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Md. trans bill on ‘hold’ in committee

Supporters hopeful Judiciary panel will approve measure Saturday

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Freedom to Marry, gay news, Washington Blade

A committee of the Maryland State Senate voted 6-5 to place aĀ temporary hold on a transgender non-discrimination bill on Friday,Ā adding yet another roadblock to a measure that survived a proceduralĀ attempt to kill it one week ago.

The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee approved a request by Sen.Ā Nancy Jacobs (R-Cecil and Harford Counties) to place the hold on theĀ Gender Identity Non-Discrimination Act. Jacobs is one of the billā€™sĀ most outspoken opponents.

Sen. Brian Frosh (D-Montgomery County), the committee chair, votedĀ against the hold, but three other committee Democrats joined the threeĀ Republican members of the 11-member committee to vote for the hold.

The action prevented the committee from voting to release the bill toĀ the full Senate, which must pass the legislation before the end of theĀ day on Monday, when the Maryland Legislature adjourns for the year.

Froshā€™s office said Frosh was expected to allow the committee to voteĀ on the bill on Saturday morning. Supporters said they were hopeful theĀ legislation might reach the Senate floor for a debate and vote on theĀ same day, as originally expected.

The Maryland House of Delegates has already passed the bill, and Gov.Ā Martin Oā€™Malley has said he would sign it.

Sen. Jamie Raskin (D-Montgomery County), a member of the JudicialĀ Proceedings Committee and a lead supporter of the bill, told the BladeĀ late Friday that he and others supporting the bill were hopeful thatĀ at least two of the Democrats who voted for the hold would vote forĀ the bill on Saturday morning when the committee was expected to meetĀ between 10 and 11 a.m..

ā€œThe way Iā€™m reading it now is we have five hard votes ā€˜yesā€™ and thenĀ there are at least two senators who supported the hold who could stillĀ vote for the bill tomorrow,ā€ he said. ā€œSo Iā€™m cautiously optimisticĀ that weā€™ll be headed to the floor tomorrow,ā€ he said.

Others familiar with the committee action identified the two DemocratsĀ who voted for the hold and who could vote for the bill as JamesĀ Brochin and Bobby Zirkin, both Democrats from Baltimore County.

The Judicial Proceedings Committee was originally expected to vote onĀ the measure Friday, one day after it held a two-hour hearing inĀ Annapolis on Thursday in which about 40 witnesses testified for andĀ against the bill.

Among those testifying against it were four transgender activists,Ā including one from New York, who said the bill did not go far enoughĀ because it lacks a provision banning discrimination againstĀ transgender Marylanders in the area of public accommodations.

The billā€™s author and chief sponsor, House of Delegates memberĀ Joseline Pina-Melnyk (D-Prince Georgeā€™s and Anne Arundel Counties),Ā testified that she reluctantly removed the public accommodationsĀ provision from the bill in order to line up enough votes to pass it inĀ a House committee.

Pina-Melnyk has said the bill would have died in committee, as it hasĀ for the past four years, if the public accommodations provisionĀ remained a part of the legislation.

As currently written, the bill would ban discrimination againstĀ transgender people in the area of employment, housing, and credit ā€“Ā including bank loans.

Most transgender activists in Maryland along with the National CenterĀ for Transgender Equality and the transgender rights project of theĀ National Gay & Lesbian Task Force are supporting the bill. They sayĀ they plan to push for the addition of a public accommodationsĀ provision as early as next year.

The bill received a further boost Friday morning from the WashingtonĀ Post, which published an editorial calling on the State Senate toĀ quickly pass the measure as a first step in rectifying longstandingĀ discrimination against transgender people.

ā€œThe legislation is a modest, fair and reasonable step in theĀ direction of equal rights for a minority that continues to sufferĀ widespread bias,ā€ the Post said.

Among those testifying in favor of the bill on Thursday was attorneyĀ Lisa Mottet, director of the NGLTF transgender rights project.

Longtime transgender rights opponent Ruth Jacobs, head of Citizens forĀ a Responsible Government, emerged as the lead witness against the billĀ on its merits, saying she opposes any form of anti-discriminationĀ protection based on gender identity.

In a development that surprised some attending the hearing, ZirkinĀ criticized Jacobsā€™ organization for unleashing a barrage of computerĀ generated ā€œrobo-callsā€ to state residents in the late evening hoursĀ over the past few days.

