Recently by Yusef Najafi

In an effort to reach out to LGBT organization leaders who have expressed concerns about safety and police decisions in recent months, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Cathy Lanier is meeting this afternoon with leaders of several LGBT organizations at MPD's headquarters. 

The meeting, at 300 Indiana Ave. NW, was scheduled following the July 6 hate crimes hearing, which was organized by Councilmember Phil Mendelson's (D-At Large) Committee on the Judiciary. 

Among those attending are Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance vice president Rick Rosendall, Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence's Chris Farris and A.J. Singletary, DC Trans Coalition's Ruby Corado and Jason Terry, Transgender Health Empowerment's Earline Budd and Brian Watson and Rainbow Response Coalition's June Crenshaw and Shauna Fecher -- as well as community members Alison Gardner, Nick McCoy and Isaiah Toney.

Since coming on board as police chief, Lanier's leadership has been criticized by some members of the local LGBT community for altering the functionality of the Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit by disbanding the centralized Dupont Circle location and expanding services to all seven police districts. 

Lanier's handling of the GLLU has also come under question by D.C. elected officials, including Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), who is gay.

Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) made an appearance and agreed with those calling for the GLLU to be strengthened.

"Now we have a GLLU and I don't even know if it's worthy of the name," Graham said. "What am I hearing today is that the gay and lesbian community and others are coming together and saying this isn't right.

"The message today to the chief ... is you've got to find a better way of engaging our community. And I have to ask again and again: Chief, why did you dismantle this?"

Lanier maintained, during that meeting, that dismantling the Dupont Circle-based core of GLLU, as it initially existed, and instead training a larger number of officers in GLLU methods is more effective.

But members of the local LGBT community have also expressed concern that the LGBT sensitivity and GLLU training for MPD officers is voluntary, not mandatory.

Problems with the relationship between Lanier and the local LGBT took another negative turn when Lashai Mclean, a 23-year-old transgender woman, was gunned down on July 20. In reporting the incident, MPD used Mclean's birth-given male name, as well as a mug shot of Mclean in s flier asking for information about suspects. 

Brian Watson, program director at Transgender Health Empowerment (THE), was frustrated that the police did not collaborate with the organization in seeking information about the victim as they had in the past when the GLLU was under the leadership of Sgt. Brett Parson. 

"After all of this sensitivity training, it doesn't make any sense," Watson told Metro Weekly on July 23, hours before Mclean's vigil.

"I mean, the DC Trans Coalition is going in and doing trainings with every MPD recruit class that comes through, but obviously there's still a lot that we need to do. This is not about the officers who are on the street level. This must be more upper management and the communications department of the Police Department. I'm definitely looking forward to talking with the chief and the GLLU about how we move forward from here."

[Photo: Lanier]

Members of the local LGBT community, including the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA), Transgender Health Empowerent and the DC Trans Coalition, met with Mayor Vince Gray on Thursday, Aug. 4, to talk about transgender employment issues in the District.

In a blog post on the GLAA's web site, Rick Rosendall, Vice President for Political Affairs at GLAA, summarizes Gray's three commitment to improve conditions, as a conclusion of the meeting:

1. Expand cultural diversity training across District Government with a focus on LGBT and specifically transgender cultural competency. The D.C. Department of Human Resources (DHR), the Office of Human Rights (OHR), and the Office of GLBT Affairs will develop a training module for all District government employees by October 1.

2. The Department of Employment Services (DOES) will pilot a transitional employment program targeting transgender community members, to include six weeks of training coupled with subsidized paid employment.

3. DHR will explore the legal issues around use of a ranking factor (requiring agency staff expertise on transgender issues) and implementing a policy similar to the federal Schedule A (which gives agencies authority to make non-competitive appointments of persons with disabilities).

In email to Metro Weekly, Rosendall said he was "encouraged" by the meeting.

"I was encouraged just by the fact that Mayor Gray gave us a meeting that we never got with his predecessor," he stated.

"But this wasn't just window-dressing; the Mayor made it clear to the D.C. agency officials whom he brought to the meeting that he wanted action items, otherwise we would just be having a conversation and nothing would come of it. The activists he met with will be following up with Jeff Richardson of the GLBT Affairs Office. We do not know how the legal questions will come out. But we have allies in the Gray administration and they are making an effort. Anti-trans discrimination is entrenched in our society and it will take a long time to overcome. These efforts are just a start."

