FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2005

Contact:
Dan Furmansky, Executive Director,
Equality Maryland
Office (301)587-7500
Cell (301)461-4900

Equality Maryland Expands Advocacy Efforts with New Lobbyist

Organization Will Seek Local Initiatives to Complement Work in Annapolis

ANNAPOLIS - Equality Maryland, the state's largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, announced today the expansion of its advocacy efforts with the hiring of a new lobbyist, Willie R. Harris. Mr. Harris is President and CEO of Harris Public Interest Consulting, a Baltimore-based political consulting and legislative advocacy firm. Harris will join Equality Maryland's current lobbying team - Ann Ciekot and Mindy Binderman - and its own staff in expanding the organizations reach in Annapolis as well as the local level.

"Equality Maryland is thrilled to have the passionate, persuasive and articulate voice of Mr. Harris speaking on behalf of the LGBT community and its allies," said Executive Director Dan Furmansky. "As someone who has fought for the rights of workers and increased political participation among under-represented communities, Willie is a natural at educating leaders on the issues facing LGBT Marylanders, as well as dispelling the misleading rhetoric of our antagonists."

Harris has been active in grassroots politics and labor union organizing for more than 20 years. He served as the Los Angeles field representative for Speaker of the California Assembly Willie Brown's political organization, BAPAC (Black Americans Political Action Committee) as well as co-chair of the CA Democratic Party Finance Committee. Harris was the lead political field representative in the Service Employees International Los Angeles Home Care Campaign, which organized 84,000 home health care workers, the largest organizing drive in the AFL-CIO since 1934. Prior to founding Harris Public Interest Consulting, Willie was the Political Director for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Maryland/DC State Council.

"It's easy to recognize discrimination if one's eyes are wide open," said Harris. "As a Black man, and as a Black man in love with a White woman, I have seen inequities in this world. I want the same protections, rights, privileges and dignities afforded to my friends and family who happen to be same-gender-loving individuals that the rest of us simply take for granted."

As part of its efforts in the coming year, Equality Maryland will seek to enact domestic partner benefits for government employees in jurisdictions that do not currently provide them, such as Prince George's County. In addition, it will work to expand anti-discrimination protections in County codes to include "gender identity or expression."