Gender Identity

I refer to this article "Transgender woman found dead struggled for acceptance" (Feb. 22). This is a very sad story, and compounding the sadness is The Baltimore Sun's apparent refusal to consistently use "she" and "her" as pronouns to refer to a woman living and identifying as female, and by using the former name as the "official" one and putting the identity she used in quotes. You can't help that some of the quotes use "he," that's what the person actually said, but material written by the newspaper itself should consistently show respect to the deceased's gender identity.

In a recent article ("Transgender bias ban approved," Feb. 22), Baltimore County Councilman Tom Quirk describes his sexual orientation and gender identity bill as a "human rights bill" which he sponsored because "everyone deserves to be treated fairly. " Yes, everyone but the ex-gay community. As the only sexual orientation that is consistently discriminated against in Baltimore County, ex-gays asked Mr. Quirk to include former homosexuals in his bill which protects homosexuals and bisexuals.

Howard County has joined Montgomery County and Baltimore City as the third jurisdiction in the state to adopt a law prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity and expression. The Howard County Council's four Democrats voted in favor of legislation Monday night that bars discrimination in housing, employment, law enforcement, public accommodations and financing. The council began crafting the bill after a Baltimore County transgender woman was attacked at a Rosedale McDonald's last spring and the failure of the General Assembly to adopt a statewide anti-discrimination law. Several members of a local group, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, sought the law "This is an important bill," said Councilwoman Courtney Watson, an Ellicott City Democrat, before casting her vote in favor of the bill.

Tuesday night, the Baltimore County Council has a chance to send a powerful message about equality and fairness to all Marylanders when it votes on a bill to extend the county's anti-discrimination laws to cover transgender people. In the county where transgender woman Chrissy Lee Polis was savagely beaten in a McDonald's because of her gender identity, this should be a no-brainer. But it has instead become embroiled in an emotionally driven but largely irrelevant debate over access to public restrooms.

Tuesday night, the Baltimore County Council has a chance to send a powerful message about equality and fairness to all Marylanders when it votes on a bill to extend the county's anti-discrimination laws to cover transgender people. In the county where transgender woman Chrissy Lee Polis was savagely beaten in a McDonald's because of her gender identity, this should be a no-brainer. But it has instead become embroiled in an emotionally driven but largely irrelevant debate over access to public restrooms.

Gender identity will likely fall under discrimination protections in Howard County, joining race, religion and sexual orientation, after a vote by the County Council on Monday. Four of the five council members introduced the measure last month, which would bar discrimination in housing, employment, law enforcement, public accommodations and financing practices. Its passage would make Howard the third jurisdiction in the state to include gender identity in anti-discrimination laws.

After suffering a defeat in the state legislature, advocates pushing to bar discrimination against transgender people are looking to build protection into local laws - spurred on by a high-profile attack on a woman at a Baltimore County McDonald's last spring. On Monday, Howard County will become the latest local government to take up a bill that would add gender identity and expression to the county's anti-discrimination laws. The measure, which has the support of a majority of the County Council, would make Howard the third local government in Maryland to adopt such a measure.

As voters we hope that our lawmakers make policy decisions based on the facts and their obligation to protect the best interest of our state's citizens. Right now it is a fact that 1 in 5 transgender Marylanders were fired and 12 percent have experienced homelessness because of who they are. More than 70 percent have been harassed on the job. This is unacceptable and must end this year! House Bill 235 provides critical job and housing protections based on gender identity. This bill is similar to laws that are already in place in Baltimore City and Montgomery County.

When Erin Jennings walks out of her Bel Air home, she wears a dress. With a barrette on her short cropped hair, Jennings, who is still biologically male, has recently begun what is known as a “transition”: the process of changing her appearance to align it with the gender she feels defines her. “I grew up in Texas and my step-father always wanted me to play sports and I wasn’t interested,” she said. “I always knew this was me.” Jennings, 26, along with dozens of fellow members of the Maryland transgender community, gathered at a McDonald’s in Rosedale Monday evening to show support for Chrissy Polis, a transgender woman who was repeatedly beaten inside the restaurant last week by two people who encountered her in the bathroom and accused her of being a man. The attack captured on a video has since garnered worldwide condemnation for its brutality as the duo was shown administering vicious head kicks followed by one woman dragging Polis across the floor by her hair as onlookers laughed.  “This is something that is too common,” said Jenna Fischetti, spokeswoman for the Transmaryland, a group that advocates for transgender people.

In a recent article ("Transgender bias ban approved," Feb. 22), Baltimore County Councilman Tom Quirk describes his sexual orientation and gender identity bill as a "human rights bill" which he sponsored because "everyone deserves to be treated fairly. " Yes, everyone but the ex-gay community. As the only sexual orientation that is consistently discriminated against in Baltimore County, ex-gays asked Mr. Quirk to include former homosexuals in his bill which protects homosexuals and bisexuals.