[Photo: Rick Rosendall, Jeri Hughes, Denise Leclair, and Ruby Corado. (Photo courtesy of Leclair.)]

Equality Maryland announced today that is seeking applicants for the organization's executive director position. While Lynne Bowman has served as the interim executive director of Equality Maryland since May of this year, Patrick Wojahn, board chair of the Equality Maryland Foundation, says as of yesterday no one has applied for the position. 

On its web site, Equality Maryland states that it is looking for a "dynamic individual with a passion for achieving full legal equality" for LGBT Marylanders:

The Executive Director reports jointly to the Board of Directors of Equality Maryland Foundation and Equality Maryland Inc. The Chairs of both Boards supervise the Executive Director. Additionally, the Executive Director is a member of the Executive Committee of both Boards and attends all Board meetings.

The Executive Director is responsible for managing the daily operation of Equality Maryland and implementing the vision, strategic goals and objectives of the organization. The Executive Director supports the Chairs and respective Boards, and manages and directs the staff of the organization to accomplish the mission and achieve agreed upon results.

Most importantly, the Executive Director represents Equality Maryland to the community, policymakers, donors and others to advocate for its mission and programs. Expect significant in-state travel and occasional out-of-state travel, including work on evenings and weekends.

According to Wojahn, Bowman has committed to staying on board as the interim executive director on a month-to-month basis until a permanent one is found. While Wojahn says board members have a few candidates they would like to speak to in mind, he would not disclose who those people are just yet. 

With the governor Martin O'Malley's (D) recent declaration that he would support marriage legislation in Maryland in 2012, and the formation of Marylanders for Marriage, a coalition of organizations working to secure those laws, Wojahn says he remains optimistic. 

"I'm very optimistic moving into this next year," he says. "We're going to be in a good position to pass marriage legislation and the gender identity anti-discrimination act, and we will win real victories for the LGBT community." 

For more information about the executive director position, visit equalitymaryland.org.

[Photo: Maryland out gay Sen. Rich Madaleno (D-Montgomery) speaks at a news conference on July 22, 2011, in which Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) announced his support for a marriage equality bill in the state in 2012. (Photo by Yusef Najafi.)]

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley (D) met with Marylanders for Marriage Equality, members of the LGBT legislative caucus, Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown and others to announce his support for marriage equality legislation in the state in 2012.

"Marylanders of all walks of life want their children to live in a loving, stable, committed home, protected under the law," he said. "[T]he legislation we plan to introduce in the 2012 legislative session will protected religious freedom and equality of martial rights under the law."

What's changed since the bill stalled in this year's legislative session, O'Malley added, was the urgency of this type of legislation, saying that in 2012 it will be a priority and that he would make it an "administration priority."

Brown echoed that sentiment, adding that he's enthusiastic about working with O'Malley and lawmakers to ensure equality for all Marylanders. 

"Every member of our community should enjoy the same freedoms and share the same responsibilities," Brown said. 

Joining the governor at the podium in the Governor's Reception Room at the Maryland State House in Annapolis was, at one point, Sen. Rich Madaleno (D-Montgomery), who is the only out LGBT state senator and was the lead sponsor of marriage equality legislation during the 2011 session. Madaleno said the governor's announcement created "the second exciting moment" he will experience in the Governor's Reception Room. 

"It will only be surpassed by the moment in the next nine months that we will stand here, with your pen in hand, signing into law the marriage equality bill," he said, receiving loud applause. 

O'Malley pointed to New York, saying that the state's lawmakers showed that it is possible to protect religious freedoms and provide marriage equality to all of its citizens. 

"That's what we are going to do with this bill in the upcoming session." 

Although a 2011 marriage equality bill was shelved in the state's House of Delegates, when it was recommitted back to committee, O'Malley says he's optimistic that there is enough time to secure votes for passage of similiar legislation in 2012.

"I'm very optimistic that if all of us work hard and if all of us stay focused on the important principles at stake here -- which are freedom of religion and also equal protection under the law and the dignity of every individual -- that we can pull together the necessary votes for passage."

