Equality Maryland

New EQMD Board Leaders Announced

2012-05-16T15:03:59-04:00

May 16, 2012

Equality Maryland is proud to announce the selection of new leadership for both its foundation and advocacy boards, providing continued energy and enthusiasm for the movement to provide equal rights to all individuals and families in Maryland.

David Lublin is the new President of Equality Maryland Board of Directors. Stephanie Bernstein is the new President of the Equality Maryland Foundation Board of Directors.

Lublin and Bernstein will lead an organization that presided over the historic passage of the Civil Marriage Protection Act and will work to ensure that the law is enacted on January 1, 2013.

"I'm honored and excited to become President of Equality Maryland at such an important time for LGBT rights. ” Lublin said. “The work underway by Equality Maryland and our Marylanders for Marriage Equality coalition partners is so vitally important to thousands of Marylanders and their families. Maryland needs to uphold marriage equality and pass the gender identity non-discrimination bill to make sure that all families our state are protected and live in dignity."

“I am thrilled to be working with my fellow board members as the new President of the Equality Maryland Foundation,” Bernstein said. “We have a historic opportunity this year to sustain the Civil Marriage Protection Act passed by the Maryland General Assembly and to make sure that the gender identity non-discrimination bill passes in the 2013 session of the General Assembly. Every citizen of the State of Maryland deserves the same rights and protections under the law.”

For more information and bios of EQMD Board members, click here.

Reflections on North Carolina and President Obama

2012-05-09T17:43:08-04:00

This morning, before my day officially started, I took a few minutes to think about the thousands of same-sex couples in North Carolina who were waking up to the reality of a constitutional amendment that enshrines into law their second-class status. To all of the families, advocates, allies and supporters in North Carolina who poured their hearts into defeating this amendment, we at Equality Maryland thank you for sharing your stories and for fighting with integrity.

A few hours later, the President came out in support of the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. Although this statement does not undo the results of last night’s vote in North Carolina, it does provide us with hope—the hope that people’s hearts and minds can evolve on this issue. And though this evolution may not always be on the timetable we would devise, we must embrace this historic declaration by President Obama.

As we get primed for our own fight to preserve our marriage equality in Maryland’s law, let us not forget the LGBT families in the thirty states that have constitutional amendments declaring same-sex couples to be unequal to heterosexual couples. But let us also keep in our hearts and minds the President’s words: “I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.”

Make no mistake, the next few months are going to be some of the toughest we have seen in Maryland and we will not win unless each and every one of us rises to the challenge. We owe it to ourselves, our families and all of our supporters. No longer can we afford to say “I will make a donation in June” or “I will volunteer in September.” We need you now.

Donate at www.eqmd.org/donate

Volunteer at www.eqmd.org/volunteer

Shine On,

Carrie Evans

EQUALITY MARYLAND APPLAUDS EEOC RULING: ENCOURAGES MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO FINISH THE JOB IN 2013

2012-04-24T13:13:00-04:00

BALTIMORE, April 24, 2012 — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a groundbreaking ruling on April 20, 2012 that declares Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects transgender employees. Until this ruling, federal courts had not consistently ruled that transgender employees were protected in Title VII.

"The EEOC ruling affirms the common sense notion that people should not be discriminated against in the employment context because of who they are," said Executive Director Carrie Evans. "I hope this ruling provides Maryland’s General Assembly with the confidence to pass a state law that prohibits discrimination not only in employment but housing and public accommodations during the 2013 Session.”

The National Transgender Discrimination Survey published in in 2011 found widespread discrimination experienced by Maryland’s transgender community.

71% reported experiencing harassment or mistreatment on the job
42% experienced an adverse job action
17% were denied a home or apartment
54% were verbally harassed or disrespected in places of public accommodations or provision of services, including hotels, restaurants, public transportation and government agencies.

We Did It!

2012-02-24T15:15:00-05:00

Dear Friend,

We have cleared another marriage hurdle in our fight for the freedom to marry in Maryland! Today the Senate passed the Civil Marriage Protection Act. This follows the historic vote in the House of Delegates last Friday!

Equality Maryland and all of you have been in this fight since the beginning and I hope you are enjoying this victory!

Your support has helped get us to this point and it will help us get to the next round. Please show your commitment to helping us get marriage equality to the finish line.

Thank You for Making Baltimore County A Better Place!

2012-02-23T12:49:13-05:00

We are all excited with the passage of the bill in Baltimore County that protects transgender people. Successes like this happen because of dedicated people like you. Thank you to all the brave people who testified in support of the bill and who met with Councilmembers. Thank you to everyone who took the time to call and email Councilmembers. Thank you to the business leaders that submitted testimony in support of the measure. Thank you to the law enforcement officials and other county leaders who supported the bill. Thank you to the partners, parents, and children of transgender people who shared their stories of love, loyalty and compassion for their family members. Thank you to the B-More Proud college network that wrote letters to the Council asking for equality for all. Thank you to the Baltimore high school GSA network for going to talk to their council members and telling them why this bill is so important to them. Thank you religious and faith leaders for teaching a path of tolerance and understanding of your neighbor.

