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Md. Senate passes transgender sanctuary bill

Measure passed by 33-13 vote margin

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(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The Maryland Senate on Tuesday approved a bill that would make Maryland a sanctuary state for transgender people who are seeking gender-affirming health care and providers who offer it.

Senate Bill 119 passed by a 33-13 vote margin.

State Sens. Clarence Lam (D-Anne Arundel and Howard Counties), Shelly Hettleman (D-Baltimore County) and Jeff Waldstreicher (D-Montgomery County) introduced SB 119. An identical bill has been put forth in the Maryland House of Delegates.

A law that requires Maryland’s Medicaid program to cover gender-affirming treatments took effect on Jan. 1.

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Maryland

US Senate poll tracker: Alsobrooks grows lead over Hogan in new survey

PG County executive ahead of former governor by 50-33 percent margin

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Democrat Angela Alsobrooks and Republican Larry Hogan are competing for a U.S. Senate seat that could determine control of the chamber. (Photos courtesy of the Baltimore Banner)

BY BRENDA WINTRODE and PAMELA WOOD | Marylandā€™s Senate race is one of a handful of federal races poised to decide which political party wins control over Congress. That means thereā€™s plenty of polling, as the candidates and other interested parties search for indications of which way voters will go.

Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan and Democrat and Prince Georgeā€™s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks are vying for the open seat, along with Libertarian Party candidate Mike Scott and independent candidate Patrick J. Burke.

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

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Maryland

Maryland Congressman Andy Harris is new chair of the House Freedom Caucus

Republican replaces U.S. Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) who lost primary

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U.S. Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) is the new leader of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. (Photo by Rick Hutzell/The Baltimore Banner)

BY PAMELA WOOD | Marylandā€™s lone Republican in Congress, U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, is the new chair of the right-wing Freedom Caucus.

Harris has replaced prior Freedom Caucus chair U.S. Rep. Bob Good of Virginia, who lost his Republican primary earlier this year.

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

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Maryland

Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival returns to Havre de Grace

ā€˜There are thriving queer communities in rural areasā€™

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(Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Concord Point Park in Havre de Grace, Md., will transform into the site of the 6th annual Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival on Saturday, Oct. 5. The free, family-friendly festival will run from 2-6 p.m. and feature live music, drag performances, and vendors. 

About 3,500 people are expected to attend the festival, which is organized by the Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Foundation and will be held at the Chesapeake waterfront. More than 120 artists, vendors, and community organizations will have booths, and a kidsā€™ area will offer activities such as face painting, magician performances, and storytelling. 

Along with drag performances, musical acts will perform throughout the day, spanning genres such as R&B, punk, and queer country. The foundationā€™s president, Kurt Doan, highlighted Ryan Cassata as a key headliner.  

ā€œRyan is a trans activist but also makes really vibrant music, so Iā€™m excited to bring that kind of music to Harford County,ā€ Doan said.

Festival goers will be able to choose from a variety of food options, including empanadas, Thai food, burgers, French-style desserts and ice cream. This year, the foundation is extending activities beyond the festival hours, including an after party and happy hour at one of the local breweries, and Sunday yoga session.  

ā€œWeā€™ve got lots of really super supportive queer-friendly businesses in Havre De Grace that are going to be offering different things,ā€ Doan said. 

The inaugural Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival was held in 2019 to celebrate the local LGBTQ community in the rural Harford and Cecil counties. Since then, the foundation has grown in its scope: In addition to hosting the annual festival, it provides scholarships to local colleges and hosts monthly social activities. 

Doan emphasized the role the foundation plays in supporting the rural queer community, noting its impact in creating belonging and visibility.

ā€œI think people can very easily forget that queer people also live in rural areas, and when we talk about being queer in Maryland, it’s often about what’s going on in the outskirts of D.C. or in Baltimore or in Annapolis. But there are thriving queer communities in rural areas, we just don’t often have brick and mortar spots where we can gather,ā€ he said. ā€œI think it’s super important to have an organization like this.ā€

To support the festival or learn how to become an exhibitor, volunteer, or performer, visit ucbpride.com/2024-pride-festival/.

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