Asked about his thoughts on a referendum effort for a 2012 marriage equality bill by opponents of it, if it does pass the House and Senate successfully, O'Malley said: "That's their right under our laws."

"That's not my primary focus," he added. "I'm focused on working with this broad coalition to pass marriage equality laws that respect and protect rights equally under the law. What others do in terms of referendum and those sorts of appeals, it's their right, each citizen needs to do their duty under the law as they see it and I'm doing mine as governor as I see it." 

Out lesbian Del. Heather Mizeur (D-Montgomery County) said the governor's support of marriage equality legislation will make a great impact during the next legislative session.

"There's no bigger megaphone in the statehouse than the governor," Mizeur said, talking to Metro Weekly after the press conference.

"For him to be the captain of our team is going to be an incredible boost in momentum for the next session and we're going to get this done."

[Photo: O'Malley (Photo by Yusef Najafi.)]

[Photo: Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) talks with reporters at the close of the 2011 legislative session. (Photo courtesy of Maryland Governor's website.)]

After days of speculation, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley's (D) office announced today that he will be appearing at the Maryland State House Friday afternoon, July 22, to announce his decision on sponsorship regarding marriage equality legislation during the 2012 legislative session. 

O'Malley is scheduled to speak during a press conference at 2 p.m., in the Governor's Reception Room of the Maryland State House in Annapolis. 

A 2011 marriage equality bill made it past the state's Senate floor but was ultimately shelved during this year's legislative session after House of Delegates Chairman Joseph Vallario (D-Calvert, Prince George's) recommitted the bill back to committee for further discussion.

Patrick Wojahn, chair of the Equality Maryland Foundation, said he's hoping that the governor will announce that he will make marriage equality legislation a priority in 2012.

"It's still a bit of a question mark," Wojahn said about O'Malley's position on how the state should move forward on same-sex marriage legislation in the state and what role he will play in that process. 

"He's calling this press conference for a reason and I think it's promising. I'm very optimistic about what he's going to say, but we can't be certain until it comes out of his mouth."

Wojahn said O'Malley's support will help to convince some of the "reluctant Democrats" in the State Assembly to support marriage equality legislation in 2012.

"I think if the governor is vocally and actively in support of it, then some people who are concerned about opposition to the bill in their districts would be more likely to come out in support of it."

For updates to this story, continue to visit metroweekly.com.

Following months of turbulence at Equality Maryland, from board member resignations to the departure of the organization's executive director in April, the organization announced today that it is taking one of its planned steps to help stabilize and reinvigorate the group.

Equality Maryland announced it is accepting applications through July 31 for volunteers to join the organization's board of directors. According to a press release issued July 15, Sen. Rich Madaleno (D-Montgomery) and Erin Leveton, a past Equality Maryland board president and former senior managing attorney at Whitman-Walker Health, will chair the Nominations Committee for the search process. Patrick Wojahn, chair of the Equality Maryland Foundation board, will serve as the liaison with the current board of directors. 

"Increasing the board of Equality Maryland is a critical step towards further stabilizing this organization," Wojahn says in the release. "The people on this committee bring a fresh perspective and a variety of backgrounds to the selection process. I'm confident that their leadership will ensure Equality Maryland brings on highly qualified new board members to help govern the organization."

Other members of the committee are: Lori Hollander, Kathleen Darden, Del. Mary Washington (D-Baltimore City), MaryAnne Arnow, Mike Meller and Marvin Masterson. 

Part of the organization's six-months strategic plan to stabilize the operations, today's news followed the organization's April vote to remove its executive director and later announcement that the organization was in the midst of a financial crisis.

Equality Maryland is asking for people who have experience in "nonprofit governance, fundraising, public relations, political advocacy, personnel management and financial management." From the press release: 

Diversity of experience, opinion, background, geography and engagement will be considered and valued when developing the final slate of candidates. All first year board members must commit to attending meetings in Baltimore every two to three months, making a personally significant financial contribution to the organization, and with the support of board colleagues and staff, securing $3,000 through solicitation of others or personal giving.

To apply for consideration by the committee, interested parties should read the Board Expectations document and submit a completed Board Application, including a resume and three references. Questions and completed application packets may be directed to nominations@equalitymaryland.org.

