PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, November 25, 2002
CONTACT Jean-Michel Brevelle, 301.891.1111

BALTIMORE CITY COUNCIL PASSES TRANSGENDER ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
PROTECTIONS

Baltimore, MD -- In a historic vote this evening, Baltimore City
became the first jurisdiction in Maryland to prohibit discrimination
in employment, housing, public accommodations, and credit practices
based on gender identity or expression. The vote was unanimous among
the 19-member Council without abstentions. Mayor Martin O'Malley had
requested that the Council consider the bill, to investigate the
prevalence of discrimination against transgender people and to ensure
equal rights for all Baltimoreans.

Council Bill 02-0857 was introduced on August 12 at the request of
the Baltimore Community Relations Commission, the City agency that
enforces the anti-discrimination ordinance and investigates claims of
discriminatory practices in Baltimore City. At an October 17th
hearing convened by the Judiciary and Legislative Investigations
Committee, Chaired by Councilman Robert Curran, the committee heard
testimony from 10 individuals in support of the bill. More than half
of the testifiers were transgender people, who related their personal
experiences of being the victims of discrimination due solely to
their gender identity or expression. No one offered testimony in
opposition to the bill.

The final vote was received with great anticipation by approximately
30 community members seated in the gallery. Councilman Curran gave a
brief speech congratulating the local transgender community, and
Council President Sheila Dixon generously invited the community to
rise and be recognized by the Council. The Council Chambers replied
with a long round of applause and congratulatory wishes.

"Tonight's vote is a great victory for the Baltimore transgender
community," said Jean-Michel Brevelle, Interim Director for Free
State Justice. "It is the culmination of years of effort by many
transgender people and our supporters, and clearly demonstrates the
goodwill and understanding that Baltimore City government has
developed for the transgender community. It is also the result of
forging strong partnerships and healthy alliances between community
and local, state, and national organizations committed to transgender
equality."

Free State Justice formed MATTER (Marylanders Advocating Towards
Transgender Equal Rights) as a Board committee just over a year ago.
The MATTER Committee has led the campaign to introduce and pass
legislation this year to extend anti-discrimination protections to
transgender people in Baltimore City. Financial support for the
effort came through two Equality Grants received from the Human
Rights Campaign, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, through
their Transgender Civil Rights Project, contributed technical
assistance and the draft language for the bill. Local organizations
including the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community
Center of Baltimore; Tran*Quility; the Baltimore-Washington-Annapolis
Guys; Chase Brexton Health Services, Inc.; and TransAm - a program of
the Baltimore Prevention Coalition - have provided support through
outreach to membership, testimony, and letters of support.

The bill now goes to Mayor Martin O'Malley for signature into law.
Since the bill was submitted at the request of his Administration,
the Mayor is expected to sign it. Baltimore will then join 52 other
US jurisdictions that prohibit discrimination based on gender
identity or expression, including the States of Minnesota and Rhode
Island. A similar ordinance was most recently passed in Cook County,
Illinois. Thirteen other jurisdictions have passed similar ordinances
in 2002 alone.

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Jean-Michel Brevelle
Interim Director
Free State Justice
P.O. Box 13221
Baltimore, MD 21203
P: 301-891-1111
F: 301-890-3226
jean-michel@freestatejustice.org
http://www.freestatejustice.org