2021 Advocacy Priorities

On January 11th, 2021, The Executive Board presented  the Advocacy Priorities for 2021 based on feedback from club members.

2020 Advocacy Priorities

The LGBTQ Democrats of Montgomery County presented the following Advocacy Priority Proposals for 2020 on December 11th, 2019, at the Silver Spring Civic Center. The meeting was attended by members of the club, some Montgomery County Council members and their aids, and some state representatives and their aids.

2019 Advocacy Priorities

On December 10th, 2018, members of the LGBTQ Democrats of Montgomery County voted to implement the Advocacy Committee’s proposed legislative priorities for 2019, tackling a wide range of issues from gender markers to public health concerns within the community.

 OUR MISSION Advocate for sustainable policies that tangibly impact the lives of members of the LGBTQ community that live, work and study in Montgomery County, Maryland.
  
OUR METHOD The Advocacy Committee convened over several months of meetings to research and identify the several of the most pressing issues faced by our community. This included input from members of the Q Dems, activists in the community, advocacy organizations and the club’s Executive Board.
 
OUR APPROACH The Advocacy Committee identified 5 concrete policy and advocacy goals to pursue in 2019, keeping an additional 5 larger issues on the radar for potential rapid response engagement, along with additional research and community engagement throughout 2019.

1. Name Changes and Identification
 
The Problem

• Maryland Rule 15901 requires that individuals publish name changes in a newspaper, putting transgender individuals at risk by forcing onerous and unnecessary public disclosure requirements.
• Maryland currently only offers two options for gender markers on IDs: male & female, discriminating against both gender nonconforming and trans communities.

 
Proposed Policy

• Remove Rule 15901 to abolish reporting requirement.
• Lobby for additional markers added to all state-issued IDs.

 
2. Protecting LGBTQ Youth from Abuse
 
The Problem

• Estimates reveal that 43% of homeless LGBTQ youth were forced out by their parents, while 32% suffered abuse at home. Conservative estimates show that 46% of homeless LGBTQ youth ran away due to discrimination from their families.
• Unfortunately, abuse of LGBTQ youth is unreported, especially emotional abuse in the form of discrimination. This means that LGBTQ youth are at particular risk of being returned to abusive homes after running away.

 
Proposed Policy

• Engage in education around LGBTQ abuse to legislators and education officials on the state and county level.
• Pursue legislative solutions that identify non-acceptance of LGBTQ children as abuse, and work to find safe, sustainable housing alternatives for youth impacted by abuse in the home.

 
3. Fully Funding the Ending Youth Homelessness Act
 
The Problem

• Although the Ending Youth Homelessness Act was passed in 2018, it has yet to be fully funded.
• The Act provides money for research into effectively tackling the youth homelessness problem. This is particularly critical for our community, as approximately 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ.

 
Proposed Policy

• Work with Coalition partners, including FreeState Justice, to appropriate the money to get the bill fully funded.

 
4. Protecting Public Health through HIV Prevention and Treatment Access
 
The Problem

• Maryland is currently falling behind in meeting 2020 benchmarks in improving HIV health outcomes.
• Disparities in the rate of new HIV diagnoses are increasing among gay and bisexual men, especially among young black gay and bisexual men. 

 
Proposed Policy

• Advocate for a remedial action plan to be put in place state-wide to get back on track for 2020 benchmarks.

 
5. Education on the Gay & Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act
 
The Problem

• The gay and trans panic defense is a legal strategy “that asks the jury to find that a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity is to blame for the defendant’s violence reaction, including murder.”
• The Gay & Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act is currently up for debate on the federal legislative playing field – but none of the Maryland members have currently signed on as co-sponsors.

 
Proposed Policy  

• Lobby the Maryland delegation to the House of Representatives and Senate to add their names in support of the bill.

 
ON OUR RADAR: OTHER TOPICS & ISSUES OF CONCERN
 
Creating a Local LGBTQ Affairs Commission
Advocate for and guide the creation of an LGBTQ Commission for Montgomery County.

• Determine the gaps in Human Rights Commission that we can use as pressure points to point to the need for the body. Initial ideas include policing and the LGBTQ community in MoCo, criminal justice reform.

 
Supporting Community Safety and Anti-Violence Initiatives
In addition to leveraging an LGBTQ Commission to fully explore issues of policing and criminal justice reform in MoCo, we will engage with ideas and policies that aim to make our community safer.

• Center keeping our MoCo safe for trans women of color and other communities the most at-risk
• Explore domestic and intimate partner violence remedies on the local level.

 
Promoting Access to Transportation and Housing
Advocate for more housing and more and better transportation.

• LGBT people face higher rates of economic hardships and housing insecurity, so lack of affordable housing specifically harms LGBT individuals.

 
Pushing for Greater Healthcare Services and More Comprehensive Insurance
Identify gaps in healthcare prevalent in Montgomery County, including:

• Lack of access to trans-affirming healthcare and services.

• Explore insurance obstacles for same sex couples attempting to start families.

 
Education
Maintain strong engagement with the Board of Education, MCCPTA and other localized bodies to make sure that LGBTQ+ youth’s interests are accounted for when making school policy.

• Greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in curriculum across courses
• Institutionalizing guidelines that keep schools safe for LGBTQ+ youth.