FreeStateJustice: Update from Annapolis
On Wed., March 15th, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing for the five bills providing protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered Marylanders. Free State Justice (FSJ) was the only Maryland GLBT rights advocacy organization to present verbal testimony at the hearing. FSJ organized several panels of individuals to testify in support of all of the bills. The bills that were heard would: * make it illegal to discriminate against gays and lesbians in employment, housing, and public accommodations; * make it illegal for recipients of state grants and contracts to discriminate based on sexual orientation; * make it illegal to commit harassment, discrimination, or violence in public schools based on certain criteria, including race, gender, marital status and sexual orientation; *add protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered individuals in the existing hate crimes statute; *provide legal recognition in MD for marriages between two consenting adults which are legal in another state. Individuals testifying included Nancy Meyer, Chair of FSJ, Candyce Gingrich, Dwight Sullivan of the MD ACLU, Danna Kaufman on behalf of Governor Glendening, Larry Jacobs of the Montgomery County Human Relations Commission, Michele Douglas of the Maryland AIDS Administration, members of PFLAG, and several students and teachers from across MD. The House Judiciary Committee was thanked for taking the historic step last year of passing both the anti-discrimination and the hate crimes bills. While testimony was presented on all of the bills, particular effort was made to educate the members of the committee on the two new bills on safe schools and non-discrimination in state grants and contracts. Media coverage included Baltimore's Fox 45 and MPT's News Night Maryland. Members of the FSJ Board were interviewed by both stations. As has been well publicized, Senate President Mike Miller continues to refuse to allow any gay rights bills to move forward this year. However, FSJ is working aggressively with Governor Glendening and his staff to build momentum for passage of our legislation next year. The Governor has committed to making passage of the anti-discrimination bill a top priority for the remainder of his term. In a strongly-worded written statement presented to the House Judiciary Committee yesterday, Governor Glendening said : "We need to create an atmosphere of equality and inclusion that accepts and celebrates each individual for who they are. Last year the House did the right thing and embraced ideals of fairness and inclusion. Unfortunately, some Senators did not take the courageous stand against bigotry and hatred that was taken by the House, and our efforts were stopped. Adding insult to injury, at least one extremist member actually used their opposition to extending civil rights to gay men and lesbians as a fund-raising tool. This was an outrageous action that devalued the legislative process. We have the opportunity to right that wrong. We can stand up-together-for ALL Marylanders and make our state a beacon of full liberty and true equality." (excerpted from Governor Glendening's letter to the House Judiciary Committee.) Free State Justice and all of the activists across Maryland who continue to write letters, make phone calls and visit legislators are making a difference. Progress is being made, and we will continue to fight for equality and justice in Maryland. In order to continue the fight, however, we need your support. Be sure to attend the fundraiser for Free State Justice on Friday evening, March 24th at a private home in the Ruxton community of Baltimore. Governor Glendening will again attend this event, with fabulous food, great entertainment, and a chance to rub shoulders with Marylanders who are committed to justice in the free state. If you have any questions about the fundraiser or the status of the legislation, please contact Blake Humphreys, Managing Director, at (888) 440-9944.
