LGBT Activists Slam Martin O’Malley for Backing Limited LGBT Protections

[DemocraticWing]

LGBT Activists Slam Martin O’Malley for Backing Limited LGBT Protections
LGBT Americans Must be Equal Under the Law, Activists Say

New York, NY (June 30, 2015) – Responding to comments by former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley in The Hill saying he supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), Queer Nation demanded that O’Malley endorse comprehensive federal legislation that extends the rights and anti-discrimination protections given to all other Americans to members of the LGBT community.

“Martin O’Malley wants our votes, but he doesn’t know what LGBT people want and what we need,” said Duncan Osborne, a member of Queer Nation. “The LGBT community has rejected ENDA. We are pursuing comprehensive federal legislation that makes us fully equal under the law.”

First introduced in Congress in 1994, ENDA had a 2007 passing vote in the House after protections for transgender people were stripped out and a 2013 passing vote in the Senate after a sweeping religious exemption was added to the bill.

Read more at: http://queernationny.org/post/122873197471/media-release-for-immediate-release-june-30-2015

[dsc]

1. that is a really unfair attack

and it should be pointed out, your candidate also supports ENDA. That said, I would prefer a change in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 but given the fact we will most likely have a GOP House, that is rather unlikely.

[DemocraticWing]

2. This isn't really a Bernie vs. Martin issue for me.

I think any Democratic candidate who knows what they're doing should realize we're moving past ENDA. I think the issue is that O'Malley has just been slow on the uptake, more than anything.

[bigtree]

7. yeah, but Bernie says he'll vote for a bill that isn't even crafted, much less introduced

...why doesn't he introduce one?

U.S. Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.) voted for a version of ENDA in 2013. In an interview with the Washington Blade, Sanders said he’d back amending the Civil Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity and anticipates he’ll support the upcoming comprehensive LGBT bill.

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/06/29/omalley-seeks-enda-passage-ban-on-housing-discrimination/


Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) is expected to introduce legislation along those lines this spring that would institute comprehensive LGBT non-discrimination protections in the areas of employment, public accommodations, housing, credit, education and federal programs. When the Blade asked Sanders whether he’d support the bill, he replied, “Jeff and I work closely on these issues and I suspect that I will.”

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/05/15/sanders-touts-lgbt-record-in-white-house-bid/

I'm not aware of a bill proposed to amend the Civil Rights Act introduced yet, and furthermore, it's not established whether O'Malley would or wouldn't be in support of one. I can't imagine he'd oppose it. Making like he needs to be forced into agreeing to a non-existent bill is just weird.

[Bluenorthwest]

8. The proposal to amdend the Civil Rights Act was first introduced in Congress in 1974 by Bella Abzug

and Ed Koch, The Equality Act, HR 14752. In the years between 1974 and 2015 can you show me O'Malley advocating for such legislation?

[bigtree]

9. the way you treat allies, like this group does, 'slamming' O'Malley

...it's a wonder.

Do you want his support on these issues or not? It's almost a given that he's going to support any bill providing protections for the workplace and housing and elsewhere that will come out of Congress. He's already led the effort in our state for transgender protections.

You're certainly free to advocate for Sanders as your favorite choice to represent you on these issues, but it's certainly a short-sighted effort to run O'Malley down if what you're actually seeking is support for future legislation. What I don't get is slamming O'Malley for not coming out in support for a bill that doesn't yet exist. It's hyperbole at its worst.

We have a record of what Sanders supported as a legislator in Congress, but we also have a record of support from O'Malley in office in Md.. It's not so dissimilar from Sanders', except for the longevity of the Vermont legislator's tenure in Washington__ and, oh yeah___ actually enacting changes which made a real and concrete difference in the lives of LGBT individuals in our state instead of just debating them and talking about them.

As Mayor of Baltimore, O'Malley helped the City become the first jurisdiction in Maryland to prohibit discrimination against transgender individuals in 2002. In one of his first acts as Governor, he signed an Executive Order prohibiting discrimination against transgender state employees in 2007.

I do notice that Sanders co-sponsored a bill to advance ENDA in 2009. O'Malley was working to pass a marriage equality bill in his state in 2011, but as his wife said at the time, "cowards prevented it from passing.”

At a National Conference on LGBT Equality in 2012, Martin remarked:

“The dignity of a free and diverse people who at the end of the day, all want the same thing for their children: to live in a loving and caring home that is protected equally under the law.”

The governor added that “discrimination based on gender identity is wrong.”

“Passing a law to protect transgender Marylanders from employment, credit and housing discrimination is the right thing to do.”

On the final day of the 24th National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change in Baltimore, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley expressed hopes that Maryland would soon become the seventh state with marriage equality. The governor also talked about his support for efforts to secure gender identity nondiscrimination protections in the state.

“Other states have found a way to protect religious liberty, religious freedom and to protect rights equally, and it is time for Maryland to do the same — and that's why this week we proposed a civil marriage law in the General Assembly of Maryland and we seek to get it done this year,” said the governor in his speech, according to a news release from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "Our bill balances equal protection of individual rights with the important protection of religious liberty and religious freedom. Maryland was the seventh state admitted to the union. We believe with your help and a lot of hard work, we will be the seventh state to pass a civil marriage equality law.”

[elleng]

10. Sure is a 'wonder.'

[dsc]

11. It isn't his job to determine the strategy of gay rights groups

Regardless of whether the strategy was good or not in the 80's and 90's, I think it has outlived its time. But the fact is gay rights groups are who need to signal the change in strategy not the governor of Maryland.

[xfundy]

3. Why should some taxpayers be treated differently

from others? NO reason.

[Prism]

4. We rejected ENDA?

When did this happen?

I'm a gay man who pays a lot of attention to politics, and this one slipped right past me.

Can't blame O'Malley for not knowing either.

My self-appointed spokespeople never consult me =(

[elleng]

5. 'Today's ruling is the result of years of work by advocates & Americans across this country.

Marriage equality is finally here. I’m reminded of Will and his moms on the day we passed marriage equality in Maryland—his joyful face, and the everlasting image of love, and family.

Join me in celebrating today’s decision and in saying yes, marriage equality is a human right. Add your name: https://martinomalley.com/love-is-love/

After Supreme Court Rulings, Martin O’Malley Celebrates ‘Tremendous Week’ With Iowans.

http://dailysignal.com/2015/06/29/after-democratic-wins-at-supreme-court-martin-omalley-celebrates-tremendous-week-with-iowans/

[bigtree]

6. why did they single out O'Malley when Sanders co-sponsored the legislation

...how is O'Malley more responsible for that?


Sanders Statement on Employment Non-Discrimination Act
Monday, November 4, 2013

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement tonight after the Senate voted 61 – 30 to advance a bill that would prohibit workplace discrimination against gay, bisexual and transgender Americans:

“I am very pleased that the Senate took a step closer to protecting gays from workplace discrimination. Vermont has prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation since 1992. It’s been illegal to discriminate against transgender Vermonters since 2007. In the U.S. Senate, it has been almost two decades since legislation was first introduced to enact strong and clear federal protections against workplace discrimination against gays throughout our country. Tonight’s vote is an important and long-overdue step in the right direction to make America the democratic and inclusive society it should be.”