Transgender Anti-Discrimination Bill Approved In Baltimore County

The Baltimore County Council passed a transgender anti-discrimination bill last night, joining three other Maryland jurisdictions with similar legislation. WYPR’s Matt Purdy was there and filed this report.

Councilman Tom Quirk introduced the bill, which passed five to two.

“Baltimore County is sending a loud message that we’re a welcoming county. We accept diversity and we’re going to treat everybody equally.”

The council passed several amendments to the bill, including one exempting “distinctly private or personal” facilities. Public restrooms and locker rooms, which received much attention in the debate over the bill, were not expressly exempted.

Dana Beyer, executive director of Gender Rights Maryland, a transgender rights advocacy group, says the bill is similar to legislation passed in Montgomery and Howard counties. Baltimore city passed transgender anti-discrimination legislation in 2002.

“We’ve got four jurisdictions now in the state that make up 50-percent of the population. That’s huge.”

Similar legislation has been introduced in the General Assembly this session.

I’m Matt Purdy, reporting from Baltimore County, for 88-1, WYPR.