Old Line Elephant Maryland Conservative Blog

Baltimore County 3-12 May Get Amended

After hearings today, Baltimore County Councilmembers have proposed amendments to controversial measure 3-12, which would remove bathrooms and similar public restroom related facilities from the legislation. The bill seeks to prohibit discrimination of transgendered individuals, but as I mentioned previously it's very vague. This amendment may help to alleviate some concerns regarding the legislation - but I'm sure not all. Here's an excerpt from the Sun on the amendments:

After hearing hours of testimony on a bill to ban discrimination against transgender people, Baltimore County Council members said Tuesday they would consider exempting public restrooms and locker rooms from the measure.

Restrooms have emerged as a hot-button issue in the county's debate over the bill. At public hearings, the bill's opponents have said they fear that if the law is passed, men would sexually assault women in restrooms.

Supporters of the legislation say places with transgender laws have never reported such incidents, and accuse opponents of using the bathroom issue as a distraction. The bill would add gender identity to existing county laws that prohibit discrimination in housing, workplaces, and public places.

Four of the council's seven members have signed on to the proposed amendment, which says the law wouldn't apply to public places "that are designated for male or female use, such as restrooms, bath houses, locker rooms, dressing rooms, changing rooms, and similar facilities." The sponsors are: Democrat Cathy Bevins of Middle River, Republican Todd Huff of Lutherville, Republican David Marks of Perry Hall, and Democrat John Olszewski Sr. of Dundalk.

A vote on the bill and amendments is set for next week. Other proposed amendments would exempt certain institutions, including religious ones, from the law, and would allow employers to require that workers "adhere to reasonable workplace appearance, grooming, and dress standards" as long as the employer allows employees to dress as the gender with which they identify.

Again, this may alleviate some concerns, but there are others that will remain - such as religious institutional exemptions. Next week amendments will be heard / voted on. If you have concerns, call your representative.

EDIT 10:25 PM - Bryan Sears of the Patch has more on the proposed amendments. Vote is expected Monday. Here's an excerpt:

Olszewski's amendment is one of four amendments given to reporters after the hearing.

A second amendment, sponsored by Bevins, a Democrat, and Perry Hall Republican Councilman David Marks, adds language that restates exemptions to the law that are already part of county code.

Another, sponsored by Olszewski and Marks, allows employers to establish rules governing appearance in the work place while allowing employees to dress in a way that is consistent with their employee's gender identity.

A final amendment, sponsored by Quirk and Bevins, seeks to define the term "gender identity and expression" as a "persistent, bona fide gender-related identity and the consistent public manifestation of that identity" in the appearance of an individual regardless of the person's sex at birth.

Quirk's bill has three co-sponsors, enough to assure passage.

The amendment sponsored by Olszewski and Huff has three co-sponsors, including Councilwoman Cathy Bevins, a co-sponsor on Quirk's bill, and Marks.

The council is scheduled to vote on the bill and amendments Monday night at 6 p.m. at the Old Courthouse in Towson.