Why don't they try and take care of first things first. It was announced today on Patch that the county is being investigated by the feds for discrimination and ADA violations and this has been going on for years.

What makes anyone think this issue will be any different.

Someone needs to let us know where to sign up.

Exaactly..........Where can i SIGN it ???

Do you get joy from taking away the right to work, the right to earn an income to support a family the right to get medical treatment at a hospital, the right to rent an apartment or the right to buy a home from a person? If you sign a petition to put this bill up for referendum, you are really just showing the world how un-Christian and how inhuman you really are.

If anyone feels like this law is not necessary, I would encourage them to find the video of the Rosedale McDonald's incident in which a transgender woman was attacked by two other women. While she was unconscious, the women continued to beat her. The floor was covered in blood. They tried to smash her head between the door and the door jamb, which caused her to convulse in a seizure. NOBODY tried to do anything to stop the attack. Witnesses say the attack was unprovoked, that the transgender woman re-entered the restaurant from a restroom, and the two women began punching and choking her immediately.

While we may never know the full story- what took place is inexcusable. This law guarantees that everyone who lives, works, payes taxes, or raises a family in our area is entitled to the same rights and responsibilities as anyone else.

M. Sullivan, forgive me for being blunt but you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. Do you even UNDERSTAND what a transgendered person is??? And I'm pretty sure that I heard that this law also covers anti-discrimination for gay people too. So you're actually putting this in the same category as a dress code??? Are you kidding me?? To use the term weird to apply to someone different from you is defined as one word - BIGOT. This bill is meant to protect people from those exactly like YOU. Do some RESEARCH on a topic before you spew your opinion. And learn some HUMANITY while you're at it.

Mr. Sullivan is an un-american hate monger. spent 5 years in the service of our country protecting his right to be stupid.

I do understand what a transgendered person is. Being a gay man myself, and being in the GLBT community, I've known some transgendered people. There may be some variation on specifics, but generally transgender is the state of one's "gender identity" (self-identification as woman, man, neither or both) not matching one's "assigned sex". Just like homosexuality, this is not a choice or a "lifestyle." Transgendered people are aware of what they are usually at a very young age.
You don't need to go to those extremes to prove your point. It just makes you look like you don't understand the issue. And I have news for you - GLBT people have always been around. It's society that has been evolving. In the past, you didn't see as many people like this because they were afraid for their lives if outed. But they indeed existed. Kids are bullied and people are beaten down all of the time for being different. Being civil and evolved means being tolerant, accepting and compassionate for people who are different from you. I'm sorry for the bigot label, but I do think you need to step back and re-examine the issue, or maybe actually get to know a transgendered person before you pass judgement. I can't tell you what the "limit" is to acceptance, but certainly the line should be drawn outside those who can't help what they are. I'm at least within that limit, which does mean I know A LOT of humanity.

I tagged mr sullivan as a hatemonger based on what I have seen over the past few weeks. I t reeks with hate. My service was productive. Was yours?

This bill wasn't crafted to protect those types of people, and I'm sure you know that. I hope you're not trying to turn my words against me, but if that's the case, I'll amend them by saying people who can't help what they are AND aren't a danger to themselves or to others.
I haven't heard personally about any gay people being uncomfortable, but there may be. It's human nature to not be automatically comfortable with someone who is different. But my experience tells me that this usually happens when they don't get to know the person. But again, we're talking about TOLERANCE, not personal likeability. You, or any other straight OR gay person doesn't have to personally like or be best friends with everyone they encounter in life, but everyone desserves tolerance, basic respect and human dignity. Is that too much to ask for?

Equal protection under the law is already provided by a document known as The Constitution Of The United States. Outlining each little splinter group for "Special Protection" is not necessary. Want to buy a house?, go out and work for it. Want insurance benefits?, Buy a Policy. We all have wants, and we know how to get them,
EARN THEM!!! Want to go out and dress as a man/ woman?, go ahead. Tolerance is earned, not mandated by Government. Act right, and you'll be treated right. Now, if that's bigoted, well that's tough. Live with it!!!

Mr Sullivan, I congratulate you. Your writings of the last few weeks have caused me to comment. I should have known better. I will not change and neither will you Further comments on my part will be counter productive. I am a loyal American and a veteran Good bye

Mr. Zeigenfust, I would have to agree with Mr. Sullivan. Irrespective of ones stance the tone of the comments are the issue. You can choose to disagree, but after reviewing your background I was disappointed in your choice of words coming from a former educated Marine. Intolerance does not allow for discourse or debate.

