Baltimore County, Maryland, which surrounds, but does not contain, the city of Baltimore, is the home of Chrissy Lee Polis, who was attacked at a McDonalds in a community in said county. The horrible events of last spring have become an impetus for the county to join the city it surrounds, as well as Montgomery and Howard Counties, in including gender identity in their non-discrimination law.

The County Council of Baltimore County heard hours of testimony Feb. 14 from both sides on a bill that would prohibit discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in the areas of housing, employment, education, public accommodations and financing. The council is expected to vote on the measure Feb. 21.

The measure, Bill No. 3-12, is sponsored by four of the seven councilmembers: Tom Quirk (D-1st), Vicki Almond (D-2nd), Cathy Bevins (D-6th) and Kenneth Oliver (D-4th). If passed Feb. 21, the bill will take effect in 45 days.

Dana BeyerBaltimore County's passage of the bill would make it the fourth jurisdiction in Maryland to adopt such nondiscrimination protections. Montgomery County, Baltimore City and Howard County have similar laws that prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Taken together, the four jurisdictions comprise almost half of the state's population.

So, we have a bill that would allow for a localized accountability mechanism which includes gender identity (sexual orientation is already covered under state law), and it's got the support of 4 of 7 councilmembers. However, certain dark forces who want to force transwomen to use the mens room, go to the men's shelter, and be thrown in a men's jail without legal recourse are already muddying the waters.

Baltimore County Council members say they'll consider an amendment to exempt public restrooms, locker rooms and dressing rooms from a bill meant to protect transgender people from discrimination.

Councilman John Olszewski Sr., a Dundalk Democrat, announced the proposed amendment after an hours-long meeting on the bill this afternoon. About 60 people testified at the meeting.

Other sponsors of the amendment are Lutherville Republican Todd Huff, Middle River Democrat Cathy Bevins and Perry Hall Republican David Marks.

Opponents of the legislation have said they fear that an anti-discrimination law would allow men to sexually prey on women in public restrooms. But advocates for transgender people point out that no such incidents have been reported in areas that have anti-discrimination laws.

And sadly enough, two female members who have cosponsored this bill, Cathy Bevins and Vicki Almond are now having reservations about it due to the lies of the right. Isiah Leggett, the county executive of nearby Montgomery County, sent a letter to Ms. Almond, and the chief of police in said county confirmed that there were no incidents of "cross-dressing men" raping women in bathrooms. Baltimore Sun columnist Dan Rodricks said it best:

Let's keep this simple: Transgender people should be allowed to use the public restrooms according to their gender identity. If they do something wrong while in there, they should be reported to the police. Otherwise, everyone, here's some advice: Go in, do your business, and get out, no eye contact. Oh, and wash your hands.

Believe me, truer words have never been spoken. Whenever I use a public restroom, I get in and get out immediately; given the Chrissy Lee Polis incident, I am more afraid of the cis women in women's rooms than they are afraid of me entering their space.

Now, I would like to discuss what I believe should happen should this bill be compromised in any way come Tuesday. The optimal outcome is that the bill is voted on without any amendments and as is (the link to the bill is above). However, if it seems that the anti-trans rape apologists who want to force us into the men's room, shelter, or section have brainwashed council so much that it's either harmful amendments or nothing, then they should immediately approach council and state that they want nothing (ie: the bill to die).

One of the major catalysts of this bill was the beating of Chrissy Lee Polis, and if the bill is allowed to pass with harmful amendments, it would undo what the bill was intended to protect. Language which puts conditions on our rights negates any benefits the bill would otherwise have, and the worst thing that the trans* community in Maryland can do is to let a bill pass with harmful anti-trans amendments.

In a three part series, I discussed how deleting public accomodations from the Massachusetts gender identity bill would be detrimental to further progress and how the bill as passed was better off dead. I WILL NOT BE FORCED BACK INTO THE MEN'S ROOM, AND THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT TRANSWOMEN SHOULD USE THE MEN'S ROOM ARE RAPE APOLOGISTS, NO MATTER HOW "FEMINIST" THEY MAY CLAIM TO BE.

I see now they've caught the virus, and Gunner Scott and Nancy Nangeroni of Massachusetts have earned my wrath, especially now that another jurisdiction has followed their lead. It's all or nothing, Baltimore County activists, if you support the council passing a bill with harmful amendments, you will be called out as the traitors you are. We demand full equality, nothing more, nothing less, and caving to incendiary "bathroom rhetoric" will do more harm than good.

-Jordan Gwendolyn Davis