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Md. Court Blocks Referendum on Transgender Rights
By Henri E. Cauvin and Ann E. Marimow
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, September 9, 2008; 1:01 PM
Maryland's highest court today blocked a Montgomery County referendum aimed at repealing a new law that protects transgender people from discrimination.
Siding with the law's supporters, the Court of Appeals reversed a lower court decision that had allowed the referendum to go forward.
The court in Annapolis heard arguments in the case yesterday, and state officials must certify language for the Nov. 4 ballot by tomorrow, so a swift ruling by the court was expected. The decision came late this morning, in a two-page order signed by Chief Judge Robert M. Bell. It indicated only that a majority concurred in reversing the circuit court and that a full opinion would be filed later.
The law, similar to those in the District and dozens of other jurisdictions, was passed unanimously by the County Council last year and signed into law by County Executive Isiah Leggett (D).
Word of the court's decision spread quickly through the County Council building, where the measure had been introduced by Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At Large), who was inspired in part by her legislative aide, Dana Beyer, a transgender woman.
"Everybody deserves the right to a free life without discrimination," said Beyer, who said she was thrilled by the news and looked forward to expanding the protections to the state level.
The group Maryland Citizens for Responsible Government had collected thousands of signatures to force the law to be put to a vote in November. After the high court ruled, Ruth Jacobs, who led the signature-gathering effort, called it a sad day.
"We've been disenfranchised," she said. "Every single signature was a wish to have an opportunity to have a vote."
By Henri E. Cauvin and Ann E. Marimow
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, September 9, 2008; 1:01 PM
Maryland's highest court today blocked a Montgomery County referendum aimed at repealing a new law that protects transgender people from discrimination.
Siding with the law's supporters, the Court of Appeals reversed a lower court decision that had allowed the referendum to go forward.
The court in Annapolis heard arguments in the case yesterday, and state officials must certify language for the Nov. 4 ballot by tomorrow, so a swift ruling by the court was expected. The decision came late this morning, in a two-page order signed by Chief Judge Robert M. Bell. It indicated only that a majority concurred in reversing the circuit court and that a full opinion would be filed later.
The law, similar to those in the District and dozens of other jurisdictions, was passed unanimously by the County Council last year and signed into law by County Executive Isiah Leggett (D).
Word of the court's decision spread quickly through the County Council building, where the measure had been introduced by Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At Large), who was inspired in part by her legislative aide, Dana Beyer, a transgender woman.
"Everybody deserves the right to a free life without discrimination," said Beyer, who said she was thrilled by the news and looked forward to expanding the protections to the state level.
The group Maryland Citizens for Responsible Government had collected thousands of signatures to force the law to be put to a vote in November. After the high court ruled, Ruth Jacobs, who led the signature-gathering effort, called it a sad day.
"We've been disenfranchised," she said. "Every single signature was a wish to have an opportunity to have a vote."