Voters in
Maryland's Montgomery County could be asked to decide
whether to uphold an antidiscrimination law for
transgender people passed by the County Council in the
fall.
Voters in
Maryland's Montgomery County could be asked to decide
whether to uphold an antidiscrimination law for
transgender people passed by the County Council in the
fall.
Opponents of the
measure were able to attain enough signatures to get the
issue placed on November's ballot, according to The
Washington Post, but Equality Maryland is
working to have the circuit court of Rockville review the
validity of the signatures.
The law would
protect transgender people from discrimination in housing
and employment. It was slated to take effect February 20,
but the referendum effort halted its implementation.
Placing a referendum on the ballot in Montgomery
County requires signatures from 5% of registered
voters, which opponents of the rights law claim they have.
Opponents say the
protections would be a slippery slope toward "indecent
exposure in locker rooms." Citizens for a Responsible
Government even created a website, NotMyShower.net, to
spread its message against the gender identity bill.
The group contends (occasionally in italics) the law
may allow "forcing even religious schools to hire
transgender teachers; and then also allow
cross-dressing but biological males in
your daughter's school locker room."
A spokesperson
for Citizens for a Responsible Government told the
Post that the group has obtained legal help from
the antigay Alliance Defense Fund to prepare for any legal
challenges. (The Advocate)
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