WASHINGTON – Maryland Democratic lawmakers are being accused of silencing people’s First Amendment rights as a General Assembly committee considering a bill to block transgender students from playing girls’ sports decided to block any public testimony on the bill. 

Maryland House Bill 156 would prevent transgender students from playing girls’ sports. It’s an issue that has sparked controversy around the country but in Annapolis Wednesday, it was much quieter as the public wasn’t allowed to testify on the legislation.

Republican Del. Kathy Szeliga says she wrote of the “Fairness in Girls’ Sports Act” because she believes fairness and safety are jeopardized when biological boys are allowed to compete in girls’ sports. 

“I’ve had opponents contact my office and say, ‘look, we’re disappointed we can’t get in person to weigh in against your bill’ and of course people who are for my bill,” Szeliga said. 

Neither supporters nor opponents were allowed to testify on the bill. The chair of the Ways and Means Committee ruled that only Szeliga, the bill’s sponsor, could speak. 

“For all sponsor-only oral testimony bills, we accept unlimited written testimony and we do not time sponsors when they testify although we reserve the right,” said Democratic Del. Vanessa Attenbeary. 

Under the General Assembly’s rules, if a bill was introduced in a prior session, as the Fairness in Girls Sports Act was, the committee does not have to hear oral testimony from the public. 

“They’re saying ‘this bill’s been brought up before’ Therefore there’s going to be no public testimony. That’s a real First Amendment issue,” said Dan Nash with the Christ Reformed Evangelical Church.

Democrats control both the House and Senate in Maryland but some people who showed up to speak say Democrats are also controlling their First Amendment rights by not letting them testify.

Given the political makeup in Annapolis, it’s highly unlikely the bill would even make it out of committee but there is a companion bill in the Senate and supporters are hoping they can testify in that hearing next month.