[Photo: Madaleno]

Equal rights organizations are joining forces today at 11 a.m. at Baltimore City Hall to launch a coalition that seeks to secure marriage equality in Maryland during the 2012 legislative session. The organizations comprising Marylanders for Marriage Equality are Equality Maryland, Progressive Maryland, the American Civil Liberties Union, Communication Workers of America, Service Employees International Union, the Human Rights Campaign, and Freedom to Marry.

According to a press release issued by HRC, "press conference will include coalition members, state and local elected officials, Maryland couples who are currently being denied access to marriage equality and clergy leaders who support the freedom to marry."

During the 2011 legislative session, Equality Maryland was able to get a marriage bill past the Senate floor, but it ultimately died on the House of Delegates floor after the bill was recommitted, by the House Chairman Joseph Vallario (D-Calvert, Prince George's), back to committee for further discussion. News of the press conference comes after several months of difficulties for Equality Maryland. In April the organization's board voted to remove its executive director. At the end of June Equality Maryland unveiled its six-month strategic plan to stabilize the organization after announcing that the organization was in the midst of a financial crisis.

[UPDATE: According to a press release issued by Progressive Maryland, a statewide coalition of representatives from over 50 religious, community, and labor organizations will join Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and other elected officials at the event. From the release:

“The basic thread of any family is love, and Maryland should honor that love and the commitment of the thousands of gay and lesbian families who are seeking what we all seek: to protect our families,” said Progressive Maryland Executive Director Rion Dennis.

“We’re proud to be working with such a broad and diverse coalition of groups to secure marriage equality in Maryland” said Lisa Polyak, chair of Equality Maryland.  

“While there are many social justice issues my congregants face, I feel compelled to include this issue, the issue of civil marriage equality, as one we work to tackle from a faith perspective,” said Rev. Denis Wiley of Covenant Baptist Church.Wiley, a Prince George’s County resident, draws a significant number of residents from Prince George’s Country to his church. “Some of the strongest families I’ve seen in my congregation are families headed by gay and lesbian couples. They should be able to go to city hall and get a marriage license.”]

For further coverage, continue to visit metroweekly.com.

Equality Maryland's board of directors unveiled today, the organization's six-month strategic plan to "stabilize internal operations of Equality Maryland" by December 31. 

In a statement posted on Equality Maryland's website, they write:

The boards are committed to embracing a new way of doing business in order to create a community supported organization.  By doing so, they will secure the necessary resources and leadership capacity to be an effective partner in bringing equality for LGBT people to Maryland in 2012 and beyond.

The plan, organized in a five-page spreadsheet, details goals the organization wishes to fulfill before the end of the year. Those goals include hiring a permanent executive director, build the board of directors and secure funding to help the organization operate through the end of the year.

The plan also includes partnering with the newly-formed Gender Rights Maryland to "develop a shared legislative strategy for 2012." 

Speaking to Metro Weekly on Friday, June 24, Patrick Wojahn, Chair of Equality Maryland Foundation, said the organization's first priorities are money and board leadership.

"We have two main priorities in the short term, which is the next month or so, which are building the board and fundraising," he said. "To build the board, we're developing a nominations committee that will essentially be identifying the needs that we have on our board, and the skill sets that we need on the board, and then recruiting people from around the state with different areas of expertise, different professions and different networks, to fill the board. 

"The second major short-term priority is to fundraise. And to that end we're working on putting together and agreement now with a fundraising consultant who will be working with us on basically building our funds in the short term and also establishing longer term an ongoing fundraising program."

Equality Maryland is in the final stage of contract negotiations with Andy Szekeres, who is gay and founder of 3pg Consulting in Denver, Colo. Szekeres, who will be working from Denver, says his past work includes leading fundraising efforts for Maine's marriage equality campaign, as well as work on Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.)'s finance team during his first election. 

"I'm very confident that we should have a contract any day now and I'm going to be coming on board to assist with their fundraising effort," Szekeres, 28, says, speaking to Metro Weekly today, June 27. 

"I think Equality Maryland has definitely hit a rough patch," Szekeres says of the organization's current financial situation, "but clearly Maryland is the next state that could have marriage [equality] so I think it's really about getting donors reactivated and back on board. I think we can fix the mistakes that have happened in the past and move on."

