Transgender Law Faces Stiff Opposition
posted 6:53 pm Mon February 25, 2008 - Montgomery County, Md.
A youtube post shows a transgendered woman confronting opponents of a new law, not yet in effect, outside a Bethesda Giant. "We were systematically being harassed and people were coming to our stations both at the polls and at the Giant, despite the fact that we had permission to be there," said Dr. Ruth Jacobs with Citizens for Responsible Government.
The woman in the video was Dana Beyer, senor aide to Montgomery County councilwoman Duchy Trachenburg, who authored a new law adding "transgender" to the categories protected from discrimination.The incident underscores just how ugly and confusing the battle continues to be, especially over how to decide which bathroom transgender people should use.
Proponents insist businesses and health clubs may decide for themselves which bathrooms and dressing rooms transgenders can use, but opponents say the law is vague and poorly worded.
There is no religious exemption in the law, so church-affiliated schools, for example, could be used for not hiring transgender teachers. So many potential problems, opponents say, they hope to take the issue directly to the people before the law goes into effect.
According to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 13 states, Washington, D.C., Baltimore and 90 other local jurisdictions have banned discrimination against transgender people.
Latest Comment on Transgender Law Faces Stiff Opposition
etchAsketch
9:31 am on 02/28/08
For me, I think it's best to err on the side of caution and assume that bad people would take advantage of a law like this. Like everything else, a select few has ruined it for the masses. I don't like passing through metal detectors when I enter some buildings (I don't carry weapons), but I understand why I have to. I also feel insulted whenever I have do display a receipt upon exiting a store (I don't steal), but I do understand why "controls" like these are in place. People do carry weapons, people do steal, and some sick individuals do prey on women and young girls and this law might give them access to places that they wouldn't ordinarily have access to. To me, this isn't about god or hate. It's about safety.
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