Trans Woman Suing Under a Law She Helped Write

Dana Beyer (pictured), a transgender woman in Maryland, is suing Montgomery County under an antidiscrimination law she helped write.

Beyer, who helped draft a 2007 law outlawing discrimination based on gender identity, claims the county's ethics commission broke that law while conducting an investigation of her, the Associated Press reports. Beyer was investigated by the commission when a group opposing the law filed a complaint alleging she had used her position as assistant to county councilwoman Duchy Trachtenberg to intimidate bill opponents who were gathering signatures.

Beyer is suing for $5 million, but county spokesman Patrick Lacefield said her claim has no merit and that the county will ask a judge to dismiss the charges.