Baltimore Now Allows Transgender People To Use Public Bathroom Of Choice

Transgender people would be protected from discrimination in Baltimore County under a measure approved by the County Council Tuesday, making the county the fourth local government in Maryland to adopt such protections.

Council members did not add a heavily debated amendment proposed last week that would have specifically exempted bathrooms, locker rooms and dressing rooms. Instead, the council left the bathroom issue open to interpretation in the legislation, amending the measure so that the protections do not apply to “distinctly private or personal” facilities.

The council approved the legislation 5-2, along party lines. Republicans Todd Huff of Lutherville and David Marks of Perry Hall voted against the measure. Marks had previously said he would support the bill.

“I want all Baltimore Countians to have equal access to those opportunities that make them more productive citizens, but upon further reflection, I don’t know if there are already protections under the law,” Marks said in a statement released after the vote. “I continue to have questions about the legislation, and would prefer for the state to act first on this issue.”

Opponents of the bill have said it would lead to men dressed as women assaulting females in restrooms, though critics could not point to any specific incidents in places that have transgender anti-discrimination laws.  Read More