Our Successes

Begun in 1988 under the name Baltimore Justice Campaign, then as Free State Justice Campaign (1993), and finally as Equality Maryland (renamed in 2004), we have fought diligently in the state capital and other counties and cities to win equal rights.

• In 2001, the organization was responsible for passage of the Anti-Discrimination Act, which bans sexual orientation-motivated discrimination in housing, public accommodations, lending, and employment statewide. Today, fewer than half of states in the country have such a law.
• In 2002, we worked to ban transgender-motivated discrimination in Baltimore City.
• In 2003, our work resulted in stronger safe-schools regulations.
• In 2005, Equality Maryland expanded our state's hate crimes statute to include crimes motivated by a victim's sexual orientation and gender identity, thus making it a more effective law enforcement and prosecutorial tool.

A few years ago, Equality Maryland joined with the ACLU on a campaign for equal marriage rights in the state of Maryland. While the divided high court ruled against us 4-3, the lawsuit provided unparalleled educational opportunities and helped show Marylanders why families headed by same-sex couples deserve the rights and protections of marriage. Now, we are taking our case to the legislature! At the same time, Equality Maryland has successfully led efforts, year after year, to thwart attempts to amend the state constitution to ban protections for LGBT families.

Meanwhile, Equality Maryland continues to make gains for same-sex couples. Over the years, Equality Maryland has worked to pass domestic partner benefits for employees of several jurisdictions in the state, as well as private businesses.

• In 2006, the organization advanced protections for same-sex couples by broadening the legal scope of advanced medical directives. The new law allows same-sex couples to designate a partner as their "health care agent" and specifically gives them the right to visit them in the hospital; ride with them in an ambulance; and take possession of their remains after death, including making arrangements for funeral or cremation.
• In 2007, Equality Maryland spearheaded passage of the Family Coverage Expansion Act, which requires health insurance companies to write policies inclusive of domestic partners at the request of an employer, as well as children up to the age of 25. That same year another bill passed authorizing insurers that issue policies of group life insurance to extend coverage to the domestic partner of the employee or member who is covered under a policy of group life insurance.

RECENT GAINS:

• In 2009, we worked with the General Assembly to enact to key pieces of legislation – a bill to allow domestic partners to inherit jointly owned primary residences without incurring tax penalties and a law to allow domestic partners to remove a deceased family member’s remains from a burial site and reinter them elsewhere.
• In December of 2009, we were successful in halting the implementation of a dangerous new policy that would have required transgender Marylanders to have an amended birth certificate in order to update the gender marker on their driver’s license.
• In February of 2010 with our help the Montgomery County Council passed a county ordinance requiring contractors who do business with the county to offer domestic partner benefits.
• In 2010, our field team and volunteers identified over 10,000 new supporters of gender identity anti-discrimination protections and marriage for same-sex couples in all regions of the state.
• In the 2010 election cycle, We increased LGBT representation in our state legislature by electing seven openly LGBT Delegates and Senators.
• Throughout 2010, we bolstered our grassroots power by launching action teams in six counties. Our teams hold weekly actions and were crucial in securing key electoral victories.
• In 2010, we elected 73 of our 81 endorsed candidates, paving the way for a fair-minded majority in Annapolis in 2011.

Equality Maryland Foundation's educational and coalition-building work has included formation of:

• The Maryland Black Family Alliance, in conjunction with the ACLU. The MBFA brings together straight African American leaders who are supportive of LGBT marriage equality and other legal protections.
• The Religious Coalition for Civil Marriage Equality, which shows the public that the religious community does not speak with one voice on the issue.
• The LGBT Marylanders of Color Collective, a committee of people of color dedicated to engaging in heart-to-heart dialogue about LGBT people of color.

The Equality Maryland Foundation received positive international press for facilitating the public coming-out of Maya Marcel-Keyes, daughter of ultra-conservative Alan Keyes.

Equality Maryland has produced groundbreaking publications like Jumping the Broom: A Black Perspective on Same-Gender Marriage, which is now used across the United States;What's In a Word? A Religious Perspective on Civil Marriage Equality; Marriage Inequality In the State of Maryland, and the video Heart of the Matter: Maryland's Same-Sex Couples Seek Justice for their Families.

Most importantly, Equality Maryland has built a strong network of citizen voices and a solid coalition of organizations who are tireless in their commitment to fairness and justice.