According to Wojahn, Equality Maryland is now out of debt, though it will still be operating on a month-to-month basis. 

"I'm happy to announce we are now debt-free and that we have we are going into the month of July with about $10,000 in the bank. We've been doing a lot of fundraising on our own during the past few weeks and we've worked with our national partners to put some of our restricted funds toward paying off existing debt." 

On Thursday, June 23, Equality Maryland announced that it will not be renewing contracts with the organization's field director Damon Hainline, field organizer Karess Taylor-Hughes and the communications manager Linsey Pecikonis, beyond June 30. Remaining on staff through July, a month in which the organization will focus on fundraising, will be one field organizer Owen Smith, office manager Kim Miller, and interim executive director Lynne Bowman. 

Click here to view Equality Maryland's six-month strategic plan. 

[Photo: Szekeres]

Equality Maryland announced on Thursday, June 23, that the organization will not be renewing contracts with the organization's field director Damon Hainline, field organizer Karess Taylor-Hughes and the communications manager Linsey Pecikonis, beyond June 30. Remaining on staff through July, a month in which the organization will focus on fundraising, will be one field organizer Owen Smith, office manager Kim Miller, and interim executive director Lynne Bowman. 

"Since May, the board, staff, and contractors with Equality Maryland have worked diligently to reduce expenses and increase revenue," said Lisa Polyak, Acting Chair of Equality Maryland, Inc.  "As a result of this work and the financial support of both previous and new donors, we are pleased to be ending June in a better position than we previously expected.  However, the board must continue to take the necessary and difficult steps that align with our new strategic plan in order to move the organization forward.  Linsey, Damon, and Karess all did an excellent job during their time with Equality Maryland and we wish them the best."

Equality Marland also announced that it will unveil a six-month strategic plan, designed to help the organization survive its current financial crisis, on its official website on June 27:

"Over the past two months, the remaining members of the board have undertaken a thorough process of self-evaluation," said Patrick Wojahn, Chair of Equality Maryland Foundation, which leads the organization's education efforts.  "Through individual conversations, over a dozen Listening Tour stops and more than 1,200 responses to our online survey, we have actively gathered input about what people want to see from their statewide equality organization.  We have coupled that input with the results of a comprehensive internal review and developed a strong six-month plan that will allow Equality Maryland to become the organization it must be in order to achieve legislative and cultural equality in our state."

Highlights of the plan include the creation of an external nominations committee to manage the growth of the boards of directors; a shift in funding away from gifts from large national donors and toward more support from individual donors across the state; action around member participation in decision-making; and a renewed commitment to work in coalition to see both marriage and fully inclusive gender identity nondiscrimination legislation passed in Maryland.

An incident involving a supermarket, a D.C. gay couple, an epithet and an apology grabbed the attention -- and the Twitter feed -- of a member D.C. City Council this evening.

D.C. City Councilmember Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) reacted today to news that a gay couple had been called "faggots" over this past weekend by a cashier at the Safeway grocery store at 1100 4th St. SW, located in his ward, by taking to Twitter and calling the incident "unacceptable."

Referencing Metro Weekly's report from earlier in on June 15, Wells wrote at a little before 9 p.m., "Unbelievable and absolutely unacceptable. I expect and await an official response from Safeway ASAP."

Hours after Metro Weekly reported on Jason Morgan and Brendan Harrington's story, a local D.C. resident, Andrew Kloman, went to the Safeway store where the incident occurred and videotaped the cashier apologizing. 

As of midnight on Thursday, June 16, the Safeway Eastern Division public affairs office had not responded to a Metro Weekly inquiry seeking comment. When speaking to Metro Weekly, the manager at the Safeway store, Michael Bigelow, declined to comment, referring questions to that office.

Pride at Work, a nonprofit labor organization that is the official LGBT constituency group for the AFL-CIO, announced today that Morgan Meneses-Sheets has been hired as the organization's development director. The organization, whose mission is to ensure equality and visibility for LGBT people at their place of employment, stated in a message to supporters:

"Morgan is an exemplary, tireless worker and someone deeply committed to the fight for equality and justice," said Peggy Shorey, Pride at Work's Executive Director.  "We are thrilled to have Morgan dedicate her skills and experience in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender labor and our allies."