Zirkin — speaking to Jacobs after the hearing recessed — said hisĀ family received one of the calls around 3 a.m. on Thursday, which heĀ said disturbed one of his children, according to people who listenedĀ to his conversation with Jacobs.

Zirkin was one of the committee members said to be undecided onĀ whether to vote for the gender identity bill.

The bill reached the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee a littleĀ more than a week after Senate President Thomas V. Mike MillerĀ (D-Calvert and Prince Georgeā€™s County) diverted it to the Senate RulesĀ Committee, which supporters and opponents viewed as a clear move toĀ kill the bill.

The Rules Committee is widely recognized as a ā€œgraveyardā€ for billsĀ unpopular with the Senate leadership, especially its president.

But Miller relinquished his ā€œholdā€ on the bill about a week laterĀ following what observers viewed as an extraordinary lobbying campaignĀ led by the state LGBT group Equality Maryland and many of its LGBT andĀ straight allies.

The campaign generated a barrage of phone calls and e-mails to Millerā€™sĀ office complaining that his action went against the democraticĀ principles of allowing legislation to be decided by an up or down voteĀ rather than being killed in committee without a vote.

Supporters were hopeful the bill was back on track when the JudicialĀ Proceedings Committee held its hearing on the measure on Thursday andĀ indicated through Frosh that it would vote on the bill on FridayĀ afternoon.

ā€œThis is not good because another day is lost,ā€ said Dana Beyer, aĀ Maryland transgender activist and former House of Delegates candidateĀ from Montgomery County.

But Morgan Meneses-Sheets, Equality Marylandā€™s executive director,Ā said she was optimistic that the Judicial Proceedings panel wouldĀ approve the bill Saturday morning, placing it back on track for a fullĀ Senate vote over the weekend.

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Maryland

Maryland’s Joe Vogel would make history if elected to Congress

27-year-old gay lawmaker running for David Trone seat

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Maryland state Del. Joe Vogel (D-Montgomery County) (Photo courtesy of Joe Vogel)

Maryland state Del. Joe Vogel (D-Montgomery County) on Monday said it is time for a new generation of leaders in Congress.

The Montgomery County Democrat last May declared his candidacy for Maryland’s 6th Congressional District after Congressman David Trone announced his run for retiring U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.)’s seat. Vogel, 27, would be the first Latino, the first gay man and the first Gen Zer elected to Congress from Maryland if he were to win in November.

“We need a new generation of leadership with new perspectives, new ideas and the courage to actually deliver for our communities if we want things to get better in this country,” Vogel told the Washington Blade during an interview at the Line Hotel in Adams Morgan.

Protecting democracy among priorities

Vogel was born in Uruguay and immigrated to Rockville with his family when he was three years old.

He volunteered for former President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign. Vogel, who is Jewish, in 2014 worked for Maryland state Sen. Cheryl Kagan (D-Montgomery County)’s campaign.

He was part of Hillary Clinton’s National Advance Team during her 2016 presidential campaign, and worked on former Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s 2017 gubernatorial bid. Vogel later joined the March for Our Lives movement for gun control that began after a gunman killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14, 2018.

Vogel in 2020 worked for U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.)’s presidential campaign. The Montgomery County Democrat in 2022 became the first Gen Zer to win a seat in the Maryland General Assembly. 

Vogel pointed out to the Blade that he has introduced 18 bills in this year’s legislative session. 

One of them, a bill that would prohibit the state from giving foster children in their custody trash bags for them to transport their belongings, passed unanimously in the House on March 14. Other measures that Vogel has sponsored would, among other things, provide security grants to abortion clinics and increase investments in local newspapers.

“I have a record of being able to deliver results,” he said. “That’s what I’m running on.”

Vogel pointed out to the Blade that his platform includes:

  • ā€¢ Protecting democracy
  • ā€¢ Preventing “attacks on fundamental rights”
  • ā€¢ Fighting climate change
  • ā€¢ Stopping gun violence

Vogel also noted his support for the Equality Act, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to federal civil rights laws.

“At a moment of time when you have attacks against the LGBTQ+ community, against our rights, against our identities, I believe that there’s nothing more powerful than electing Maryland’s first openly LGBTQ+ member of Congress,” he said.

Vogel added his election would send “a message to all the young LGBTQ+ people across the state that they belong, and that they have someone in the United States Congress who understands them and is going to fight for them every single day,” added Vogel.

