Transgender Bathrooms Still a Threat, Despite Changes to Bill


http://www.crosswalk.com/news/11559315/

Pete Winn
Senior Staff Writer
crosswalk.com


'(CNSNews.com) - Council members in Montgomery MD., are poised to vote Tuesday afternoon on a controversial measure outlawing discrimination against transgender individuals.'

Transgender discrimination outlawed

Examiner.com
by Kathleen Miller
11/14/2007

'WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Montgomery County Council members unanimously approved a measure that outlaws discrimination against transgender people, despite the outrage of protesters who worried the measure would allow men access to women's restrooms.

The legislation will "prohibit discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations, cable television service and taxicab service on the basis of gender identity" and add gender identity discrimination to the lists of potential types of prejudice.'

Again with the bathrooms.  Geez.  They should make all bathrooms unisex, and just have them be like a row of doors.  Single occupancy type of deals.  The communal bathroom is what's gross.

Transgender Bathrooms Still a Threat, Despite Changes to Bill

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200711/NAT20071113a.html
By Pete Winn
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
11/14/2007

'(CNSNews.com) - Council members in Montgomery County, Md., are poised to vote Tuesday afternoon on a controversial measure outlawing discrimination against transgender individuals.

But the county-level lawmakers in the Washington, D.C.-area suburb will apparently face a revised version of the bill - one that will not include controversial language granting males who feel they are females, and vice versa, access to any public restroom they want.'

Leggett Signs Bill For Protection of Transgender People

Washington Post
By Ann E. Marimow
Washington Post Staff Writer
11/22/2007

'Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) signed off yesterday on legislation to protect transgender individuals from discrimination, over the objections of religious and community groups that say the measure would give male cross-dressers access to women's restrooms and locker rooms.'

Give 'peeing in peace' a chance?

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58811
By Olivia St. John
11/22/2007

'South-central Maryland may soon look like the San Francisco of the East Coast after elected officials in Montgomery County unanimously approved a measure on Nov. 13 allowing "transgender" males to use female restrooms and vice versa.'

Conservative groups challenge Mont. Co. trans bill   

http://www.washblade.com/2007/11-22/news/localnews/11608.cfm
By JOSHUA LYNSEN
11/22/2007

'Several conservative groups are challenging a Montgomery County measure that would bar discrimination against transgender residents and workers'

District allows boy in girls' restrooms

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59526
By Bob Unruh
01/04/2008

A school district following Maine's Human Rights Law and providing special accommodations to a 10-year-old with "sexual orientation or gender identification" issues is being accused of discrimination by a man whose grandson is being denied those same accommodations because of his sexual orientation – that of heterosexuality.

Quote from: Natasha on January 04, 2008, 04:33:50 PM
District allows boy in girls' restrooms

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59526
By Bob Unruh
01/04/2008

A school district following Maine's Human Rights Law and providing special accommodations to a 10-year-old with "sexual orientation or gender identification" issues is being accused of discrimination by a man whose grandson is being denied those same accommodations because of his sexual orientation – that of heterosexuality.

Hum...I can understand letting those with gender identity issues use the bathroom they feel comfortable with...especially if they are living full-time and presenting in their chosen gender...I have a problem with just saying any guy can use the woman's bathroom...people wonder why the bathroom issue is so big...it's cases like this that make it harder for trans people to gain access to the right bathrooms...ug!!!

Peace and love,
Isabelle St-Pierre

WND is a radical right wing extremist political site that manages to attract a few big names (such as Chuck Norris) to their cause.

Does anyone have a link to the law? I bet one has to be diagnosed as T before having access to the appropriate gender accomodatios.

Posted on: January 04, 2008, 17:04:51

---

It appears that they lumped gender identity under sexual identity:


9-C. Sexual orientation.   "Sexual orientation" means a person's actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality or gender identity or expression.
[ 2005, c. 10, §3 (NEW) .]

http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/5/title5sec4553.html

Human Rights Commission:
http://www.maine.gov/mhrc/index.shtml


Posted on: January 04, 2008, 17:19:58

---

http://www.maine.gov/mhrc/laws/Sexual_Orientation_Adopted_Rule.htm

Sec. 1.  Me. Hum. Rights Comm'n Reg. Ch. 3, Section 3.02, Paragraph D is adopted to read:

D.        Sexual Orientation.

(1)        The term "sexual orientation" means a person's actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality, gender identity, or gender expression.

