In 2020, 79 anti-transgender bills were introduced in the United States across all legislative bodies. In 2021, the number of anti-trans bills introduced nearly doubled to 147. 2022 is on track to be even worse—over 280 anti-trans bills have been introduced so far. If you thought that Maryland was immune to anti-transgender legislation then you’d be wrong.
Several Republican members of the House of Delegates introduced a bill to ban transgender students from participating in sports. HB757 would force “interscholastic and intramural athletic teams or sports sponsored by certain schools to be expressly designated based on biological sex.” I don’t advise anyone to read the bill if they would be triggered by legislation that tries to invalidate you based on your gender. The sources used to justify their arguments have mostly been debunked by actual scientists or are no longer accepted by the scientific community. That doesn’t stop them from trying to create their own version of science—which, that’s not how science works. Trans women are women.
The bill is currently in the Ways and Means Committee, with a hearing scheduled for February 24th at 1pm.
Ways to Help
Contact the Montgomery County Delegates on the House Ways and Means Committee
I’m sure that Montgomery County Delegates on the House Ways and Means Committee do not support this, but reaching out to them to let them know they should support transgender students wouldn’t hurt. Check out this guide I put together for what to include when you contact your representatives by phone or e-mail.
The Delegates and their contact information:
- Delegate Eric Luedtke (D-14)
- Phone: 410-841-3110 or 301-858-3110
- E-mail: eric.luedtke@house.state.md.us
- Twitter: @EricLuedtke
- Delegate Julie Palakovich-Carr (D-17)
- Phone: 410-841-3037 or 301-858-3037
- E-mail: julie.palakovichcarr@house.state.md.us
- Twitter: @palakovichcarr
- Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins (D-20)
- Phone: 410-841-3493 or 301-858-3493
- E-mail: jheanelle.wilkins@house.state.md.us
- Twitter: @JheanelleW
Share Your Story
If you’re trans, especially a trans athlete, please consider sending your story to FreeState Justice. They are collecting stories to help advocate for transgender student-athletes and sharing your story is important.
If you feel that this helped you in any way, consider buying MoCo Local a coffee or beer. You can do so through Venmo (@Vito-Anastasia) or Cash App ($VitoAnastasia). Alternatively, you can become a regular supporter of MoCo Local on Patreon.