Morgan Meneses-Sheets has spent the past twelve years fighting for social justice, with work including 501(c)3,  501(c)4 and PAC fundraising, writing grant proposals, membership development, event organizing and developing major donor programs.

According to the e-mail message sent to "members and friends" of the organization, Meneses-Sheets will begin working out of Pride at Work's D.C. office, at 815 16th St. NW, immediately. 

Meneses-Sheets, 34, announced on April 22, that she was fired from Equality Maryland. While the board at Equality Maryland initially gave conflicting accounts on Meneses-Sheets's departure, the board later clarified that they had voted to "remove" her from the organization.

In addition to Equality Maryland, Meneses-Sheets, a native of Massena, N.Y., has served as the director of the Montana affiliate of NARAL Pro-Choice America. She currently lives in Howard County, Md., with her wife and their eight-month-old daughter.

Meneses-Sheets is not talking to the press at this time about her new position at Pride at Work.

[Photo: Meneses-Sheets by Todd Franson.]

Last week Equality Maryland announced that it is currently in the midst of a financial crisis, and that it needs about $25,000 a month to maintain its staff and pay for rent of its Baltimore headquarters.

Today, Monday, May 31, in an e-mail message, Equality Maryland announced the resignation of its board president Charles Butler, board president of Equality Maryland Inc., the lobbying arm of Equality Maryland, while a "new chair person has yet to be named."

"Chuck led Equality Maryland through a very difficult five month period," Patrick Wojahn, board chair of Equality Maryland Foundation, the organization's educational arm, says in the release.  "He gave more hours to this organization than anyone will ever know and we will always be grateful for both his recent leadership and his long-term service to Equality Maryland."

According to Equality Maryland's web site, the remaining board consists of At Large members Darrell Carrington, David Lublin, and Mark Yost, Jr.; treasurer Rosemary Nicolosi; and secretary and vice chair Lisa Polyak. 

Wojahn confirms that those board members remain active. He adds that Polyak will serve as temporary chair and spokesperson of that board until a new chair is brought in.

Regarding the status of interim executive director Lynne Bowman, who came in to the organization in April to help stabilize it, earning about $7,000 per month for her work, the release states that her duties have changed: 

Part of the immediate change includes the development of a new contract with interim executive director, Lynne Bowman.  Effective June 1, Bowman's focus will shift from external outreach and programmatic involvement, to management of internal operations and an increased role directly supporting the board's efforts to revamp the organization.  As part of the new contract, Bowman will work at a reduced fee and spend half of the month in Baltimore and the other half working virtually from Ohio.  She will be contracted on a month-to-month basis.

[UPDATE 8:53 PM: Despite the shift in Bowman's duties, Wojahn tells Metro Weekly Equality Maryland will not be seeking help from an external fundraising expert. Instead the organization will be looking to its board, members and staff for help.]

Equality Maryland's board is slated to meet to develop a short-term strategic plan, according to the release, to help the organization function through the end of the year. The board will publicize that plan when it is ready, according to Wojahn. 

In addition to a renewed focus on fundraising with individual donors, it is expected that the plan will also address ways to increase and diversify the membership of the board of Equality Maryland, enhance community involvement in the direction-setting and decision-making of the organization, and identify ways to tighten internal operations and governance. 

[Photo: Wojahn (Photo by Yusef Najafi.)]

Equality Maryland's interim executive director Lynne Bowman is in talks with the organization's board about her future with the organization, on the heels of news reported first by Metro Weekly on Tuesday, May 24, about the organization's finances.

Bowman told Metro Weekly, "The organization is in a very difficult financial situation. We're trying to figure out what that means for me for June."

Bowman currently is on a monthly contract with the organization, being paid roughly $7,000 per month. From the time she was announced as the interim head of the organization, she had said she was not interested in making the move permanent.

Members of the board told Metro Weekly earlier this week that the organization could shut down operations at the end of June if it does not collect $20,000 to $25,000 in donations to cover operating expenses

Of the discussions about her June contract, Bowman said, "It's certainly not anything that anyone wouldn't expect given yesterday's news about the organization's financial situation."

Bowman is headed back to Ohio today, where she and her partner have a home, for the weekend for a Columbus State Community College board of trustees meeting and the Memorial Day holiday. She said the trip would have happened regardless of the financial announcement this week and added that she expects discussions with the board to continue over the weekend.

