Equality Maryland
Equality Maryland is an organization dedicated to advocate for equality for all people despite of their race, sexual orientation, age, gender or any other issue that may be insignificant yet a source of discrimination against anybody. Transgender discrimination is an issue that has caught the attention of many people in society because of occasional cases involving the issue that reach the public domain (Lavers, 2018). The worry now becomes the prevalence of this discrimination against transgender people go unnoticed. Efforts are being made underway to institute a bill that would strengthen Maryland's state laws which prohibit any form of discrimination that is based on gender identity and expression in housing, places of work, public accommodation as well as credit services. Progress is made to set clearly stated laws that are mandatory guidelines on how people should behave and relate with others, but human conscience is much needed to win the war on transgender discrimination.
Closing the Loose Ends
Nobody deserves to lose a job, denied housing, refused work, credit or access to education or even suffer violence or harassment because of who they are. However, transgender people in Maryland have for a long time faced this discrimination without recourse. To close the loose ends on this issue especially on the basis of basic rights on matter such as employment protection and housing, state laws are needed. Such laws would be a deterrent to those who might discriminate the transgender people either knowingly or unknowingly. Cases of this nature have ended up in courts as civil laws suits demanding the interpretation of the law concerning the matter. Therefore, clearly stipulated laws that protects transgender people would be a great milestone by the state as well as other organizations such as Equality Maryland that are fighting discrimination to promote equality.
Discrimination in Maryland
Some counties such as Baltimore, Howard and Montgomery have anti-discrimination laws whereas Maryland doesn't have these laws. Transgender people face discrimination in employment during applications, promotions or terminations. In learning institutions, this kind of discrimination may arise due is situations such as in the use of facilities such as washrooms. Such a case occurred to a teen student in Maryland who was blocked from using particular locker rooms (Marimow, 2018). The matter escalated until it reached the intervention of the county's board of education which settled the issue. The same problem occurs in health sector where professionals deny these people treatment due to gender identity. They ridicule patients or even to recognize their gender identity.
Human Conscience and Moral Obligation
The above instances are just a few of the many cases of transgender discrimination that sometime may go unnoticed in the public domain. Some victims suffer silently without bothering to report the matter higher authority or file lawsuits against their oppressors ("Transgender Discrimination - Equality Maryland", 2018). However, we would be lying to ourselves if we assume that these discriminations are done by people who don't realize that it is wrong. The laws are only meant to bar people from doing certain things. Our human conscience should be an eye opener to realize that when one discriminates against another, the discriminated gets hurt emotionally. The moral obligation should be at the forefront in educating and guiding the public that every person deserves care and compassion from all the people are them. Following this direction will be an added advantage to the state laws that are put in people to solve transgender and all types of social discriminations.
References
Lavers, M. (2018). Maryland transgender rights law takes effect. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonblade.com/2014/10/01/md-transgender-rights-law-takes-effect/
Marimow, A. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/battle-over-transgender-student-rights-moves-to-high-school-locker-rooms/2018/04/25/b319365a-3f29-11e8-974f-aacd97698cef_story.html?utm_term=.e95bd37117a6
Transgender Discrimination - Equality Maryland. (2018). Retrieved from http://equalitymaryland.org/issues/transgender/transgender.htm