Vogel’s great-grandparents fled Europe ahead of the Holocaust. Uruguay’s military dictatorship was in place from 1973-1985. 

His multiple identities remain a cornerstone of his legislative priorities and of his campaign.

“When we talk about the attacks on LGBTQ+ people, I get that. I feel that,” said Vogel. “I understand that when we talk about the attacks on immigrant communities … not only do I understand that, personally, but I’m around so many immigrants that feel that pain of what we’ve seen over the last many years of the incessant attacks on immigrants and Latino people. When we see the rise in anti-Semitism, I feel that personally.”

HRC, Victory Fund have endorsed Vogel

The Democratic primary will take place on May 14.

April McClain Delaney, a former U.S. Department of Commerce official whose husband is former Congressman John Delaney, and state Del. Lesley Lopez (D-Montgomery County) are among Vogel’s primary opponents. Former state Del. Dan Cox, an anti-LGBTQ Republican who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2022, is also running for Trone’s seat.

Campaign finance reports indicate Vogel raised $379,755.91 between May 4, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2023. McClain Delaney reported she received $536,557 in campaign contributions from Oct. 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2023.

The Human Rights Campaign, the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, Equality PAC and the Sierra Club are among the organizations that have endorsed Vogel’s campaign. U.S. Reps. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) and Frederick County Council President Brad Young are among those who have also backed him. The Maryland State Education Association and the National Education Association this week endorsed Vogel.

Vogel dismissed suggestions that he does not have enough legislative experience to run for Congress and that he is too young.

“When you’re elected to Congress, you’re elected for a two-year term,” he said. “Look at what I’ve been able to accomplish in a two-year term. I’ve proven that I can hit the ground running, get results, deliver results.”

Vogel added the race to succeed Trone in Congress is “me versus the status quo.”

“We need a new generation of leadership with new perspectives, new ideas and the courage to actually deliver for our communities if we actually want things to get better in this country,” said Vogel.

Democratic opponent gave money to Jim DeMint

Former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan last month announced he is running for U.S. Senate. Prince George’s County Executive Director Angela Alsobrooks is also hoping to succeed Cardin.

Vogel sharply criticized Cox. 

“He is as bigoted as it gets,” Vogel told the Blade. “He is a far-right extremist who bussed people to D.C. on Jan. 6, who is as homophobic as it gets, and who is as transphobic as it gets.”

Vogel said Maryland voters in November “need to reject Dan Cox” and “we have to reject Larry Hogan.” (Vogel has endorsed Trone’s Senate campaign.)

“We have to elect pro-equality members of Congress this November, to finally secure the protections that we need for our community in Congress,” said Vogel.

Vogel also vowed to “do everything in my power to ensure that” former President Donald Trump does not win re-election in November.

“Three generations in my family: My great-grandparents, my grandparents, my parents experienced the loss of democracy,” Vogel told the Blade. “My great-grandparents escaped fascism. My grandparents and parents lived under a repressive military dictatorship in Uruguay, and I see the concern that my parents feel seeing the rise of Trump.”

“I refuse to be the fourth generation in my family who experienced the loss of democracy,” he added. “This November, the election fundamentally is going to decide the future of our democracy.”

Vogel on Sunday during a forum the Frederick County Democratic Party sponsored criticized McClain Delaney over her 2005 campaign donation to then-U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) after he said gay people should not be teachers.

“I can’t imagine making any sort of political contribution to any anti-LGBTQ+, anti-choice, pro-NRA member of the United States Senate, and let alone the maximum allowed contribution,” said Vogel. “There is a stark contrast there.”

‘My heart breaks for what we saw on’ Oct. 7

Vogel spoke with the Blade less than six months after Hamas launched a surprise attack against southern Israel.

“It was the deadliest attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust,” he said. “What concerns me is that Hamas has made clear that they intend to carry out an attack like that again and again and again and again.”

“My heart breaks for what we saw on that day,” added Vogel.

Vogel is among those who attendedĀ a pro-Israel rallyĀ that took place on the National Mall last November. He has also met with relatives of hostages who remain in the Gaza Strip.

“Hearing the stories of parents whose kids are still in Gaza, the pain that I feel is tremendous,” said Vogel. “We have to bring those hostages home.”

