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)?

Transgender people should not be forced to use facilities that do not align with their gender identity. Doing so creates safety risks, stigma, and unnecessary harm.

Everyone deserves access to safe, dignified facilities. In addition to protecting the rights of transgender individuals to use facilities consistent with their identity, I support increasing access to private, gender-neutral options so all residents feel comfortable. Similar to ADA-accessible facilities, these options benefit the entire community and help ensure no one feels self-conscious or excluded. They are especially important in sensitive settings like county buildings, schools, shelters, or correctional facilities.

The role of county government is to ensure safety and dignity for all, not to single people out or exclude them.

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

Yes. I support protecting the ability of qualified medical providers, in partnership with parents or guardians, to provide gender-affirming care to transgender youth.

These decisions should be made by families and qualified medical professionals, not politicians.

Denying access to care can have serious mental health consequences, while affirming care is supported by major medical organizations as appropriate and, in many cases, life-saving

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

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives are essential to ensuring county government serves every person, every community, and every generation. This is a key characteristic of Howard County culture, to exclude it from how we do business is to deny a key component of who we are.

Rather than limiting DEI, we should strengthen it with concrete, accountable mechanisms: bias training for hiring panels, demographic reporting on service access, and a community advisory process for identifying and addressing equity gaps in county programs. This includes equitable access to services, fair hiring practices, and ensuring that policies reflect the needs of all residents.

Effective DEI is about good governance, accountability, and making sure no one is left behind.

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

I would oppose any county-level effort to direct, pressure, or interfere with those institutions' content decisions.

That said, I do not support restricting access to age-appropriate materials that reflect LGBTQ+ identities. Representation matters, and all children benefit from learning about diverse people and experiences in inclusive, respectful ways. It is my honest belief that broad exposure to different cultures and lifestyles enhances our communities. Decisions about educational content should be guided by educators, families, and established standards, not fear or ignorance.

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?

Self-attestation should be sufficient for name and gender marker changes on county-issued documents. No surgical history, formal diagnosis, or costly medical documentation should be required. Fees should be low or waived for those experiencing financial hardship.

Requirements should not create unnecessary barriers, as accurate identification is important for safety, dignity, and full participation in society. This should not be forbidden under any circumstances.

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

Self-attestation should be sufficient for name and gender marker changes on county-issued documents. No surgical history, formal diagnosis, or costly medical documentation should be required. Fees should be low or waived for those experiencing financial hardship.

Requirements should not create unnecessary barriers, as accurate identification is important for safety, dignity, and full participation in society. This should not be forbidden under any circumstances.

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).

I support Maryland's existing athletic guidance that allows transgender students to participate consistent with their gender identity. At the county rec level, my default is inclusion, every child deserves the benefits of playing sports.

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

Decisions should prioritize the safety, dignity, and well-being of the individual. Whenever possible, individuals should be housed in a manner consistent with their gender identity. County detention facilities should have a written policy requiring individualized review within a defined timeframe (such as 72 hours of intake) rather than defaulting to assignment by sex assigned at birth.

Access to appropriate medical care, including gender-affirming care, must also be maintained. The goal should always be to prevent harm and uphold basic human rights.

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

I do not support broad restrictions on lawful expression, including drag performances. County permitting and licensing should not treat drag performances differently from any other entertainment venue; the same standards that apply to any live performance apply here.

As with any form of entertainment, content should be age-appropriate based on the setting, but LGBTQ+ expression should not be singled out for additional restriction. Freedom of expression and community standards can coexist without targeting or stigmatizing any group.

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 should not be allowed.

It is widely discredited, harmful, and associated with serious mental health risks, especially for young people. I support maintaining and strengthening bans on conversion therapy, particularly for minors, to ensure that all individuals are protected from practices that seek to deny or erase their identity.

Our responsibility is to support people in living safely and authentically, not to subject them to harm.