The GayInc Muzzle on Maryland

Transgender blogs (here, here, here, here, here, here, here and that’s not counting the numerous blogs by Katrina Rose here and on ENDAblog)  have been buzzing over the lack of public accommodation protections in Maryland’s HB235. The head of TransMaryland,  Jenna Fischetti, wrote this post saying:

“House Bill 235’s introduction and language came as a shock to the majority of the transgender community because its lack of protection in respect to not only previous bills, or currently enacted laws in both Montgomery County and Baltimore City, but because of its lack of consideration to the reaction from those it sought to provide relieve to. The last 4 years, Maryland has introduced a bill offering protections to individuals based on Gender Identity, with most recently HB 1022 in 2010. At no time were members of the community informed of either via email update to those subscribed to EQMD, nor through EQMD’s Yahoo based listserv, TransEquality Maryland . In fact HB235 is in direct conflict to published objectives for 2011 on their website (please note this is subject to the page being taken down)”

and Equality Maryland’s “local champion” of the bill,  Sandy Rawls,  said on Transgriot blog:

“After hearing from a majority of the community who have urged us to oppose the bill and having the attorney confirm that HB 235 would not protect the Maryland transgender community from discrimination, I made the painful decision to withdraw Trans-United’s support for this bill and oppose it.”

and yet how many GayInc “InsidersOUT” blogs have covered this story?

Pam’s House Blend? No (Though Autumn Sandeen gets close with this post on the “bathroom” meme. Kelli Busey cross-posted on PHB, but her diary didn’t make it to the front page).

In the voice of Ferris Bueller’s economics teacher… Bilerico? Bilerico? Bilerico?

PageOneQ?… not that I can see (though the site isn’t very Google friendly).

Many “GLBT” GayInc blogs will deny being such, and will deny an agenda. But if there’s not an agenda why is a story which has a LOT of fire to it on both the transgender blogosphere and on Facebook,  is silent on their blogs? They can post fluff pieces about the bill though.

And what about the revelation from Former Senator and Co-Sponsor of  Massachusetts “Transgender Rights Bill” blaming MassEquality for:

“losing the public relations battle” on the bill and “dropping the ball” which caused the current situation.

for the bill not passing.

What about Barney Frank’s legislative aide?  Diego Sanchez threw out a bomb shell during eQualitygiving’s panel “Does the ‘T’ in ‘LGBTQ’ Mean Anything More Than ‘Token'” that we had the votes for ENDA, including the votes to overcome a motion to recommit.

GayInc blogs? Not a word.  NOTHING. Zero. Notta.

“A story is told as much by silence as by speech.” – Susan Griffin

Marti Abernathey is the founder of the Transadvocate and the previous managing editor. Abernathey has worn many different hats, including that of podcaster, activist, and radiologic technologist. She's been a part of various internet radio ventures such as TSR Live!, The T-Party, and The Radical Trannies, TransFM, and Sodium Pentathol Sunday. As an advocate she's previously been involved with the Indiana Transgender Rights Advocacy Alliance, Rock Indiana Campaign for Equality, and the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition. She's taken vital roles as a grass roots community organizer in The Indianapolis Tax Day Protest (2003), The Indy Pride HRC Protest (2004), Transgender Day of Remembrance (2004), Indiana's Witch Hunt (2005), and the Rally At The Statehouse (the largest ever GLBT protest in Indiana - 3/2005). In 2008 she was a delegate from Indiana to the Democratic National Convention and a member of Barack Obama's LGBT Steering and Policy Committee. Abernathey currently hosts the Youtube Channel "The T-Party with Marti Abernathey."