2023 Salisbury PFLAG Legislative Priorities
Salisbury PFLAG strives to move equality forward and that includes engaging in legislative advocacy work at the State and local levels. For the 2023 Maryland General Assembly legislative session, Salisbury PFLAG is focused on the following priorities.
*Civil Remedies for Hate Crimes
*Comprehensive Sexual Education
* Places of Public Accommodation and Public Buildings - Gender-Inclusive Signage
*Expanding Distribution of HIV Prevention Drugs
*Decriminalizing Same Sex Sexual Relations
*Comprehensive Delivery of Reproductive and Sexual Health Services in Higher Education
Civil Remedy for Hate Crimes
Providing that a person who is the victim of an act that would constitute a violation of certain hate crime laws may bring a civil action against the person or persons who committed the act in a court of competent jurisdiction; and authorizing the court to impose an injunction and award certain economic and noneconomic damages..
Bill Number(s)- HB13/SB05
POSITION-SUPPORT
Read our testimony
| CIVIL REMEDIES FOR HATE CRIMES.pdf |
Places of Public Accommodation and Public Buildings - Gender-Inclusive Signage
Synopsis: Requiring that single-occupancy public restrooms be marked with gender-inclusive signage in certain places of public accommodation and certain public buildings; providing that a county is responsible for enforcing the signage requirement in places of public accommodation; and authorizing a county to set certain fines for second and subsequent violations after a certain period of time.
Bill Number(s)- HB40/SB80
POSITION-SUPPORT
Read out testimony
Synopsis: Requiring that single-occupancy public restrooms be marked with gender-inclusive signage in certain places of public accommodation and certain public buildings; providing that a county is responsible for enforcing the signage requirement in places of public accommodation; and authorizing a county to set certain fines for second and subsequent violations after a certain period of time.
Bill Number(s)- HB40/SB80
POSITION-SUPPORT
Read out testimony
| GENDER INCLUSIVE SIGNAGE FOR SINGLE OCCUPANY RESTROOMS |
Distribution of HIV Prevention Medication
Authorizing pharmacists to prescribe and dispense preexposure prophylaxis and postexposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention to patients under certain circumstances; requiring the Maryland Medical Assistance Program to provide drugs that are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for HIV prevention; prohibiting managed care organizations, certain insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations from requiring prior authorization for certain drugs for HIV prevention; etc.
Bill Number(s)- SB64
POSITION SUPPORT
POSITION-SUPPOR
Authorizing pharmacists to prescribe and dispense preexposure prophylaxis and postexposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention to patients under certain circumstances; requiring the Maryland Medical Assistance Program to provide drugs that are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for HIV prevention; prohibiting managed care organizations, certain insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations from requiring prior authorization for certain drugs for HIV prevention; etc.
Bill Number(s)- SB64
POSITION SUPPORT
POSITION-SUPPOR
Comprehensive Health and Sexual Educationn
Requiring the State Department of Education, in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Health, to develop a comprehensive health education framework; requiring each county board of education to create an age-appropriate curriculum that is consistent with the comprehensive health education framework; requiring each county board to establish a method by which a parent or guardian may opt out of certain topics, subject to certain requirements; etc.
Bill Number(s)- HB119/SB84
POSITION-SUPPORT
Read our testimony
Requiring the State Department of Education, in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Health, to develop a comprehensive health education framework; requiring each county board of education to create an age-appropriate curriculum that is consistent with the comprehensive health education framework; requiring each county board to establish a method by which a parent or guardian may opt out of certain topics, subject to certain requirements; etc.
Bill Number(s)- HB119/SB84
POSITION-SUPPORT
Read our testimony
| COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION |
Decriminalizing LGBTQ Sexual Relations
An old and archaic law exists in Maryland that criminalizes same sex sexual relations as "perverted practices"
Bill Number(s)- HB131
Position Support
Comprehensive Reproductive and Health Services
Requiring, on or before August 1, 2024, each public senior higher education institution, in consultation with students, to develop and implement a reproductive health services plan to provide at the institution or to refer students to a comprehensive range of reproductive health services; and requiring the Maryland Department of Health, on request, to provide assistance to a public senior higher education institution in developing the plan.
Bill Number(s)- SB341
Position Support
Requiring, on or before August 1, 2024, each public senior higher education institution, in consultation with students, to develop and implement a reproductive health services plan to provide at the institution or to refer students to a comprehensive range of reproductive health services; and requiring the Maryland Department of Health, on request, to provide assistance to a public senior higher education institution in developing the plan.
Bill Number(s)- SB341
Position Support
| REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES.pdf |
2022 Legislative Priorities
2022 Testimony
*Inclusive and Diverse English Language Arts (did not pass)
*Inclusive Schools (passes enacted)
*Policies and Prohibition Against Discriminatory Traffic Stops (did not pass)
*Certificates of Birth – Issuance of New Certificates – Sex Designation (did not pass)
*Establishing the American Studies and Social Equity Standards Advisory Board (did not pass)
*Marriage Records After Name Change. (passed enacted)
* Places of Public Accommodation and Public Buildings - Gender-Inclusive Signage. (withdrawn)
*Correctional Facilities Transgender Respect, Agency, and Dignity Act (did not pass)
*Opposing Anti-Trans Sports Legislation (died in committee)
| testimony_sb116.pdf |
| testimony_hb0850_sb0666.pdf |
| testimony_hb1046.pdf |
| testimony-hb0369-sb0377.pdf |
| testimony_hb0572_sb0486.pdf |
| testimony-hb0352-sb0888.pdf |
| testimony-hb0453_sb0550.pdf |
| testimony-hb0757.pdf |
2021 TESTIMONY
2021 PRIORITIES
*Name and Gender Marker Changes (passed enacted)
*Inclusive Schools (died in committee)
*Ending Panic Defense (passed enacted)
*Establishing A Statewide Commission on Civics and Cultural Education (died in committee)
*Nondiscrimination and Equitable Access (died in committee)
*Issuance of New Marriage and Birth Certificates (did not pass)
*Mental Health Access (passed enacted)
*Name and Gender Marker Changes (passed enacted)
*Inclusive Schools (died in committee)
*Ending Panic Defense (passed enacted)
*Establishing A Statewide Commission on Civics and Cultural Education (died in committee)
*Nondiscrimination and Equitable Access (died in committee)
*Issuance of New Marriage and Birth Certificates (did not pass)
*Mental Health Access (passed enacted)
| HB132/SB0041 Testimony |
| HB155/SB0098 Testimony |
| hb1088-sb768-testimony__2_.pdf |
| hb-1203-testimony.pdf |
| HB140 Testimony |
| HB231/SB46 Testimony |
| HB39 TESTIMONY |
LEARN MORE ABOUT LGBTQIA+ LEGISLATION BY VISITING FREE STATE JUSTICE
Free State Justice is Maryland's statewide advocacy non-profit that seeks to improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (“LGBTQ”) Marylanders. Free State Justice has information about their legislative priorities, maintains a legislative calendar, and holds weekly update sessions during the Maryland General Assembly Legislative Session.
Free State Justice 2021 Legislative Tools
Free State Justice 2021 Legislative Tools