By Rashard Davis
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
When it comes to upholding human rights, Baltimore City has been on a roll.
Discrimination based on sexual orientation was banned nine years ago. Marriage equality was legalized seven years ago after a 2012 referendum pushed Maryland to become one of the first states to legalize it by public vote. Discrimination based on gender identity or expression was banned six years ago.
Two years ago, conversion therapy was banned. And finally, non-binary markers for identity documents became an option in late last year.
But, with the advances come bitter pushback and unwavering hatred. So while LGBTQ residents within Baltimore City do enjoy more rights than just a few decades ago, violence against them continues. Community leaders still push for widespread awareness about discrimination and unfair practices. Officials said transgender women of color may be the most vulnerable, marginalized group ever to be targeted.
“We have done a lot, but we need to continue to do more,” said Baltimore City Councilman Bullock, a Democrat representing the 9th District of West and Southwest Baltimore. “We need to really recognize and embrace everyone’s humanity, including immigrants and members of the LGBTQ community. What helps for representation is to see more LGBTQ people represented in City Hall.”
About 2,672 same-sex couples live in the Baltimore City area, according to the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. Sixty percent of the couples are male and 40 percent are female. More than three-quarters of the couples are raising children. Officials added that 53 percent of the couples are white, and the rest are either racial minorities or mixed race.
However, violence against transgender people has increased. Last year, 17 transgender people were killed including three trans women murdered in Maryland. Among the murdered was Bailey Reeves, a high school senior who was killed last year during the Labor Day weekend.
Bullock, who is also chairman of the Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, is not the only one concerned with the City Council’s efforts. Mimi Demissew, executive director for the Pride Center of Maryland in Baltimore insisted the Council has enough power to do more.
“Forty percent of the homeless population are part of the sexual and gender minorities,” Demissew said. “We need to do more to get adequate housing for them and help transgender women out of the street, who may have to use survival sex, in order to protect themselves.”
Demissew said that the Pride Center provides resources that helps to address the challenges faced by trans women of color — and others. Resources include information on housing, assistance after trauma, access to GED courses and advice on navigating the workplace.
Demissew added that mental health and HIV prevention should be key concerns.
“We need the Council to fund campaigns for awareness of mental health and HIV/AIDS prevention for the community,” said Demissew.
The Baltimore LGBTQ community still mourns the death of Reeves, a 17-year-old who was shot in her torso in the 4300 block of Parkwood Avenue in Northeast Baltimore. She died in a nearby hospital. Her death drew nearly 50 people to the Ynot Lot at the corner of North Avenue and Charles Street, where they held a vigil to light candles, hold hands and highlight violence against the LGBTQ community.
Jabari Lyles, the LGBTQ Commission liaison for Mayor Jack Young, defended the work city leaders have done to protect the area’s vulnerable residents.
“I’ve appreciated some of the support for the law that I pushed forward,[such as] gender-neutral bathrooms, so that we can start to develop inclusion in the city,” Lyles said. “We also passed a law making sure that transgender students can self-identify on their official documents.”
Lyles said that “the mayor has said that LGBTQ issues are a great concern for the city. In fact, he wants to create an office for me with many others, so that we can continue our work doing more for the LGBTQ community.”