(2)        The term "gender identity" means an individual's gender-related identity, whether or not that identity is different from that traditionally associated with that individual's assigned sex at birth, including, but not limited to, a gender identity that is transgender or androgynous.

(3)        The term "gender expression" means the manner in which an individual's gender identity is expressed, including, but not limited to, through dress, appearance, manner, speech, or lifestyle, whether or not that expression is different from that traditionally associated with that individual's assigned sex at birth.

About halfway down the article, there's a link to a website "not my shower.net" <ick> http://www.notmyshower.net/.

"Leggett Signs Gender Identity Bill

By the stroke of a very powerful pen, County Executive Leggett has broken the biological barriers that separate male and female facilities. No longer will women and girls be able to feel completely safe in the most private and personal bathroom and locker facilities of schools, public pools, malls, stores, health clubs, restaurants and other such public places throughout the county. County Executive Ike Leggett signed Bill 23-07, the outrageous legislation that may result in forcing even religious schools to hire transgender teachers; and then also allow cross-dressing but biological males in your daughter's school locker room. Maryland Citizens for a Responsible Government has filed a referendum to prevent the implementation of Bill 23-07. We are calling on every concerned Montgomery County citizen to join us in this huge undertaking."

The law exempts bigoted religious institutions as long as they do not receive public funding or any special status from the government.

I think that the tax free status of religious institutions need to be done away with and just think how much safer children will be as the Church is forced to close one door after another.

I think that if that man wants his grandson to use the girls restroom, then he should have that boy into gender therapist and follow all the guidelines that have to put into place.
Sheila

Ops...looks like they made a bit of a mistake to include gender identity under sexual orientation...don't know about the rest of you...my gender identity has absolutely nothing to do with my sexual orientation...

Peace and love,
Isabelle St-Pierre

[/quote]
I have a problem with just saying any guy can use the woman's bathroom...people wonder why the bathroom issue is so big...it's cases like this that make it harder for trans people to gain access to the right bathrooms...ug!!!

Peace and love,
Isabelle St-Pierre
[/quote]

yea, only people that are truly trans and don't feel comfortable around men should gain access... I'm starting to hate using the boy's locker room- i don't even want to use the girls yet- just a private area... they should implement uni-sex bathrooms because as yrs go by trans people are coming out, also some men have a problem with gay men using the same bathroom

As a transwoman who was once an oft-harassed little boy, I think that's great.

Lia

Dana Beyer: Anatomy is complex

http://www.projo.com/opinion/letters/content/LT_beyer_RDY_01-07-08_GG8D0QM_v8.2b0f4a3.html
01/08/2008

As the mother of a recent Brown graduate and a Democratic politician in Montgomery County, Md., who just happens to be transgendered, I am appalled that David Carlin would spread such hate and misinformation ("Those bathrooms for the transgendered," Commentary, Dec. 22).

Effort under way to repeal MD county's 'gender identity' law

http://www.onenewsnow.com/2008/01/effort_under_way_to_repeal_md_.php
By Jim Brown
01/09/2008

The group Citizens for Responsible Government (CRG) is seeking to collect the signatures of more than 25,000 registered voters who oppose a law in Montgomery County that effectively declares transgender people and ->-bleeped-<-s a protected class. In order to get the issue on the ballot, the Gaithersburg group must obtain the signatures before February 16.

====

And-

Group seeks to repeal Maryland county gender identity and expression protections
by: pam
Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:00:00 AM EST
Pam's House Blend

"Another reason that advances cannot be taken for granted. These bigots simply will not give up, even after LGBT-friendly laws are passed. Look at the hysterical trans-baiting and lies -- it's appalling."

EDIT; added blog reference to root story here, deleted my double-post - Karen

http://www.onenewsnow.com/2008/01/effort_under_way_to_repeal_md_.php


"Effort under way to repeal MD county's 'gender identity' law
Jim Brown OneNewsNow.comJanuary 9, 2008 bathroom stalls

A citizen activist group has launched a petition drive designed to overturn a Maryland county's new ban on discrimination against so-called "gender identity and expression." The Montgomery County group warns the new law would allow men access to women's bathrooms and locker rooms."

Conversations we need to have

http://www.equalityloudoun.org/2008/01/16/conversations-we-need-to-have/
01/16/2008

Update: Pam's House Blend has picked up the story of the hoax perpetrated by the Montgomery County anti-transgender group.