Baltimore OUTloud | LGBT Community News

Monday, 25 January 2010 00:00 staff Local News

ACLU to Harford Schools: Unblock LGBT Web Sites

The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland is joining with several Harford County parents and students to demand that the Harford County Public Schools stop illegally blocking Internet access to information about lgbt issues. In a January 15 letter, the ACLU asks that the school system unblock the internet filtering category “LGBT” so that students and teachers can access political and educational information about lgbt issues on school computers.

AIDS Activists Push for City Council Action

by Steve Charing

Citing the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Baltimore, a group of activists presented a resolution to the Baltimore City Council on January 11. The resolution asked the City Council to agree to hold an informational hearing where they will hear testimony from community organizations and government agencies on the state of HIV/AIDS in Baltimore, and what progress has been made in addressing the State of Emergency in the City, and the recommendations made by the Baltimore HIV Commission on Treatment and Prevention.

Activists who presented resolution from left: Kevin Clemons, Greg Satorie, John Redmond, Carlton Smith and Bill Palmer

Activists who presented resolution from left: Kevin Clemons, Greg Satorie, John Redmond, Carlton Smith and Bill Palmer

"We hope that this information will encourage the Council to be more active and interested in addressing the pandemic," said Bill Palmer, one of the group's organizers. "We are also discussing plans to put together a community summit that will allow all the stakeholders to come together to discuss action oriented solutions."

Baltimore County Democrat Introduces Anti-gay Bill

Baltimore County Delegate Emmett Burns Jr. by Harley Dennett—DC Agenda

A bill to block Maryland from recognizing same-sex marriages performed elsewhere has been introduced in anticipation of Attorney General Douglas Gansler releasing an opinion on the issue.

House Bill 90, from Del. Emmett Burns Jr. (D-Baltimore County), also declares marriages between individuals of the same-sex against state policy, but stops short of amending the constitution.

He proposed measure comes as state Sen. Richard Madaleno Jr. (D-Montgomery County) prepares to re-introduce later this month a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland.