Opponents of a proposed bill returned to Towson Monday night to speak out against the proposed legislation.
Ann Miller, a Republican activist, told the council that opponents "are not the bigotted, hate-mongers we're labeled as by the special interests backing this bill.
"Our concerns are valid and serious and (the bill) would negatively impact the entire county," said Miller.
The testimony of about 15 people was nearly identical to that given two weeks ago when Councilman Tom Quirk, a Catonsville Democrat, first introduced the bill.
The bill will be similar to a law passed last month by the Howard County Council, Quirk said. Proponents of the legislation say it was spurred by a highly- publicized attack on Chrissy Polis, a transgendered Rosedale woman, last year.
One of the most controversial aspects of the law is a section dealing with the use of public accommodations, including public restrooms.
Miller said the words "gender identity and expression" were problematic and asked that they be removed from the bill. She also raised concerns about the potential for educational requirements related to transgender persons.
Supporters of the bill said there is no requirement for schools to teach transgender related classes.
Mark Patro, president of the Baltimore County chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Gays and Lesbians, was the only supporter of the bill to testify.
"There's nobody here from my community here tonight because we literally get tired of listening to this when they beat on us constantly," said Patro. "They start their speech with a lie and they ram it until it sounds reasonable."
Patro said the bill is about "reaching out to people who are not protected."
The council is scheduled to hold a hearing on the bill, which has three co-sponsors, next Tuesday.
The bill is similar to one passed in Howard County last year and state law that was rejected by the Maryland General Assembly a year ago.
Earlier in the evening, the council unanimously approved:
• A resolution that calls on the city, which owns the Loch Raven Reservoir property, and biking enthusiasts to develop a partnership aimed at enhancing the trail system and protecting the reservoir.
The resolution carries no legal requirements.
• A with the Baltimore County Revenue Authority. The lease governs the authority's management of four Towson-area public parking garages and allows the county to take control of the Washington and Baltimore Avenue facilities when bonds for those garages are paid off in 2019.
"Over the years it's become clear that the it pays fees on," said Fred Homan during a meeting last week. He added: "We end up being responsible for most of what goes on" at the garage.
• Spending $22,460 for improvements to the county animal shelter including work on the "get acquainted" room used for adoptions. A majority of the money used comes from an endowment left by the estate of .
• A three-year contract with Realauction.com to manage online tax sales. The contract has seven one-year extensions. Total value of the 10-year deal is not to exceed $100,000.
• Issuing up to $4.5 million in revenue bonds to allow Alberee Products to finance costs associated with the purchase and renovation of a building in the 4600 block of Hollins Ferry Road in Halethorpe. The company, which manufactures windshield wiper blades, moved from Baltimore City to the building in the Southwest Enterprise Zone in September 2010.
The county said it expects the company to expand its workforce from 70 to 97 by September 2013.
The county does not incur any liability and Alberee will repay all principal and interest on the bonds.
I believe that the very best treatment should be developed and made available.. if it's needed. Are all transgender human beings being discriminated against or just a small percentage of the small percentage of transgender population? I have heard cases of fat people being discriminated against... the individual has to accept, or buy into the feeling of being discriminated against before it becomes real. Therapy and support go a long way in building the confidence needed to not accept being discriminated against. Improvement along these lines would benefit transgender human beings much more than a quick Quirk bad law that will not be able to be effective over the long haul.. .. treatment will have a positive direction that will get better with time.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_people_in_this_world_are_transgender
Sara- you are officially my new hero. Thank you for your well-thought out, educated, and beautifully stated arguments. Rock on!
Mark P. are you there?
I read your below explanation 5 times and I still really don't understand it. A lot of people in these postings have been trying to explain the various sexual terms and it always gets way too complicated, which reaffirms my comment that they should be left to the science books. I'm sure the Councilpersons are not even thinking on this issue in a deeply scientific way either (as they should not have to). It's great that there are people like you that are compassionate enough to better understand these folks and try to educate others in their behalf, but the Baltimore County Code is not the place to get the word out there. PFLAG should instead set up a campaign to bring awareness to their members, like other groups have, like breast cancer awareness. I, personally would not get involved with the campaign, but I'm sure some people would.
If the child care nurturer thing gave you the creeps, here's what gives me more creeps... If I sent my 18 year old daughter to Towson State University and was paying the $9,000 dollar dormitory fee only have her share dorms bathroom with an "experimenting in transitioning male" who applied as a female. How is this going to be handled when the university takes a hands off approach because it's too sensitive. OK sensitive folks, I know that this bill does address this and you consider it a separate issue, but it an issue that PFLAG will be sure to push next. Hey! who let the worms out?
