WashBlade.com – By Joshua Lynsen
Maryland legislators have voted down an effort to bar discrimination against the state?s transgender residents and workers.
By a 6-5 vote, the Senate judicial proceedings committee on Friday rejected a measure that sought to outlaw discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, credit and public accommodations.
Although the vote came largely along party lines, Sens. Norman Stone Jr. (D-Baltimore County) and C. Anthony Muse (D-Prince George?s County) opposed the bill.
Dan Furmansky, executive director of Equality Maryland, said he was surprised and disappointed by the outcome.
?We?re disturbed, disgruntled, hurt and angry that such a common-sense piece of legislation, with practically zero opposition, became bogged down by political maneuvering,? he said.
Furmansky said Equality Maryland lobbyists, members and supporters worked frantically in the runup to last week?s vote to force committee action on the measure.