TODAY- YOU can make a difference for women and children, please do! Contact you Reps!

As you may have heard the House and Senate are holding a marathon of sessions this weekend to try to wrap up as many bills as possible in the face of closures from the corona virus. They have sent their staff homes and are not taking calls, but we have heard emails are still being read.

We are asking you to please reach out to Delegate Malone and the Chairs and Vice Chairs of House Judiciary and Senate Judicial Proceedings about the following 2 bills,  if you have a Rep on House Ways and Means,  please ask for them to support LGBTQ+ students below and contact all of your Reps about the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. 

Contact Delegate Malone about the following 2 bills,  email: michael.malone@house.state.md.us:

Please  help get bill HB0608 out of committee. This bill requires the Comissioner of Corrections to operate a pre-release unit for women offering reentry services and programming to help women re-integrate into society and provide the best chance at success. There are currently 9 facilities for men and 0 for women. Please help move this crucial bill!

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_______________________________________________________________________________________The State Senate will be voting on The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (HB1300) TODAY. Take action now and contact your state senator._______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you have a Rep House Ways and Means, please contact!
Action Alert from FreeState Justice:

We need your help to support critical legislation that protects LGBTQ students in public schools across Maryland. Email or call members of the Ways and Means Committee to show your support, and contact your local legislators. Don’t know who they are? No problem, you can find them here!

The Inclusive Schools Act will codify anti-discrimination protections for all students, Pre-K-12 who are enrolled in our public schools and in schools receiving public funding. It prohibits retaliation against a student, parent, or guardian who files a complaint of discrimination. This legislation establishes a complaint and remedy process by which a student and/or their family can work with MSDE to resolve the discriminatory action. The bill also requires school boards and schools to develop written policies for schools, employees and students regarding civil rights protections

You can learn more about the bill here.

Sample Script:

My name is _________ and I live in _______. I am calling/emailing in support of SB993/HB1204. This bill would enshrine the Maryland State Department of Education’s existing non-discrimination guidance for LGBTQ students into law. This law is crucial in providing students with a safe, affirming and inclusive environment to learn and express themselves without fear of violence, discrimination or retaliation. Currently, LGBTQ students are more likely to experience discrimination and harassment in schools with catastrophic consequences: according to the CDC, LGBT students commit suicide at a rate five times higher than their heterosexual and cisgender peers. This law would force schools to explicitly develop policies to protect LGBTQ students and provide pathways to file complaints and resolve cases of discrimination. We believe that our schools should be safe, healthy and supportive environments so that all students can learn and succeed. This law brings us one step closer towards realizing this value.