Groups seeking to overturn legislation that protects transgender people from discrimination in Montgomery County (web|news) have gotten help from a Circuit Court judge.

Judge Robert Greenberg ruled Wednesday that transgender rights advocates seeking to stop a local referendum on the legislation waited too long to challenge the first batch of signatures on a petition calling for a vote. The judge also ruled that the wording of the petition is fair.

The case now hinges on the validity of 6,200 other contested signatures.

The legislation prohibits discrimination based on gender identity in housing, employment, taxi and cable service, and public accommodations. Opponents say they are concerned about how the measure applies to facilities such as bathrooms and locker rooms.

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