Employers need to have some discretion as to who they want to hire. I would be turned down for a job at Hooters too, because I don't have double D's, but that's OK. I'm not complaining. I too, realize as much as the Hooters manager does, that I would probably not benefit her business. Boobs and butts are their business. Their food is sub-par and doesn't bring the customers in. I wouldn't get hired as a Chippendale either, because I look like the white version of JJ from Good Times. No complaints though, I understand that large red bow tie wouldn't be enough to disguise my bony ribs, and I'd have the night club emptied out before I could even get to the Speedos. I'll knock on Home Depot's door where they'd want me. All Hetero, Homo, Bi, Trans, once gay now back, whatever sexuals just have to deal with the "unfair" world in which we live. Life is just tough by nature.
If we're talking a business (say, an apartment complex) ? Then it's all women, both 'conventional' and transgendered (to women). Pretty simple logic here, even for 1:30am in the morning.
To answer your question about people transforming between the sexual identites, yes and the term "Gender Identity OR Expression" is in the bill, along with Sexual Orientation. You really need to come to the work session on 2-14-12 to speak out and see what the concerns are about this. Be there by 1:30 to sign in. We are being called bigots, liars, hate mongerers and worse to try to discredit us. We don't deny people rights, but not by taking rights from others in the process. Right is right but this bill is so wrong.
The transgender population does not need additional protection by perceived law because the laws already exist. The same for everyone.... only way of possible fair enforcement.
Where in this bill does it exempt the homeowner who has an apartment in the basement of their home? This Bill fails to cover all bases. Mark suggested we consult a lawyer for the answer. Consulting the County Code should suffice. The fact that a lawyer need be consulted for an answer simply enforces the complexity issues that this bill presents.
Though I disagree with your points, I will admit that I respect your diligence in what you believe. My question to you is this. When and if this bill passes and a sticky legal situation arises where a person illegitimately uses this law to falsely gain a job or housing will you be there to step in and support the business owner or homeowner (for instance the homeowner who is sued by a man who claims he was discriminated against by their refusal to rent to him, because they were looking for a woman.)
Mark, will you be willing to take on the cause of those that have been looked over for employment or quietly let go, because they are or became obese, extremely skinny, have a physical deformity, like a hairlip, snarled teeth, balding head. How about the folks wishing to keep their long ZZ Top beard or pony tail. How about dwarfs, and people with birth marks on their face. How about the people with tatoos that they can not or may not want to remove. All the drug reps. that come into my doctor's office are gorgeous young ladies. Will you be there to fight for the rights of the ugly drug reps. denied a job. You really shouldn't stop with the LGB community. I hope you haven't forgotten about all that unfairness in the business world.
You know, the guy that in his book said that before he first set foot in John Hopkins, he was determined on ideological grounds to shut the Gender Clinic program down, regardless of evidence. And, as you pointed out, he decided to focus 'research' at John Hopkins on sex disorders instead: "McHugh…is the man whose report to the court in one case stated that a defendant’s harassing phone calls were not obscene - including the call that detailed a fantasy of a 4-year-old sex slave locked in a dog cage and fed human waste. At least eight men have been convicted of sexually abusing Maryland children while under treatment at the “sex disorders” clinic McHugh runs at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine - abuse the doctors did not report, citing client confidentiality. When Maryland law was changed to require that doctors report child molestation, the clinic fought it and advised patients on how to get around the law. The memo to patients suggested that molesters report their pedophilic activities to their lawyers, who could in turn tell staff; attorney-client privilege would then protect the molesters from being reported. This memo was fully approved by the boss - Dr. Paul McHugh…” He went on in 2000 to advise the Vatican, right about the time the priest molestation scandals broke.
What I'm seeing is too many people here attempting to use legal crutches to hide their latent bigotry. Just like back then.
You have just proven the point that this law is poorly developed and will never be effective... that's my take on your last comment.
Fact, however, is that many laws on the books require lawyer interpretation. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many of them. This attempt at throwing wording arguments at the bill, is just thinly veiled bigotry from individuals who are just intelligent bigots - versus stupid ones. This of course, is just my opinion. Here's another opinion: If humanity sucked just a little less, we wouldn't NEED legislation for this.
Reasons that I believe this type of legislation will NEVER be able to be fairly enforced in any direction.... curious to see any attempt at a solid answer here.