Lobbyists hit Annapolis for LGBTQIA event

Yesterday, about 25 students traveled to Annapolis for Lobby Day — an annual rally where hundreds of LGBTQIA advocates meet with legislators from their state districts to urge them to support same-sex marriage and gender-identity equality legislation.

In this year's upcoming General Assembly session, state legislators will consider The Civil Marriage Protection Act, which would legalize same-sex marriage in the state, and the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity-Anti-discrimination bill, which would prohibit discrimination of transgendered people. Both bills were introduced last year but ultimately failed to pass.

Delegate Joseline A. Pena-Melnyk (D-Anne Arundel and Prince George's) said legislators in District 21 — which includes College Park — are doing all they can to see the bills voted through. However, she said student advocates must focus their attentions on spreading awareness of these issues across the state.

"This team is 100 percent committed to both bills, and in our perfect world, both bills would get out," Pena-Melynk said.

Assistant Director of Orientation Dian Squire, the coordinator of The One Project — a UNIV 100 section offered to members and allies of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community— said bringing students to Lobby Day was an important step because it allowed them to be vocal and visible off the campus. Squire said The One Project received a donation from an alumnus, which enabled them to bus students for free to the Capitol.

"When students come into universities closed-minded, one of the biggest factors in changing their minds about LGBT students is knowing LGBT students," he said. "And that's the approach we're taking here, too."

Several students said they took this opportunity in hopes of giving a face to transgender issues.

Taylor — a freshman who wished to remain anonymous because many of his peers don't know he's transgendered — said while the university has made progress, there still aren't enough accommodations for students exploring their gender identities.

"The halls are unnecessarily gendered," he said. "It's the things you don't think about, like going to my room and having people say, ‘Is that a guy? Why is there a guy living here?' I out myself every time I walk in my hall."

Taylor said he has yet to change his gender on his registration because he was told he needed to provide proof of medical intervention.

"Especially for someone who's still figuring out who they are, it's a tough pill to swallow so early on," he said. "I'm ready to do that now, but I wasn't as a new freshman."

Sophomore sociology major Mykell Hatcher-McLarin said after he recently came out as transgendered, he is worried about how his gender identity will affect his ability to get a job, rent or own a home, or even to walk into public bathrooms.

"I just want to emphasize the fact that people like me are real, the problems we have are real and the fights we fight are real, just like someone who was born biologically male or female," Hatcher-McLarin said.

Freshman letters and sciences major Kelly Lowe said she participated in the event not only to support the legislation, but also to make connections with other LGBTQIA students.

Lowe said she attended a high school in Carroll County where the gay-straight alliance was called an Allies Club because using the word "gay" broke school policy. She said several students at the school would wear shirts with the message, "It's great to be straight."

"I'm just excited to finally be somewhere you can say gay and not get in trouble," Lowe said. "Right now is the time for this issue."

lurye@umdbk.com