Same love
In November 2012, this state was the first in the nation to uphold a same-sex marriage law through referendum. More than 51 percent of state voters supported LGBT couples’ right to get married.
Recently, famous duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis has made headlines for its hit anthem “Same Love,” especially when the two facilitated the marriage of a number of different straight and same-sex couples during the Grammys. And their message, “No freedom till we’re equal, damn right I support it,” should be adopted for issues of discrimination for every LGBT individual as well.
It’s the state legislature’s responsibility to listen to its constituents and vote accordingly. It follows logically that if this state’s voters and residents support marriage equality, the legislature would find the Fairness for All Marylanders Act a vital step toward improving the lives of LGBT individuals. The law would make discrimination on the basis of gender identity illegal in the workplace, in public accommodations and in housing.
A 2009 survey found 18 percent of transgender state residents had lost a job as a result of their gender identity, 17 percent had been denied a home or apartment and 54 percent reported being harassed in public places, according to Equality Maryland, this state’s largest LGBT rights organization.
Then, according to the Washington Blade, a 2010 study reported that 71 percent of transgender state residents experienced harassment in the workplace, and more than half had lost a job. More than 50 percent reported being harassed in public spaces, and 43 percent reported having attempted suicide.
This is why the Fairness for All Marylanders Act is so important. It’s embarrassing a state as progressive as this one doesn’t already have a law like this. New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine are among the 17 states that already do. Similar bills have been proposed in this state’s General Assembly since 2007, and all have stalled or failed. Last year, the bill didn’t even make it to a floor vote — it was stopped by a 6-5 vote in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.
The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee seems to be the biggest hurdle to pushing the bill onto the state floor. Unfortunately, only one member of the committee has changed: Sen. Stephen Hershey (R-Caroline, Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne’s) has taken the seat of Sen. Joseph Getty (R-Baltimore and Carroll), who voted against the bill last year. Hershey, too, voted down a similar bill in 2011 session when he was a delegate.
But the bill is expected to receive the support of many top-ranking officials in the state this year, including Gov. Martin O’Malley and the three Democratic officials looking to replace him: Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Attorney General Doug Gansler and Del. Heather Mizeur.
The bill is just one vote away from reaching a floor vote. We urge Sen. Hershey and the other five members of the Judicial Proceedings Committee who opposed the bill last year to reconsider, keeping in mind the growing public support for the LGBT community and the belief that all people are created equal.
“Any one of those six votes could step up and do the right thing this year,” said Keith Thirion, advocacy director at Equality Maryland. “Rather than actually changing hearts and minds, we need legislators to listen to their values and say that everyone should be treated equally.”
Sure, there will always be some who hold prejudices against the LGBT community, both publicly and privately. But there is a pervasive sense that our generation values equality for all, regardless of skin color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. We need our legislators to get on board with our forward-thinking ideals or risk losing their control in our state. This state has always been known for its willingness to adapt and progress. When it comes to anti-discrimination laws, this same precedent needs to hold true.
Of course, in an ideal society, people wouldn’t discriminate to begin with and we wouldn’t need laws like this. But we don’t live in an ideal society. And under state law, employers and others are legally permitted to discriminate against members of the LGBT community. That’s unacceptable. We need this law.
This is part of the opinion section’s Friday package on gender equality.