Thank you to the national, statewide and local coalition team that worked for weeks to pass this bill. Thank you to Baltimore County Council members for voting “yes.”

Owen Smith

Field Organizer For Gender Equality Issues

Baltimore County Adds Protections for Transgender Individuals

2012-02-21T23:15:00-05:00

Baltimore County Adds Protections for Transgender Individuals

Equality Maryland applauds the Baltimore County Council for passing Bill 3-12 that adds gender identity and expression to county law prohibiting discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations, financing and education.

“We commend Councilman Quirk for his leadership on this important measure along with his four colleagues who voted “yes” – Councilmembers Vicki Almond, Kenneth Oliver, Cathy Bevins and John Olszewski,” said Owen Smith, field organizer at Equality Maryland. He continues, “This common-sense law will allow transgender people residing and visiting Baltimore County to live their lives with more security and peace.”

Smith and Equality Maryland played a critical role in helping pass this legislation. This included activating Equality Maryland members in Baltimore County to contact their Councilmembers and to testify before the Council, providing assistance to the bill sponsor and garnering support from business leaders.

Take Additional Action To End Discrimination!

2012-02-19T18:11:00-05:00

Call the Baltimore County Council at 410 887-3196 and leave this message:

This message is for the Baltimore County Council.

My name is (your name) and myy address is (your street address). I am a Maryland resident and a visitor to/resident of Baltimore county.

I believe that all Marylanders deserve to be treated with justice and fairness under the law through all areas of Maryland life.

I urge your support of Baltimore County Bill 3-12 without amendments.

Thank you.

HB 438 PASSES WITH 72 VOTES!

2012-02-18T00:37:12-05:00

Maryland House of Delegates Passes Marriage Equality Bill

February 17, 2012

With Major Hurdle Cleared, Marriage Equality Supporters Prepare for Vote in Senate

ANNAPOLIS – The Maryland House of Delegates voted in favor of House Bill 438, the Civil Marriage Protection Act, which allows committed gay and lesbian couples to marry in the state. The measure, which is a cornerstone of Governor Martin O’Malley’s legislative agenda this year, now moves to the Senate, where it cleared the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee late last month.

“Today’s vote is a huge step forward for all of us working to make marriage equality a reality in Maryland,” said Sultan Shakir, campaign manager for Marylanders for Marriage Equality coalition. “There’s a lot of work left to do, but momentum continues to grow – and quickly.”

Passage in the House, where a marriage equality bill stalled last year, is seen as a major milestone in this year’s push to pass marriage equality.

“We want to thank the Delegates who cast votes today in favor of equality for LGBT families in our state, and our Senate supporters who laid the path last year that made this day possible. Their unwavering commitment has helped bring us one huge step closer today to marriage equality in our great state,” explains Carrie Evans, Executive Director of Equality Maryland. “If last year taught us anything, it’s that you can’t take any vote for granted, but we’re cautiously optimistic.”

“1199 SEIU members stand with our Delegates who voted for marriage equality. Their vote makes Maryland and all its working families stronger,” said Ezekiel Jackson of 1199 SEIU.

“History was made today,” said Melissa Goemann, legislative director of ACLU of Maryland. “Delegates protected religious liberty while allowing for equal protection under the law for same-sex couples and their families.”

“Committed gay and lesbian couples and their children are on the road to being protected equally under the law due to the efforts of the House today,” said Kate Planco-Waybright, interim executive director of Progressive Maryland.

Marylanders for Marriage Equality is the coalition—including 1199 SEIU, Equality Maryland, Progressive Maryland, Human Rights Campaign, ACLU of Maryland, and others—working to bring civil marriage equality to Maryland.

Update on Marriage Bill, Friday, Feb. 17th

2012-02-17T10:28:23-05:00

As you may have heard, HB 438 was not debated last evening on the floor on the House of Delegates. More than 200 amendments have been offered to the bill and the joint committee chairpersons asked for some time today to review all of these. The full House agreed and that is why debate did not occur.

Today we are expecting the joint committees to plow through these amendments and try to get the bill back on the full House floor for debate (called Second Reader) later in the day. Depending on how quickly the floor debate goes, they may get to the final vote late in the day.

The momentum and support for the bill continues to build quickly! This week two Republicans, Delegates Robert Costa and Wade Kach have thrown their support behind the bill. Also, two uncommitted Democrats have said they are voting yes — Delegates Pam Beidle and John Olszewski, Jr.

Until we have the final vote, your Delegates need to continue hearing from you. If you have not thanked your delegate for their support or urged them to vote for HB 438, it is not too late, please speak up today!

I will try to provide updates on Facebook and Twitter (@EqualityMD) today as I can!

693 signed up for Lobby Day!

2012-02-10T13:25:19-05:00

Could we hit 1,000 over the weekend?

http://www.equalitymaryland.org/events/lobby-day