CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
A coalition of groups in Maryland will rally Monday evening to denounce the violent attack against a transgender woman at a McDonald's in Baltimore County that was captured on video last week.
According to a news release, Trans-United, TransMaryland, Baltimore County for Equality, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore, and others will gather at 7 p.m. outside the McDonald's in Rosedale where Chrissy Lee Polis, 22, was attacked last Monday. A video of the violent attack, in which two teenage girls punched and kicked Polis while one restaurant employee and patron tried to intervene and others laughed, has gone viral on the web. Watch the extremely graphic video below, followed by comments from Polis.
The Baltimore Sunreports that the two teens apparently were upset that Polis had tried to use the women's restroom. Teonna Monae Brown, 18, has been charged with one count of first-degree assault and two counts of second-degree assault in the attack. A 14-year-old girl also has been charged but her identity was not disclosed because the charges were filed in juvenile court.
The state's attorney for Baltimore County said his office was in the process of determining whether the attack can be prosecuted as a hate crime. The Sun reports that McDonald's issued a statement to condemn the beating, and the owner of the Rosedale restaurant fired the employee who taped the beating.
An antidiscrimination bill that would protect transgender Marylanders in housing, employment and credit, but not public accommodations such as the McDonald's restaurant, passed the house for the first time but died in the senate this year. Many advocates attributed the failure to state senate president Mike Miller, a Prince George's County Democrat who called the transgender rights bill "anti-family" in the days leading up to the final vote.
In an e-mail to colleagues in the state legislature on Monday, delegate Joseline Pena-Melnyk, the lead sponsor of the Gender Identity Anti-discrimination Act this year, said the attack and video brought "shame" to Maryland and showed why the bill is needed.
"Incidents such as this illustrate why the transgender community in Maryland and elsewhere needs to be protected through antidiscrimination legislation," wrote Pena-Melnyk. "Supporters of House Bill 235 in this past legislative session recognized this need and stood up for the rights of this community. While HB235 did not include protection from discrimination in public accommodations due to the intense pressure opponents placed on the bill's supporters, the bill would have raised public awareness of the issue and paved the way for complete protection for Maryland's transgender population. Contrary to statements made by those who should be leading the fight for civil rights in Maryland, this was not an anti-family bill, but a basic civil rights bill. The failure of this bill goes against Maryland's long history of being in the forefront of civil rights movements," she wrote.
The delegate asked all senators who voted to sideline the measure on the final day of session earlier this month to serve as primary sponsors on a "stronger version" of the bill next year.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: The Daily
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Latest Stories
Over 90% of trans youth live in states pushing anti-trans legislation: report
April 23 2024 10:08 PM
George Santos pulls out of New York congressional race
April 23 2024 7:04 PM
Biden will hammer Trump over abortion bans in Florida speech
April 23 2024 5:00 AM
Tristan Snell, who brought down Trump University, sees conviction in hush money case
April 22 2024 7:36 PM
Joe Biden admin marks Earth Day with major environmental initiatives
April 22 2024 4:18 PM
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: 'We want to end' trans and gender nonconforming teachers
April 22 2024 4:13 PM
Nonbinary 17-year-old killed two years after being reported missing
April 22 2024 3:46 PM