Transgender Rights Bill Dies

Equality Maryland reports that the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee killed legislation which would have "prohibited discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression." The bill was sponsored by Sen. Lisa Gladden (D-Baltimore), Vice Chair of the Committee. The bill died on a 6-5 vote. All four Republicans were joined by two Democrats, Sen. Norman Stone (D-Baltimore) and Sen. Anthony Muse (D-Prince George's) in voting against the proposed legislation.

Much speculation has ensued over why the bill died. Sen. Muse had repeatedly expressed support for the bill to Equality Maryland before voting to kill it. Chairman Brian Frosh (D-16) voted for the bill but some think he was happy to see it die and felt free to vote for it once he knew Sen. Muse would vote against it. Sen. Frosh's district is probably more liberal on social issues than Sen. Muse's district, so it might be easier for Sen. Muse to vote against the legislation than Sen. Frosh. Perhaps the Senate leadership wanted the bill dead because it would be a tough vote for many Democrats.

At the end of the day, the bill may have simply died because there were not six votes for it in the Committee. In addition to Sen. Brain Frosh, Montgomery Sens. Jennie Forehand (D-17) and Jamie Raskin (D-20) voted for the legislation.