Equality Maryland slams door SHUT on Transexuals after HB235 Protest

Transmaryland hosts DC protest of HB235 with participants of NCTE lobby day as reported by She Wired and Trans Forming Media

In response to the protest equality Maryland shut down the transgender Baltimore "working groups" until after the legislative session ends. This unprecedented act of censorship by any federation member was preceded by equality Maryland banning members and deleting opposing messages on its facebook page. These two combined actions effectively eliminates all voices but those who fully support HB235 without public accommodations and the failed marriage bill strategy.

Prior to this announcement there have been two "meetings" held by eqMD about HB235. One was unannounced and the second one any and all transgender opponents of HB235 were shouted down by eqMD staffers.

These two sham meetings are what equality Maryland has touted as its source of input from the greater transgender community They are to be discontinued according to a message received by a participant of the preceding 'Gender Identity work group meetings'.

The message from equality Maryland:

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.

(emphasis added by kelli Anne Busey)


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.(all others, fuck off and die)
We're committed to winning bulldozing over these vital protections for the transgender community now, and hope you'll join us.<
We look forward to seeing you on April 13th. (after the legislative session ends)

Sincerely,

Morgan Meneses-sheets
Executive Director

(L-R) Trans Maryland's Media Director Jenna Fischetti, IFGE's ED Denise Leclaire, Trans Maryland organizer Donna Plamodom all atttend Trans Maryland's education rally last night at The Supreme Court, opposing HB235's tainted version


Equally troubling is the revelations that equality Maryland did not make the decision to pull the marriage bill before the Vote. Apparently out of state interests manipulated that decision.
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Most troubling to transgender people is HRC's control of the issue.

We are fully aware that HRC would like nothing more than to get ENDA enacted and be rid of the transgender menace. The hold up on ENDA is of course public accommodations! HB235 sets a extremely alarming precedent by eliminating public accommodations as a component of states civil rights and could be used as a example in national bills.

Undoubtedly HRC and its sock puppet NCTE would love that.

TransMaryland advocates for amending trans exclusionary HB235

TransMaryland a Maryland transgender advocacy organization has come out in opposition to House Bill 235 as written without public accommodations provisions despite it being promoted by Equality Maryland.

From TransMaryLands Event "Contact your legislator":

Right now in Maryland the rights of 1.5 million Marylanders in Baltimore City and Montgomery County are assured. 3X that amount are NOT protected.

Baltimore City and Montgomery County has legal protections for their transgender citizens. The rest of the state's transgender population deserves the same level of dignity and respect afforded to ALL of our citizens. They are denied the basic rights others carry, simply because they ...were born with a gender incongruent to their physical self.

HB 235, introduced last month does NOT provide full protection under the law!

MD HB235 at introduction.

Please contact your Legislators TODAY! and tell them you DEMAND a Gender Identity Anti-discrimination Act with protects Transgender Marylanders are the SAME level as Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Age, Disability, Marital Status, Sexual Orientation, or National Origin. The current bill DOES NOT provide this!

Click here to find your legislator

[Sample letter]

Hello[YOUR LEGISLATOR'S NAME],

My name is [YOUR FULL NAME] and I live in your district at [ENTER YOUR ADDRESS].


I am writing to urge you to vote for A Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act which protects Transgender Marylanders are the SAME level as Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Age, Disability, Marital Status, Sexual Orientation, or National Origin by INCLUDING PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS. This bill is important to me because I believe that ALL Marylanders deserve protections and respect, regardless of their gender identity.


Only by passing FULLY protective GIADA can Maryland truly be called the Free State, where everyone is treated equally.


Thank you!


Only through FULL protections can our rights be upheld!!

This bill will establish transgender Marylanders as second class citizens, subject to only partial protections and send a message National, that the same unequal treatment is acceptable.

It is through your simple phone calls and emails that YOUR voice can be heard. It is the most sacred and intimate responsibility of freedom we possess.

Facebook Event page

TransMaryland on Facebook
transmaryland.org