation of Maryland’s transsexual and transgender communities best interests. Transsexual and transgender people should represent themselves, not gay and lesbian organizations. We are taking back our voice.”

Ashley Love, a national TS/TG media advocate, explains why this is more than a Maryland state issue: “Though I live in New York, I will join the many people from around the country that will be at Trans Maryland’s education rally in Washington D.C. this Tuesday because the threat of this compromised bill passing without needed protections for transsexual and transgender people could set a dangerous precedent that other states could follow in denying basic human rights to oppressed minorities simply because they were born with a birth challenge or medical condition.”

Donna S Plamondon, a Trans Maryland organizer, recently testified at the Public Hearing on the Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Bill in Annapolis on March 9^th. Today she says, “Many of Maryland’s transgender, transsexual and intersex communities oppose any legislation being introduced without consulting the affected community. I hope to see HB235, as written, die in committee and a fully inclusive bill introduced in the near future. We need protections to which all citizens are entitled under the laws of the State of Maryland and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”

For press inquiries or interviews, or to learn more about the education rally on Tuesday, please  contactTruthfulPR@gmail.com

Amid setbacks and widespread bias, transgender-rights activists seek new strategies Transgender activists face multiple challenges

Originally posted online and readily available to be read, it has disappeared from the web.I've reposted it here, in its entirety.

Please note NCTE was remained publicly silent on HB235...

Amid setbacks and widespread bias, transgender-rights activists seek new strategies
Transgender activists face multiple challenges


By DAVID CRARY | ASSOCIATED PRESS | Feb 4, 2011 12:05 AM CST in US






Many transgender Americans face intolerance in almost every aspect of their lives, contributing to high levels of homelessness, unemployment and despair, according to a comprehensive survey being released Friday.


The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality say their survey of 6,450 transgender people is the largest of its kind. It details discrimination encountered "at every turn" _ in childhood homes, in schools and workplaces, at stores and hotels, at the hands of doctors, judges, landlords and police.


"Their lives are just a crapshoot," said Rea Carey, executive director of the task force. "They don't know from one interaction to the next whether they will be treated with respect and dignity. It's not the way people should be living their day-to-day life."


The report comes at a sobering time for transgender community.


While their gay-rights allies celebrated the recent Senate vote that will enable gays to serve openly in the military, transgender people were left out of the debate and remain barred from service.


Efforts to pass a federal law barring workplace discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation failed in the previous Democratic-controlled Congress gender identity was a key stumbling block and the new Republican-led House is considered more hostile.


Uncertain of prospects for progress at the federal level, activists hope to make headway through lawsuits, corporate diversity programs, local anti-bias ordinances, and public education efforts. They hope the survey will buttress those efforts; some of the data had been released in preliminary reports, but the final version contains new details and is prefaced by an emotional plea for Americans to rethink their attitudes.


"It is part of social and legal convention in the United States to discriminate against, ridicule, and abuse transgender and gender non-conforming people," the survey says. "Nearly every system and institution in the United States, both large and small, from local to national, is implicated."


According to the survey, 41 percent of respondents reported attempting suicide, 26 percent said they had lost a job due to being transgender, and 19 percent reported being denied a home or apartment. Almost one-fifth said they'd been homelessness at some point.


The survey found that complaints of discrimination were particularly pronounced among blacks.


In an e-mail, Ja'briel Walthour of Hinesville, Ga., detailed the difficulties of growing up in the 1980s and `90s as an African-American boy in the South who began to identify as a female. Neither her church nor rural community offered acceptance, she said.


"I felt there was not an ounce of compassion or empathy for individuals who may be displaying atypical gender roles," and by 17 she was contemplating suicide, she wrote.


"I got into a place where I wanted to just not be here anymore," she said.


Walthour, now 34, eventually became a school bus driver while deciding to transition to female and pursue a degree in social work.


Transgender activists say future progress for their cause may depend on more people like Walthour choosing to speak out.


"We need more trans people telling their stories," said Diego Sanchez, a transgender aide to U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., at a forum last weekend. "We need to represent ourselves, and not let others represent us."


The forum was convened to address the frustrations of some transgender people who feel marginalized within the broader gay-rights movement. The movement has for years adopted the initials LGBT lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender but transgender activists at the forum wondered if the "T" instead meant "token."


"We've become second fiddle, maybe third fiddle to LGB rights," said Meghan Stabler, a transsexual businesswoman. "We're a minority inside of a minority ... Right now, we're a small `t'."


Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, said the LGBT movement _ by sheer force of numbers and financial support _ was inevitably going to focus on the agenda of gays and lesbians rather than transgender people.


"But the relationship has helped out," she said. "We have a shared history, shared friends and enemies."


Looking long term, Keisling expressed optimism.


"The people who just plain hate us they're dying out," she said. "There is not a reasonable person left in United States who doesn't understand that transgender people exist, that it's a legitimate aspect of the diversity of nature."


___


Online:


National Center for Transgender Equality: http://transequality.org/


National Gay and Lesbian Task Force: http://www.thetaskforce.org/

Senator Rich Madaleno’s statement on HB 235: Human Relations - Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity – Antidiscrimination

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.

Incrementali-what?

To my friends who believe incrementalization is the answer.

It is NOT.

It establishes legislative intent that separate but not equal classes were the intent of the legislature in drafting the bill, preventing jurist interpretation which might otherwise provide protection not explicitly defined.

Additionally at a point when the very same House of Delegates is seeking redress to the public accommodations provision to include a private right of action well in excess of the current $500 "parking ticket" assessed by an Administrative Law Judge. That bill, HB285 FURTHER deepens the divide between the current protected classes(race, creed, age, sexual orientation, et al) and the legislatively proposed(HB235) subclass "gender identity"

No, backwards is not forwards in this case, nor is an acceptable path to the majority of transgender Marylanders who are willing to let HB235 die quietly, without publicly challenging our legislative sponsors, allowing them to save face, and report to their constituents they support LGBT rights.

There is but ONE acceptable solution to the transgender community of Maryland, short of amending HB235 to include public accommodations or letting it die. That solution is to amend HB235 to STRIKE sexual orientation from the public accommodations portion of Maryland's Annotated Code ( 20-302, 20-304, 20-401, 20-402).

With this measure, all members of the Gay Caucus and representatives of Equality Maryland must hold a joint news conference acknowledging their extreme sacrifice for the transgender community in Maryland, pledge to place themselves directly in the struggle for continued fights for FULL and EQUAL protections under the law. The transgender community of Maryland will completely engage with our legislative leaders and support their full legislative agenda, not this session, but future sessions as well.

In addition to these modifications, Equality Maryland needs to adopt a policy on diversity to include members of the community they purport to protect. This includes diversity in respect to all the current protected classes in Maryland in addition to gender identity and socio economic status. If a civil rights organization is to be seen as credible on issues, it must be of the people it seeks to protect.

Fairly simple, fairly equal.