Equality Maryland
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| Equality Maryland | |
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| Motto | Maryland's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Civil Rights Organization |
| Formation | 1990 as Free State Justice 2004 renamed Equality Maryland |
| Headquarters | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Executive Director | Carrie Evans |
| Website | http://www.equalitymaryland.org/ |
Equality Maryland (EQMD) is a non-profit organization formerly headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, now based in Baltimore. Its activities focus on advocacy and education with regard to a number of LGBT social and political movements. Recently its goals have included the passage of laws to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender expression and identity, the expansion of Maryland's existing hate-crimes statute, the increased availability of domestic partner benefits, and the legal recognition of same-sex marriage in Maryland.
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[edit] Structure
The organization began operations in 1990 under the name of Free State Justice, and was renamed Equality Maryland in 2004. Equality Maryland has three divisions, which share offices, staff, and other resources: two non-profit organizations, each of which has its own mission and board of directors, and a related political action committee.[1]
- Equality Maryland, Inc., is a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization focused on direct and grassroots lobbying to pass laws in to further the organization's goals.[1]
- Equality Maryland Foundation is a 501(c)(3) educational organization whose activities focus on outreach, education, research, community organizing, training, and coalition building.[1]
- Equality PAC is a political action committee which supports pro-LGBT candidates.[1]
[edit] Achievements
[edit] 2000-2009
- Equality Maryland achieved a legislative victory in 2001 with the passage of the Maryland Anti-Discrimination Act, which banned discrimination in Maryland on the basis of sexual orientation in the areas of housing, employment, lending, and public accommodations. In 2002 the organization succeeded in securing the passage of a Baltimore City ordinance banning discrimination against individuals based on gender identity and expression. One of its primary goals has been the passage of a law prohibiting this kind of discrimination statewide; in 2007, such a bill was introduced in the Maryland General Assembly, but was defeated in a Senate committee.[2]
- In 2004, EQMD devoted resources toward the legal recognition of same-sex relationships. In partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union, it filed a lawsuit (Conaway v. Deane & Polyak) on behalf of nine couples and a widower to overturn the state ban on same-sex marriage.[3] After a victory for plaintiffs in January 2006, the Maryland State's Attorney appealed the decision.[4] The Maryland Court of Appeals heard the case in December 2006; and in September 2007 it was overturned, leaving the statutory ban on same-sex marriage in place (see Same-sex marriage in Maryland).[5][6]
- In 2005, the Maryland General Assembly passed two Equality Maryland-backed bills, which would afford unmarried opposite-sex and same-sex couples health care decision-making powers and hospital visiting rights involving their domestic partners, but the bills were vetoed by then-Governor Robert Ehrlich.[7][8]
- In 2007, EQMD launched a statewide visibility campaign, Marylanders For Marriage, to increase public support for same-sex marriage.[9][10] The campaign, featuring the motto "Civil Marriage is a Civil Right," included the launch of a website, promotion at gay pride festivals and other events, and the distribution of yard signs and bumper stickers across the state.[11][12]
- In December 2009, EQMD prevented the implementation of a Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration policy that would have required transgender Marylanders to amend their birth certificates in order to update the gender section of their driver’s licenses.[13][14] Making such a change to a driver’s license would have then required going through the court system and having undergone genital reconstruction procedures, which LGBT advocates have said "creates significant barriers for individuals to obtain accurate identification reflecting the way they live."[15]
[edit] 2010-Present
- In 2010, EQMD's field team volunteers identified over 10,000 new supporters of gender identity non-discrimination protections and marriage equality throughout the state,[13][14] and its 2010 election cycle campaign helped to increase LGBT representation in the state legislature, electing seven openly LGBT Delegates and Senators, and 73 of their 81 endorsed candidates.[13][16] Throughout 2010, EQMD increased its grassroots efforts with the launch of action teams across six counties, eventually leading to advances in LGBT rights and protections never before seen in Maryland's history.[13][14]
- In January 2011, EQMD and LGBT rights supporters helped to introduce a same-sex marriage bill[17] for which the governor expressed his support.[18] In February 2011, the "Civil Marriage Protection Act" was approved, 25-21, in the Maryland Senate,[19] but later failed to be voted on in the House of Delegates.[20]
- In January 2012, EQMD heightened its efforts to legalize same-sex marriage by joining a diverse coalition of supporters including Governor Martin O'Malley, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, AFL–CIO, Progressive Maryland, Human Rights Campaign, ACLU of Maryland, Marylanders for Marriage Equality, and church leaders.[21][22]
