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.

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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

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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.

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