Vogel told the Blade that Hamas can no longer control Gaza. He also said peace cannot be achieved with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in office.

“If we want to reach peace, a number of things have to happen: Hamas needs to go. We need a change in leadership in Israel and we need diplomatic negotiations to get a bilateral ceasefire, which is not what I think people are calling for when they call for an immediate ceasefire.”

Vogel last October posted to his X account pictures of anti-Semitic graffiti in his apartment building.

He told the Blade the graffiti was removed, but “it took a very long time.” Vogel has introduced a bill that would require the removal of graffiti in a specific period of time if it violates Maryland’s hate crimes law.

Book bans ‘have absolutely no place’

Vogel during the interview also criticized Moms for Liberty and their efforts to ban books in Maryland. He noted Jaime Brennan, the chair of the group’s Frederick County chapter, is running for the county’s Board of Education.

“Book bans in a free democratic society have absolutely no place,” said Vogel.

The Maryland House on March 15 by a 98-37 vote margin approved the Freedom to Read Act. The measure would create a “state policy that local school systems operate their school library media programs consistent with certain standards,” require “each local school system to develop a policy and procedures to review objections to materials in a school library media program” and ban “a county board of education from dismissing, demoting, suspending, disciplining, reassigning, transferring or otherwise retaliating against certain school library media program personnel for performing their job duties consistent with certain standards.”

The bill is now before the Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee.

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District of Columbia

Whitman-Walker names new CEO for Health System unit

Heather Aaron credited with advancing LGBTQ health for seniors

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Heather Aaron (Photo courtesy Whitman-Walker)

Whitman-Walker Health, D.C.ā€™s longtime LGBTQ and HIV health services provider, announced on March 26 that it has appointed Heather Aaron, a health care educator and executive for more than 30 years, as the new CEO for Whitman-Walker Health System.

Whitman-Walker Health System, a division of Whitman-Walker, among other things, advances the mission of Whitman-Walker through expanding its financial and fundraising capacity through the Whitman-Walker Foundation; the Whitman-Walker Institute, which conducts HIV-related research; and the Whitman-Walker Health System Real Property Holdings, according to a write-up on the Whitman-Walker website.

In a press release announcing the appointment, Whitman-Walker Health System Board Chair Ann Bonham called Aaron a ā€œdynamic and collaborative leader that will help us to realize the vision and full potential of our health system ā€¦ building revenue and growth opportunities that will further Whitman-Walkerā€™s care, advocacy, education, and research goals in partnership with Naseema Shafi, CEO of Whitman-Walker Health.ā€

The Whitman-Walker Health System CEO position became open in April 2023 when former Health System CEO Dr. Ryan Moran left the position to become Deputy Secretary of Health and Healthcare Finance for the State of Maryland. Whitman-Walker named Cindy Lewin, a healthcare specialist with nonprofit organizations, as interim CEO while it conducted a national search for a permanent CEO.

ā€œHeather has spent her entire career in health care, making a difference for the communities where she has served as Health Care Executive and Educator for more than thirty years,ā€ the Whitman-Walker announcement of her appointment says. ā€œShe has worked tirelessly to develop diversity, equity, and inclusion in all her work,ā€ it says, adding that her work experience includes services for members of the LGBTQ community and people with HIV/AIDS.

ā€œIn Connecticut, she operated the only continuum of care model which included a nursing home, independent living apartments and case management in one centralized community,ā€ the announcement continues. ā€œThe care model was specifically designed for people living with HIV and AIDS,ā€ it says. 

ā€œIā€™m thrilled to be joining the Whitman-Walker family in service to the community,ā€ Aaron said in the announcement press release. ā€œI look forward to getting to know staff, patients, and engaging with D.C. in a meaningful way,ā€ she said. 

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Maryland

How a culture war canceled a 25-year-old LGBTQ workshop for independent schools

St. Paul’s Schools in Baltimore County ran course

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St. Paulā€™s Schools in Baltimore County on March 22, 2024. (Baltimore Banner photo)

BY LILLIAN REED | Angry emails, phone calls and social media comments were pouring into the Association of Independent Maryland & D.C. Schools in January.

Never before had the associationā€™s popular annual ā€œBelonging in Gender and Sexual Identityā€ workshop for private school educators and students generated such negative attention. That was until this yearā€™s event unexpectedly attracted the gaze of national conservative media outlets and their audiences.

The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.

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