- In February 2012, the Maryland General Assembly approved the Civil Marriage Protection Act, and Governor O'Malley signed it into law on March 1, 2012.[23][24][25]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d About Equality Maryland EqualityMaryland.org. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ^ Sean Bugg (29 March 2007). "Transgender discrimination bill defeated in Maryland". Metro Weekly. http://www.metroweekly.com/gauge/?ak=2618. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
- ^ What's Their Real Problem With Gay Marriage?, New York Times Magazine, June 19, 2005 - retrieved 29 August 2007
- ^ Hagerty, Barbara Bradley. "Maryland Judge Rejects Gay-Marriage Ban". National Public Radio. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5164355. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- ^ Conaway, et al. v. Deane, et al., Maryland Court of Appeals, Highlighted Cases - retrieved 30 August 2007
- ^ Rich, Eric (September 2007). "Maryland High Court Upholds Same-Sex Marriage Ban". The Washington Post. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2007/09/maryland_high_court_upholds_sa.html. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- ^ Dao, James (May 21, 2005). "Partners Bill Is Vetoed by Governor in Maryland". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/21/national/21maryland.html. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- ^ Sean Bugg (18 May 2006). "State of Mind: Dan Furmansky and Equality Maryland's growing fight for the state's gay and lesbian community". Metro Weekly. http://www.metroweekly.com/feature/?ak=2123. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
- ^ Waiting for the Same-Sex Marriage Ruling, Washington Post Blog, June 4, 2007 - retrieved 30 August 2007
- ^ Dan Furmansky. "Maryland: Ripe for Marriage Equality". eQualityGiving.org. http://www.equalitygiving.org/Maryland-Marriage-Equality-for-Same-Sex-Couples. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- ^ "Our History". First Unitarian Church of Baltimore. "In 2007, the church hung a banner proclaiming "Civil Marriage is a Civil Right" from [the] columns of its portico as a [testament] to its commitment to equal rights for all. The message was adopted for GLBT rights group, Equality Maryland and now appears on signs and bumper stickers across the state". http://www.firstunitarian.net/index.php/about-us/our-history. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- ^ Dan Furmansky. "Maryland: Ripe for Marriage Equality". eQualityGiving.org. http://www.equalitygiving.org/Maryland-Marriage-Equality-for-Same-Sex-Couples. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Our Successes". EqualityMaryland.org. http://www.equalitymaryland.org/about/successes. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ a b c Najafi, Yusef. "Equality Maryland Executive Director Leaving, Says "Not My Choice to Leave"". Metro Weekly. http://metroweekly.com/poliglot/2011/04/equality-maryland-executive-di.html. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ "Maryland DMV Halts Dangerous Policy Change". pflag.org. http://blog.pflag.org/2010/01/maryland-dmv-halts-dangerous-policy.html. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ^ Chibbaro, Jr, Lou. "10 LGBT candidates running in Maryland". The Washington Blade. http://www.washingtonblade.com/2010/09/09/10-lgbt-candidates-running-in-maryland/. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ Linskey, Annie (January 13, 2011). "Gay Marriage bill to be introduced by legislators". The Baltimore Sun. http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2011/01/gay_marriage_bill_to_be_introd.html. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ "O'Malley suggests he would sign gay marriage bill". The Washington Post. September 2010. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2010/09/omalley_suggests_he_would_sign.html. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ "MD Senate Passes Marriage Bill". The Washington Blade. http://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/02/24/breaking-news-evening-vote-expected-on-md-marriage-bill/. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
- ^ "Maryland House kills same-sex marriage bill for this year". The Washington Post. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2011/03/maryland_house_killes_same-sex.html. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
- ^ "1199 MD/DC Stands with Labor to Support Marriage Equality in Maryland". 1199seiu.org United Healthcare Workers East. http://www.1199seiu.org/1199_md_dc_stands_with_labor_to_support_marriage_equality_in_maryland. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ "Maryland House of Delegates Passes Marriage Equality Bill". MarylandersforMarriageEquality.org. http://marylandersformarriageequality.org/news/entry/maryland-house-of-delegates-passes-marriage-equality-bill. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ Md. gay marriage bill to become law Thursday afternoon, opponents begin referendum effort Washington Post. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
- ^ Duncan, Ian (February 23, 2012). "Maryland Senate approves gay marriage bill". The LA Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-maryland-senate-approves-gay-marriage-bill-20120223,0,337729.story. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ^ Grindley, Lucas (February 17, 2012). "Last-Minute Win: Maryland House Passes Marriage". The Advocate. http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2012/02/17/LAST_MINUTE_WIN_MARYLAND_HOUSE_PASSES_MARRIAGE/. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