A Baltimore County councilman plans to introduce a measure next week to prohibit discrimination against transgender people. Tom Quirk, a Catonsville Democrat, said the bill would add both gender identity and sexual orientation to the county's existing anti-discrimination laws. He plans to introduce it at the council meeting scheduled for Jan. 17. Last April, a videotaped attack on Chrissy Lee Polis, a transgender woman, at a Rosedale McDonald's drew national attention. Quirk said his reasons for pushing the issue are broader than the McDonald's attack.

Military prosecutors building a case against the 24-year-old Army soldier accused of sending hundreds of thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks sought to show Saturday that Pfc. Bradley Manning had access to the secret documents and the ability to share them with the world. Defense attorneys spent little time challenging Manning's retrieval of the information, but instead used the government witnesses to draw a picture of a bright but deeply troubled soldier who was allowed to poke through a trove of top-secret information even after showing clear signs of emotional distress.

WEATHER Today's forecast calls for rain with a high near 63 degrees. The low tonight is expected to be around 51 degrees. More rain is likely during the day tomorrow -- and there could be snow tomorrow night. TRAFFIC Here are today's morning traffic issues . FROM LAST NIGHT... Police crack down on unleashed dogs in Patterson Park : Since two pit bulls attacked a poodle near the park on Nov. 18, city police officers have issued 10 citations for having an unleashed dog in the park, Maj. William Davis, commander of the Southeastern Police District, said at the community meeting last night.

Howard County has joined Montgomery County and Baltimore City as the third jurisdiction in the state to adopt a law prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity and expression. The Howard County Council's four Democrats voted in favor of legislation Monday night that bars discrimination in housing, employment, law enforcement, public accommodations and financing. The council began crafting the bill after a Baltimore County transgender woman was attacked at a Rosedale McDonald's last spring and the failure of the General Assembly to adopt a statewide anti-discrimination law. Several members of a local group, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, sought the law "This is an important bill," said Councilwoman Courtney Watson, an Ellicott City Democrat, before casting her vote in favor of the bill.

Gender identity will likely fall under discrimination protections in Howard County, joining race, religion and sexual orientation, after a vote by the County Council on Monday. Four of the five council members introduced the measure last month, which would bar discrimination in housing, employment, law enforcement, public accommodations and financing practices. Its passage would make Howard the third jurisdiction in the state to include gender identity in anti-discrimination laws.

About two dozen transgender citizens, their relatives and supporters on Monday night urged the Howard County Council to adopt a bill that would bar discrimination against transgender people. "We don't want to be special," said Howard resident Sharon Brackett, the co-chair of Gender Rights Maryland. "We want to be just like everyone else. " Brackett, who was born male, and others shared personal stories while testifying before the five-member council at a public hearing in Ellicott City.

A Baltimore County councilman plans to introduce a measure next week to prohibit discrimination against transgender people. Tom Quirk, a Catonsville Democrat, said the bill would add both gender identity and sexual orientation to the county's existing anti-discrimination laws. He plans to introduce it at the council meeting scheduled for Jan. 17. Last April, a videotaped attack on Chrissy Lee Polis, a transgender woman, at a Rosedale McDonald's drew national attention. Quirk said his reasons for pushing the issue are broader than the McDonald's attack.

WASHINGTON -- A hate crimes bill passed by the House yesterday, extending coverage to people victimized because of sexual orientation, gender identity or disability, is attracting opposition from an unusual coalition of Christian leaders. Proponents say the bill - similar to one the Senate is expected to pass in the next few weeks - is a moral imperative. But some Christians are depicting it as a "thought crimes" bill attacking 1st Amendment freedoms of speech and religion. A coalition of evangelical, fundamentalist and black religious leaders is mounting a furious assault on the bill, airing television ads and mobilizing members to stop its progress.

After suffering a defeat in the state legislature, advocates pushing to bar discrimination against transgender people are looking to build protection into local laws - spurred on by a high-profile attack on a woman at a Baltimore County McDonald's last spring. On Monday, Howard County will become the latest local government to take up a bill that would add gender identity and expression to the county's anti-discrimination laws. The measure, which has the support of a majority of the County Council, would make Howard the third local government in Maryland to adopt such a measure.

When Erin Jennings walks out of her Bel Air home, she wears a dress. With a barrette on her short cropped hair, Jennings, who is still biologically male, has recently begun what is known as a “transition”: the process of changing her appearance to align it with the gender she feels defines her. “I grew up in Texas and my step-father always wanted me to play sports and I wasn’t interested,” she said. “I always knew this was me.” Jennings, 26, along with dozens of fellow members of the Maryland transgender community, gathered at a McDonald’s in Rosedale Monday evening to show support for Chrissy Polis, a transgender woman who was repeatedly beaten inside the restaurant last week by two people who encountered her in the bathroom and accused her of being a man. The attack captured on a video has since garnered worldwide condemnation for its brutality as the duo was shown administering vicious head kicks followed by one woman dragging Polis across the floor by her hair as onlookers laughed.  “This is something that is too common,” said Jenna Fischetti, spokeswoman for the Transmaryland, a group that advocates for transgender people.