1 8 J m t a n t ' aecemoer 20.2002
i'iiu u ifiiìn n e w s
'Remember when music was fu n ?
M A R Y LA N D
n a historic vote
Nov. 25, Baltimore
became the state’s first
jurisdiction to prohibit
discrimination in em
ployment, housing, pub
lic accommodations and
credit practices based on
gender
identity
or
expression.
The vote was unani
mous among the 19-
member City Council
without
abstentions.
Mayor Martin O ’Malley
had requested that it con
Jean-Michel Brevelle
sider the hill to investi
gate the prevalence of discrimination against
trans people and to ensure equal rights for all
Baltimoreans.
“Tire city of Baltimore and its mayor have
finally recognized the injustice and prejudice
faced by its transgendered citizens,” said psychol
ogist Terry Sapp, who worked on the effort to pass
the ordinance. “For the first time in this city’s his
tory, transgendered men and women are no
longer second-class citizens.”
Council Bill 02-0857 was introduced
Aug. 12 at the request of the Baltimore Com
munity Relations Commission, which investi
gates claims of discriminatory practices. The
Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Com
mittee heard testimony Oct. 17 from trans peo
ple who related their personal experiences of
being the victims of discrimination solely
because of their gender identity or expression.
No one offered testimony in opposition.
“Tonight’s vote is a great victory for the Bal
timore transgender community,” said Jean-
Michel Brevelle, Free State Justice interim
director. “It is the culmination of years of effort
by many transgender people and our supporters
and clearly demonstrates the goodwill and
understanding that Baltimore city government
has developed for the transgender community.”
The ordinance represents an important
achievement for the state’s trans community,
which suffered a hitter emotional defeat in early
2001 when the Legislature enacted a civil rights
hill covering sexual orientation hut left the gender
identity portion on the cutting-room floor.
“Tonight’s action, while a huge step forward, is only
the first step,” said Donna Cartwright of the Gen
der Rights Advocacy Association of New Jersey.
A total of 53 U.S. jurisdictions now prohibit
discrimination based on gender identity or
expression, including the states of Minnesota
and Rhode Island. This year alone, 14 jurisdic
tions have passed similar ordinances.
I
...it stiff is
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f he wins in February, Rick Ingram would
make history as the first openly gay candidate
elected to the Chicago City
Council.
His challenger, 44th Ward
Alderman Bernie Hansen,
stepped down three months
prior to the primary election,
citing health concerns. News
reports now indicate Han
sen’s hand-picked successor,
gay restaurateur Tom Tunney,
is likely to he appointed to fill
out the term.
The Gay and Lesbian Vic
tory Fund, a Washington,
D.C.-hased political action
committee that supports
openly gay candidates for
office, announced Dec. 2 its endorsement of
Ingram. “He has a stellar record of community
service and involvement, he has sharpened his
campaign skills, and he’s running for the right
reasons," political director Boh Kearney said.
P E N N S Y L V A N IA
A
ndrew A. Chirls was elected Dec. 10 as
vice chancellor of the 13,000-member
Philadelphia Bar AssiKiation. After filling that
post for one year, he
will become chancel
lor-elect in 2004 and
automatically move
up to chancellor in
2005, making him the
first openly gay attor
ney to lead the
nation’s oldest char
tered metropolitan
bar association.
“It is an honor to Andrew A. Chirls
he elected to this post
at such a challenging time,” Chirls said. “Lead
ers of the legal profession will have to articulate
our concern for an open justice system and indi
vidual rights while we fight terrorism. On a
more local basis, we want to grow as a profession
along with our city’s economy, and our bar asso
ciation has to help shape policies that will make
people want to live and work here.”
A native of Maplewood, N.J., Chirls success
fully tried the first jury trial in Penasylvania
based on HIV/AIDS discrimination. He was
active in the association’s work with its insur
ance plan aimed at making domestic partner
benefits available to Philadelphia’s legal workers.
Chirls, 46, has shared his life for 24 years
with Larry Frankel, 47, American Civil Liberties
Union of Pennsylvania legislative director.
They live in Center City.
■*5»
T
he Legislature voted Nov. 26 to expand
Pennsylvania’s hate crimes law, making it
the 28th state with a statute covering sexual ori
entation and only the fifth, as well as the Dis
trict of Columbia, to include gender identity.
“The lesson to he learned from this suc
cess... is that no one has to
sacrifice their integrity in an
effort to pass inclusive legisla
tion," said Stephen Glass-
man, Statewide Pennsylvania
Rights Coalition co-chair
man and the first openly gay
member of the Pennsylvania
Human Rights Commission.
“In a state which mirrors the
conservative and rural nature
of many states, we built a
coalition of groups and indi
viduals... which was able to
educate elected officials on
the importance of passing a
hill that benefits all of the cit
izens of Pennsylvania.”
House Bill 1439 passed the state Senate in
June 2001 by a vote of 32-15. It then was sent to