PFLAG as you know is a nonprofit organization and we cannot endorse any particular candidate. We can share ideas on how you can improve our world.
We can and will encourage you to attend candidate forums and ask questions of the candidates. If it is as important to you as it is to me you may want to ask the candidate how he or she feels about supporting the inclusion of "sexual preference" or "gender identity" as a protected class in the mission statement of the Baltimore County Human Relations Commission. This mission statement is mandated by Article 3, Title 3, Subtitle 11 of the Baltimore County Code, 2003.
The Commission Mandate:
Article 3, Title 3, Subtitle 11 of the Baltimore County Code, 2003 establishes and mandates the Baltimore County Human Relations Commission to investigate complaints of discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, education, public accommodations, and finance on the bases of race, color, creed, age, religion, sex (including sexual harassment and pregnancy), physical and mental disability, national origin, and marital status. The definitions and procedures for executing the public policy to eliminate discriminatory practices within the County are contained in Article 29 of the Code.
The Mission Statement:
The mission of the Baltimore County Human Relations Commission is to eliminate discrimination through enforcement of its anti-discrimination human rights law that prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education and finance, on the bases of age , color, creed, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, religion, and sex (including sexual harassment and pregnancy). The Commission will provide proactive education and outreach activities to enhance human relations, and form partnerships with agencies and organizations to promote equal opportunity to the citizens and those conducting business in Baltimore County.
In order to mandate this change in the mission statement a law must be introduced by one of the county council representatives, passed and signed into law by the County Executive. This is a very real possibility during the next four-year session.
Tonight (July 13, 2010)I had the opportunity to speak with two of the candidate running for office. One of them said he "was open to the idea." The other ask me to call his office so we could discuss the matter further.
In the mean time I am asking everyone in Baltimore County who reads this blog to make it known to all candidates of all political parties that we are paying attention. "We" are the LGBT community, we are parents, families, friends and allies of LGBT persons. We are voters and we need to let these candidates know that in 2010 THERE ARE STILL NO protection for LGBT people in employment and housing in Baltimore County!
This has got to change and we need to start talking about writing and passing law that make these changes a reality before the election in 2014.
Please write letters to newspapers tell your stories if you are LGBT and if you are a parent talk about the fears you have for your child growing up and living in a world where he or she does not have these civil protections.
The sooner we start this dialogue the sooner we will accomplish our goals for civil equality.
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