1. Under what circumstances should a transgender person be limited to using facilities designated for their sex assigned at birth (e.g. a trans woman required to use a men’s restroom or locker room)?

This is a matter of fundamental human dignity. I do not support policies that require transgender individuals to use facilities inconsistent with their gender identity.

Our responsibility is to ensure that everyone can move through public spaces safely and with respect. That means applying clear, universal standards for privacy and conduct without targeting or excluding any group.

We can protect both dignity and safety without discrimination.

2. Do you support protecting medical providers’ right to prescribe gender affirming care to transgender patients under 18 years old?

Yes.

3. What limits, if any, should be placed on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in county government?

Diversity is not a buzzword. It is the very fabric of our community and the fundamental strength of our governance. I support DEI initiatives because they ensure that our government is fair and accessible and truly responsive to the people it serves.

My own work staffing the LGBTQ+ Workgroup has shown me that when we create formal structures for community voices we move beyond rhetoric and toward real progress. These efforts must be implemented with transparency and purpose to remove the historic barriers that have for too long prevented our residents from reaching their full potential.

I do not support arbitrary restrictions that would dismantle the very tools we use to build a more perfect and inclusive union.

4. What restrictions should be placed on children’s content (books, videos, etc.) that refers to LGBTQ+ identities?

Our children live in a world that is diverse and beautiful. It is only right that the materials they encounter in their schools reflect that reality. LGBTQ+ individuals and families are part of our community and they deserve to be seen and respected in our educational resources. Content should be judged by its age appropriateness and its ability to prepare our young people for the world they will inherit.

5. What proof, if any, should a person transitioning from one gender to another need to in order to change government issued documents? Are there any circumstances when this should be forbidden?

The process for updating government documents should be clear and it should be respectful. I do not believe we should ask our citizens to jump through unnecessary hoops or face medical hurdles just to have their papers reflect their identity. Unless there is evidence of fraud we must respect the identity of the individual.

6. Do you approve of non-binary gender markers such as “X” instead of “M” or “F” on government documents? Why or why not?

Yes. Not everyone fits neatly into society’s gender binary and it is important that we provide nonbinary individuals with an option that more closely reflects their identity.

7. Should a transgender child who wants to participate in athletics but is uncomfortable in a program for their sex assigned at birth be allowed to participate in a program for the gender they transitioned to? (e.g. a transgender girl who is uncomfortable playing on a boys’ team but who wants to take part in sports).

It is important to affirm trans children’s right to participate in sports on the team that aligns with their gender identity.

8. When transgender people are incarcerated or detained, how should officials decide what gender they should be held with?

The safety of the human person is not negotiable. We must house individuals based on their gender identity and their own assessment of where they are most secure. One size fits all policies are dangerous in these settings and fail to protect the most vulnerable. Our duty is to ensure every person in custody is treated with dignity and kept safe from harm.

9. What restrictions, if any, would be appropriate on entertainment, such as drag shows, with content that involves crossdressing or other gender-nonconforming behavior?

We should apply one standard to all entertainment. Age appropriateness, public safety, and existing laws on explicit content.

There is no basis for singling out performances because they involve gender nonconforming expression. Regulation should be based on content and context, not identity.

10. When should therapies, such as conversion therapy, that seek to alter patients’ LGBTQ+ identity or change the behavior associated with such an identity, be allowed? When should they be restricted? Does it matter if the patient is a minor?

I do not support conversion therapy, especially if the patient is a minor. Adults should have access to supportive, ethical mental health care, but practices aimed at forcing someone to change their sexual orientation or gender identity are harmful. In Maryland, licensed practitioners are prohibited from engaging in conversion therapy with minors.