You can choose to take an opposing view with anyone but as I have always believed, do with articulation not degradation.

I stay out of the discussions on these matters, because I realize you cannot change ones beliefs on these issues. It's hard to override humane nature.

Mr. Zubalik - It would be nice to think that things in this country are that simple, but they aren't. History has shown us the the Constitution is not this perfect thing that makes everything work. Just ask women or blacks. That's why we have AMENDMENTS. I'm sure that if you were elderly and were discriminated when applying for a job, you would want legislation that protects you from that particular "splintered group" of older people. I'll never understand why people like you call it "special" protection or "special" rights. It's not special if a group wants the same rights as you. It's EQUAL rights.
As for your comments about getting a job and insurance, I think you're missing the boat totally here. That's what transgendered people are trying to do! They're being discriminated against. And if you think a transgendered person is just a cross dresser, then you've missed the harbor along with the boat! Do some googling and read up on the subject before you give an opinion.
The government wouldn't need to mandate tolerance if people had the compassion to have it naturally.

M. Sullivan, I'm sorry for throwing the "bigot" word at you, but in this case I think you put a target on your back when you equated the transgender issue with a simple dress code, coupled with using the word "weird" over and over. I know you said you were trying to prove a point, but I think it backfired. It just made you look uninformed on the issue and a bit cold. And bigots tend to be uninformed and/or fearful of the group they are bigoted against. But yes, it is a strong word to use on someone.
However, I am starting to tire over this new defensive stance that socially conservative people, mainly those with anti-gay or anti-transgendered attitudes, are using. The stance that makes them the victims simply because we're finally standing up for our equal rights (NOT "special" rights) and more and more people are coming around to understanding the issues and speaking up with us. I guess it's a last ditch effort, as they see the tides turning, and social evolution continuing to happen. Those people, including many religious organizations, need to adapt to how the world changes. And some won't, and I get that. But those attitudes will fizzle out eventually as older generations die out and new generations are born and grow up. History shows that this has always happened. At least I can take comfort in that after I read some of the comments here.

Thats the trouble with homosexuals and 'transgenders'. They want their deviance to become acceptable. Same as the "Hippy Generation" of the sixties and seventies, 'I'm OK, you're OK'. Thing is, people with these dissorders make a conscious decision to act out their conditions, and we' are expected to accept and condone it.They have their little groups travelling from state to state to implore "Tollerence" from legislators to get these ridiculous laws passed which violate all the norms of society. Well, you're not normal, and people of good will will rise up and take the fight to THE BALOT. Case Closed.!!!

...And there you go, M. Sullivan.... John Zubalik...much better example of a bigot!

Um, Buck, maybe it's because current law wasn't working well enough. Maybe have a conversation with some of the people who have been experiencing the discrimination and that may give you a better perspective. It's easy to sit back in your own comfy environment, and think that everything outside of your bubble is sunshine and lollypops and doesn't need fixing.

I would like Quirk or Almond to answer these questions:
At what point is a human being considered to be transgender by law?
When they start feeling like they might be the opposite sex?
When they begin to dress like the opposite sex?
When they start to take pills to force the transition to the opposite sex?
Or after all of the above has been accomplished and they have had the sex change surgery?
The identification of a transgender by law is a huge, yet un answered question that should have been addressed and identified accurately before any law such as this were even considered. Vague interpretation is the springboard of bad, court clogging law.

Buck, I get your concerns, but how do you think the extra layer of law would hurt? Is there really such a thing as too much protection law?

Buck, I did read the bill. I'm no legal expert, but from what I read, everything looked up to par. As for the questions you posed above, I don't think it needs to be that specific. If a person identifies themselves as transgendered, or even gay for that matter, that should be it. I identify myself as gay, and that should be all I need to do. What am I supposed to do? Prove it? I don't think the person interviewing me for a job would want me to do that! (that was intended to be a joke, Buck, just to be clear) Or have an additional section on my driver's license saying I'm certified gay in Maryland? All joking aside, the questions you pose probably can never be officially answered because they may varie from individual to individual. I think the important defining thing is self identification. Unlike other minorities who mainly have physical traits that make them different (age, race, gender), LGBT is more about the internal identification. I know that can make people nervous about legal loopholes, like you are, but for now, that may be the best thing that we can go by. I say we just give this a wait and see attitude, and see how it goes. I honestly don't think it will bring more harm than good, in my opinion. Laws can be amended down the road if need be.