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.”
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 9th. 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
For press inquiries or interviews, or to learn more about the education rally on Tuesday, please contactTruthfulPR@gmail.com
Just curious - wouldn't it be better to have this in Annapolis?
ReplyDeleteIt is a GREAT idea to have one in Annapolis too! Our Education Rally tonight was on the heels of NCTE's conclusion of their Lobby Days event. Several members of the transgender and transsexual community from around the country wanted to show up in solidarity as to what is happening in Maryland.
ReplyDeleteI would be down for one in Annapolis or Baltimore (I live in Baltimore).
ReplyDeleteI wish I had heard about this rally earlier. how did it turn out?
keep up the great work, TransMaryland.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/hb235/
(petition to amend Maryland's House Bill 235 (HB235), the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, to add Public Accommodation so trans people are FULLY protected)
please sign this!! thank you. ♥
That makes perfect sense. I hope you do something in Maryland. The session ends in April. Also, post pics!
ReplyDeleteif we have any in Annapolis and/or Baltimore, please let me know. :]
ReplyDeletealso: http://transformingmedia.blogspot.com/2011/03/in-aftermath-of-trans-marylands.html - how convenient, right? :/