Additional reporting by Chris Geidner.

In a letter sent tonight from the Equality Maryland board members to "friends, allies, and supporters of LGBT equality" regarding the organization's financial crisis, which was reported earlier today by Metro Weekly, the board members state that they had voted to "remove" former executive director Morgan Meneses-Sheets from the position in April.

Board members initially had given conflicting accounts at the time regarding the departure of Meneses-Sheets, who told Metro Weekly she was fired.

The board members -- who include Chuck Butler, Patrick Wojahn, Lisa Polyak, Rosemary Nicolosi, Darrell Carrington, David Lublin and Mark Yost -- state:

Last month the board of Directors took a step that we had hoped to avoid, but was necessary to restore the organization's integrity and viability -- we voted to remove the Executive Director. We took this action with regret, but because our duty as guardians of Equality Maryland compelled it. We also regret that the Executive Director resigned while we were in the process of negotiating an amicable separation.

On April 22, when talking to Metro Weekly, board president Charles Butler disputed the characterization that Meneses-Sheets was fired, saying rather that the board was in negotiations with her.

"Anything was possible," he said then, of her future with or departure form the organzation.

Today's letter, posted on the organization's website, is dated May 25 -- which is Wednesday -- and titled "The Future of Equality Maryland" and it was penned to address "deficiencies in the organizations." The letter notes:

Since late 2010, when we assumed our leadership roles on the Board of Directors, we have become increasingly aware of deficiencies in the organization. We realized early on that we had to take action to rectify these problems. At the same time, we were focused on advancing the gender identity anti-discrimination and marriage equality bills, which had their first real opportunity for success in the 2011 General Assembly. We thus attempted to manage the organization's problems through internal controls without making any changes that could undermine the viability of either bill.

As you know, the gender identity and marriage bills did not pass. However, they progressed significantly further than ever before, and are positioned for a successful outcome in the near future. For this, we owe much gratitude to all who made this achievement possible, including Maryland's LGBT community, the staff of Equality Maryland, state and national partner organizations, Maryland's openly gay and lesbian legislators, and all our allied legislators and public officials.

Read the full board letter here.

Activists in Maryland followed up on a statement issued by Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) on the hate crime indictiment of a suspect involved in a beating of a transgender woman at a McDonald's restaurant by announcing the formation of a new group called Gender Rights Maryland.

According to a press release issued on Wednesday, May 18, Gender Rights Maryland identifies itself as "a new civil rights organization focused on gender identity and expression in the State of Maryland."

"The organization will consist of a 501(c)4 political arm and 501(c)3 foundation. The organization was founded by members of the Maryland transgender community who were active this year in supporting gender identity legislation in Annapolis as well as in previous years. The organization will be formally launched in the coming weeks."

Maryland transgender activist Dana Beyer will serve as the executive director of the organization, while Sharon Brackett is listed as serving as the group's board chair. 

"The purpose of Gender Rights Maryland is to promote civil rights, education, tolerance, equality and acceptance on the basis of sex and gender identity/expression in the State of Maryland. Gender Rights Maryland’s initial legislative goal is to see the passage of a comprehensive gender identity anti‐discrimination bill by the end of the 2012 legislative session.

Reacting to O'Malley's May 17 statement, Gender Rights Maryland states: 

"Gender Rights Maryland commends Governor O’Malley’s statement yesterday regarding prosecution of the perpetrators of the beating of Chrissy Lee Polis in April, and we concur with him on the importance of fostering a culture of understanding and respect for the dignity of all persons. We welcome the actions of Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott D. Shellenberger, and place our trust in the legal process in pursing justice for Ms. Polis.

We also call upon the Governor to appoint a Commission to study gender identity discrimination in Maryland this year. The debate over the gender identity anti-discrimination bill during the 2011 session of the legislature in Annapolis, followed by this horrific assault, highlight the need for comprehensive legislative remedies, and we believe a commission would be a useful first step in moving our state closer to the goal of being a place where we are all able to lead lives of full human dignity and receive equal justice under law. We welcome the Governor's actions and pledge to work with him to achieve these ends."

[Photo: Beyer by Todd Franson]