Baltimore County On The Agenda

Map of Maryland Counties

Following Howard County’s decision in December to enact legal protection against discrimination based on gender identity or expression in employment practices, Baltimore County will attempt to do the same. Baltimore County Bill 3-12 prohibits this brand of discrimination in housing, education, and public accommodations, although it will allow employers to have some input on policies for public restrooms. This caveat maintains a degree of respect for business autonomy while communicating a new standard of inclusion in the Baltimore County community. As a sign of a progressive ripple effect, the bill’s passage would mean that only one county in Maryland – Prince George’s – would lack legislation that combats discrimination based on sexual orientation.

“Howard County Council Weighs Gender-ID Bill”

On November 21st, Howard County Council advocated for CB-54, a bill to “include gender identity and expression as a classification protected against certain types of unlawful, discriminatory practices.”  This bill would be effective in the housing, employment, health, and social service sectors, with plans to go statewide in 2012.  According to Sharon Brackett, a member of Gender Rights Maryland Board, it seems unlikely that this bill will not pass.  The assembly had many compelling testimony from members of Parents, Friends, and Family of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), National Center for Lesbian Rights, and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.  The members of the Howard Council whom opposed the bill were asked to provide statistical data and could not.  This gave many Howard County natives such as Caroline Temmermand, a transwoman, hope for Howard County and Maryland policy towards gender identity discrimination.  She posted on Facebook after the Council meeting “If you were there tonight you know that your presence matter.”

This bill was passed on December 5th, 2011 with a 4-1 decision.  The last time changes were made to this bill was in 1992.  Currently the bill protects “race, creed, religion, handicap, color, sex, national orgin, age, occupation, marital status, political opinion, sexual orientation, personal appearance, familial status and source of income.”  According to the Human Rights Campaign, it is legal in 34 states to fire someone if they are transgender.  Hopefully, this historic step forward for LGBT rights will become an example to the rest of the state.  Councilmember Calvin Ball said after the passing of the bill that “we have a duty to protect out citizens against discrimination and give them a voice and I’m confident that Council Bill 54 is a positive step in preventing future incidents of discrimination based upon gender identity.”