Privacy Policy
Equality Maryland and the Equality Maryland Foundation (jointly, "Equality Maryland") believe in protecting the integrity and privacy of personal information gathered from our visitors to our website. This privacy statement communicates our practices regarding the collection and dissemination of personal information that can be linked to a specific individual such as a name, address, phone number, e-mail address, or any other information provided by our members and website visitors.
You do not have to share personally identifiable information to use Equality Maryland's website. Equality Maryland does not collect personally identifiable information about individual users except when such individuals provide information on a voluntary basis. However, please be aware that our site links to a limited number of other websites and Equality Maryland cannot be and is not responsible for the content or the privacy policies of those websites.
What information is collected and how we use it:
Equality Maryland gathers contact information when you contribute to Equality Maryland online or via mail, join at Pride or other events, when you sign up to receive Equality Maryland Action Alerts via e-mail or sign up for other listservs associated with our various community advocacy committees. We use this information to send legislative updates, action alerts, press releases, information about Equality Maryland programs and events, local volunteer opportunities, as well as membership and renewal appeals.
From time to time, we feature "Take Action" links which gather information to identify your legislative district for purposes of providing you with a list of your legislative representatives. In addition, this information is used to transmit a letter or fax to your representative relating to a particular legislative issue. The information gathered will not be shared with organizations other than Equality Maryland.
The "Donate" link gathers information when you contribute online. The information gathered is used to process your contribution. Equality Maryland may use the contact information to solicit you in the future for additional contributions. In addition, Equality Maryland may choose to exchange mail lists with other like-minded organizations. These organizations may send you information pertaining to their efforts. If you'd prefer to have your name withheld from these list exchanges you may select this option while you are donating online or contact us via email at info@equalitymaryland.org.
Equality Maryland does not rent or sell personally identifiable information about individuals collected on our website to other individuals, corporations or organizations without the user's express consent. Occasionally, Equality Maryland does exchange mail lists with like-minded organizations to effect a greater dissemination of information and foster greater participation in LGBT activism. E-mail addresses of visitors and members are never exchanged with other organizations.
In some limited circumstances, Equality Maryland may be required to disclose information that is collected on our website. Those circumstances include requests for information from law enforcement agencies or request to produce information in compliance with a subpoena or judicial order.
"Cookies" and how do we use them:
"Cookies" are small text files a website can use to recognize repeat users, facilitate users' ongoing access and use of the site, and allow a site to track usage and behavior and collect aggregate data that will allow Equality Maryland to improve its website. Equality Maryland sets "cookies" to automatically track data and non-personal information about users.
Equality Maryland reserves the right to perform statistical analyses of aggregate user behavior and characteristics in order to measure interest in and use of various areas of our website and to use such information to improve our website's ability to serve you better.
Protecting your information:
Equality Maryland maintains a variety of physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect your personal information. We use commercially reasonable tools and techniques to protect against unauthorized access to our systems. All online transaction requesting billing information are processed through a secure window adminstered by Convio, a leading provider of digital trust services and transactions.
How to unsubscribe or opt out:
Equality Maryland provides users the opportunity to opt out of receiving communications from us ("do not contact") or from being included in list exchanges with like-minded organizations ("do not exchange") at the point where personally identifiable information is collected. Users who indicate a desire to be excluded may select either or both options when they join or make a contribution. Individuals may also choose to unsubscribe as part of every email sent by Equality Maryland. Members may also contact us via e-mail at info@equalitymaryland.org or by US mail at Member Services, Equality Maryland, 1319 Apple Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910 if they wish to stop receiving communications from us.
How to correct information you have provided:
You may correct and/or change any information regarding your membership by contacting member services at info@equalitymaryland.org or by US mail at Member Services, Equality Maryland, 1319 Apple Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910.
How to contact us about privacy:
If you have any questions about our privacy policy, the information we have collected from you online, the practices of this site or your interaction with this website, send email to info@equalitymaryland.org. You can also reach us via U.S. Mail at: Website Management, Equality Maryland, 1319 Apple Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910.