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)?

I trust most people are able to use restroom and changing facilities without incident. Trans people can and should use the facility that is most comfortable to them, and I pray that we have fostered a community that accommodates those choices without issue.

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

This issue does not typically fall within the purview of local offices— however as I parent of three children, I support medical providers providing care for minors in consultation with minor child’s legal guardian(s). If gender affirming care is what the family decides, that is their right.

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

As a first generation Nigerian American raised in rural Alabama, I have personally experienced inter-personal and systemic racism. I fully support efforts to foster TRUE equity in Howard County through government initiatives.

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

LGBTQ+ content in private establishments (book stores, movie theaters, etc.) - no restrictions. Parents are free to make choices that are right for their families.

As for Schools, I believe that ALL content needs to be age appropriate. I don’t want my elementary school child consuming inappropriate Cis/Het content or LGBTQ+ content that is aimed at teenagers. If the content is age-appropriate, then I don’t have any concerns about the content being available.

If there is content that I don’t want my child to consume for personal reasons— it is my responsibility as a parent to steer my child away from that content. But that does not give me the right to lobby and restrict access to content that may be beneficial to another child and their family because I don’t agree with it. I would prescribe that approach to all parents for all subject matter. And that is the approach I would take as a legislator.

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?

My only concern is administrative. I’m fine with any documentation process that integrates with our core record keeping systems for social security numbers, IDs, birth records, marriage records, etc. I’m not aware of any systemic issues with transitioning at this time, but would be happy to be an ally in updating those processes if necessary.

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. Non-binary is an identity, so that’s appropriately descriptive.

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).

At a government level, this issue is not one I’d have any interest in legislating. Trans women make up less than 0.002% of U.S. college athletes. If the athletic body allows it, I have no issue with it.

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

Trans people should be housed with the gender in which they identify.

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

Private establishments have the right to provide programming of their choice to their customers — so long as it is within the bounds of the law.

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?

Conversion therapy is banned in Maryland. Its efficacy is not supported by scientific research. There is no need to reinstate it.