Maryland
Survey reveals Maryland trans community faces physical threats, delayed medical treatment
A statewide survey of transgender Marylanders found that more than half of respondents received threats of violence and about 30 percent delayed or avoided medical treatment due to concerns of gender-related discrimination, according to findings released last month.
The 2023 study — conducted by the Queer-Trans Collective for Research on Equity & Wellness and Trans Maryland — asked trans residents about discrimination, healthcare, employment and experiences with legal institutions in the state.
The survey had 750 trans participants, which included respondents from every county and Baltimore City.
M Pease, a counseling psychology doctoral student at the University of Maryland, helped conduct the survey and acknowledged the steps the state has taken to protect the LGBTQ+ community.
“At the same time, we’re hearing from community members that that doesn’t always translate to improvements in the lived conditions for everyone,” Pease said.
[Here’s a look at the bills Maryland legislators passed this session]
The recently-passed Maryland General Assembly bill that legally protects gender-affirming healthcare treatment will aid trans residents, Pease said, but legislation alone isn’t enough to fix the issue. There needs to be de-stigmatization of trans communities, they said.
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Clarence Lam (D-Anne Arundel and Howard), passed on April 4. It will protect the records of people who receive gender-affirming treatment from being subpoenaed and prevent Marylanders from being extradited to other states for receiving treatment.
In a February hearing for the bill, Lam said the legislation will “ensure that patients and providers of legal gender-affirming care are free from out-of-state attack and harassment.”
The core issues of the bill were addressed in the 2023 legislative session, Lam said during the hearing.
Lam’s legislation combines issues addressed in two bills passed last year, which expanded Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming treatment and protect medical information from out-of-state entities, he said.
The Trans Rights Advocacy Coalition, an organization advocating for trans Marylanders, supported the bill during its journey through the General Assembly.
[Maryland legislators pass bill to aid recovery in Baltimore after bridge collapse]
Maya Holliday, who co-leads the coalition, said the legislation is big step for Maryland.
“It’s definitely not the last [step],” Holliday said. “There’s a lot more to be done, especially as things get scarier and scarier in other places.”
Other issues facing trans communities include employment, housing and concerns with the criminal justice system, Holliday said.
Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher (D-Montgomery), a sponsor of the bill to legally protect gender-affirming care, said some states are becoming more restrictive of the right to bodily autonomy. But Maryland is headed in the right direction, he said.
“We’re protecting the right to choose,” Waldstreicher told The Diamondback. “We’re not telling anyone who they can and cannot love. And we’re telling transgender Marylanders that they are welcome to be themselves here in the state.”
Maryland
Severn scratch-off makes player a millionaire as Maryland Lottery pays $31.8M in prizes
SEVERN, Md. (WBFF) — A scratch-off ticket sold in Severn turned one Maryland Lottery player into a millionaire, leading a week in which the Lottery paid out more than $31.8 million in prizes statewide.
Maryland Lottery and Gaming said it paid more than $31.8 million in prizes from Feb. 23 through March 1, including 36 tickets worth $10,000 or more.
The top scratch-off prize claimed during that period was a $1 million winning $1,000,000 Crossword ticket sold at the Walmart at 407 George Clauss Boulevard in Severn. Another top winner was a $100,000 Red 5’s Doubler ticket sold at the Carroll Motor Fuel station at 2535 Cleanleigh Drive in Parkville.
Other scratch-off prizes claimed Feb. 23 through March 1 included two $50,000 winners: a 200X the Cash ticket sold at the Wawa at 7501 Pulaski Highway in Rosedale, and a $5,000,000 Luxe ticket sold at the Spring Hill Lake Mini Market at 9240 Spring Hill Lane in Greenbelt. A $30,000 Diamond Bingo 6th Edition ticket was sold at Tempo Lounge at 402 Back River Neck Road in Essex.
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The Lottery also reported three $20,000 scratch-off winners, all on $1,000,000 Crossword tickets sold at Geresbeck’s Food Market at 8489 Fort Smallwood Road in Pasadena; Hillandale Beer and Wine at 10117 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring; and Paddock Wine and Spirits at 7627 Woodbine Road in Woodbine.
The Lottery reminded players to sign the backs of tickets and keep winning tickets in a safe location.
The Lottery said the last dates to claim scratch-off tickets are posted on the scratch-offs page at mdlottery.com.
More information is available at mdlottery.com.
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For confidential help or information about gambling problems, visit helpmygamblingproblem.org or call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Maryland
SUN: Dozens of vehicles moved to planned Maryland ICE facility; advocates concerned
Advocacy groups are raising concerns over a warehouse in Washington County that is slated to become an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility after dozens of black SUVs were moved to the warehouse’s parking lot on Sunday.
“When federal enforcement vehicles begin lining the warehouse lot, it sends a clear message about what’s taking shape in our community,” said the organizer of Hagerstown Rapid Response, Claire Connor. “We refuse to let ICE quietly plant roots in Washington County without transparency, accountability and community consent.”
The 825,620-square-foot warehouse is located at 16220 Wright Road in Williamsport. Access to the facility was blocked by orange traffic barriers and signs outlining regulations and “governing conduct on federal property” with the Department of Homeland Security emblem at the top of the page.
In late January, Washington County issued a news release stating that on Jan. 14, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent a letter to the county’s historic district commission and department of planning and zoning regarding the property.
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Read the full story on the Baltimore Sun’s website.
Maryland
Howard County police investigate fatal officer-involved shooting in Columbia
COLUMBIA, Md. (WBFF) — An adult man was killed in a police-involved shooting in Columbia early Sunday, prompting an investigation by the Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division.
Howard County police said officers were called on March 1, at about 12:09 a.m., to an apartment building in the 6400 block of Freetown Road for a report that involved an adult male threatening to harm himself.
According to police, at about 12:22 a.m., officers encountered the man outside the building. The man approached officers while holding a knife and ignored commands to drop the weapon, police said. Officers then shot the man.
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Officers attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Officersrecovered a knife near the man.
No officers were injured, and the officers were equipped with body-worn cameras.
The Independent Investigations Division is investigating.
Anyone with information about this incident, including cell phone or private surveillance video, is asked to contact the IID at (410) 576–7070 or by email atIID@oag.maryland.gov.
The IID willgenerally releasethe name of the decedent and any involved officers within two business days of the incident, although that period may be extended, if necessary,pursuant toIID protocol.
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TheIID willgenerally releasebody-worn camera footage within 20 business days of an incident. There may be situations where more than 20 days is necessary, including if investigators need more time to complete witness interviews, if there are technical delays caused by the need to shield the identities of civilian witnesses, or to allow family members to view the video before it is released to the public.
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