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Compiled By GayToday
Human Rights Campaign's Elizabeth Birch called the vote an "enormous victory" |
Annapolis, Maryland—Blake Humphreys, director of Free State Justice,
a gay civil rights organization, exulted: "The people of Maryland have spoken
and the senators have listened," as he reflected on the 32 to 14 Senate vote
here outlawing discrimination in housing, public accommodations and employment
that is based on sexual orientation.
Cathy Brennan, representing the Gay and Lesbian Community Center in Baltimore, said:
"This really is the culmination of a long struggle."
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Republicans, who'd been locked in bitter disputes on the Senate floor, had attempted to delay the
vote and had initiated a last-ditch filibuster as well.
A major part of the long struggle had been valiantly waged by Governor Parris Glendening,
whose brother Bruce, a career Air Force member, had hid his homosexuality
and had died of an AIDS related illness.
"We'll have a fairer state as a result of this," said the Governor.
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The Maryland House of Delegates is also expected to pass the bill,
making Maryland the twelfth state to become a discrimination-free zone, according to
the Human Rights Campaign.
"This is an enormous victory that sends the message that
discrimination is not acceptable in Maryland or in society," said HRC
Executive Director Elizabeth Birch.
"We reserve our highest praise for the
bill's sponsors and especially Gov. Parris Glendening who expended political
capital and used his moral authority to end this vestige of discrimination.
Thanks to their efforts, along with the tireless work of Maryland's Free
State Justice, literally thousands of workers are one step closer to being
able to work without fear in their hearts."
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Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:
Maryland: A Giant Step
Toward Passage of Civil Rights Laws
Maryland's Governor Glendening
Makes an Emotional Appeal
Maryland Poll Shows Anti-Discrimination Bill's Support
Related Sites:
Human Rights Campaign
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Last week, the principal hurdle for passage was cleared when the Senate Judicial Proceedings
Committee--which stymied the measure in 1999--passed the bill by a vote of
6-5. The bill, if all goes as expected, will be signed into law in mid-April by Governor
Glendening, its most ardent supporter.
The Anti-Discrimination Act of 2001prohibits employers from
considering sexual orientation when making employment decisions such as
hiring, promoting or terminating an employee. Churches and other religious
institutions are exempted from coverage by the bill. The legislation also
makes it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation when
renting an apartment or selling a house through a real estate agent. It
bans discrimination in places of public accommodation as well, such as
restaurants and doctor's offices.
Gov. Parris Glendening: Supporting Equal Rights in Maryland |
To help pass the bill, HRC activated the organization's action
network and co-sponsored a lobby day and rally with Free State Justice. HRC
staff also worked with the state group to organize in the district of Sen.
Leo Green, whose vote was needed to pass the statewide anti-discrimination
bill out of the Senate committee.
In 2000, HRC also gave Free State Justice a $5,000 Equality Fund grant to
support their lobbying efforts on this bill.
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"We highly commend the work of Maryland Free State Justice in their
successful efforts to shepherd this bill towards passage," said Liz Seaton,
HRC deputy field director and former head of Maryland Free State Justice.
When Maryland passes this bill, as expected, it will join Hawaii, California,
Vermont, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island,
Massachusetts, Connecticut and Nevada as states that already outlaw such
discrimination.
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