War of words heats up over transgender bill

‘‘The CRC is concerned about the safety and well-being of women and young girls being exposed to men in the restrooms who have not fully transitioned,” said Michelle Turner, co-founder and vice president of the advocacy group Citizens for a Responsible Curriculum. ‘‘We don’t feel that the council is realizing the ramification, especially when they are talking about people who ‘feel’ they are women.”

CRC was part of a protest last weekend by about 35 people at the Germantown recreation center, which has a common dressing room area for women and girls, and which critics said would become a dangerous place if the bill is passed.

Others have questioned the need for the bill. At a council hearing last month, the Human Rights Commission, which investigates cases of discrimination, said it has received only three gender identity discrimination complaints in about five years.

In response to critics, the bill’s sponsor, Councilwoman Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At large) of North Bethesda, fired off a statement on Friday.

‘‘Despite the efforts of a small group of ideologically motivated individuals to raise fears and continue discriminatory policies, support for the Montgomery County Council’s proposal to protect the rights of transgender individuals remains strong,” she said.

Trachtenberg proposed the bill in September with guidance from an aide who is a transgender woman and Equality Maryland, an advocacy for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people that is seeking similar legislation at the state level.

‘‘I think this is right at the edge of people’s comfort zone, but for most middle-of-the-road people, I don’t think their dinner should be disturbed by this,” said Councilman George L. Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park. ‘‘I don’t think much will change in the county and don’t think that locker and dressing rooms will become a hostile environment over this. What will change is that people blatantly discriminated against will now have the ability to petition the Human Rights Commission as they couldn’t before.”

Leventhal, whose health committee unanimously approved the legislation, said the bill will probably pass the full council. A vote is set for Nov. 13.

Deficits, taxes and veterans

County Executive Isiah Leggett reiterated the financial challenges facing the state and the county, updated the council on the special legislative session in Annapolis and discussed plans for a new advisory Commission on Veterans Affairs during his monthly breakfast with the County Council on Tuesday.

Leggett and Melanie L. Wenger, the county’s lobbyist in Annapolis and director of intergovernmental relations, took council members through the myriad tax proposals being debated in Annapolis to close the state’s $1.5 billion budget deficit. Of chief concern are possible cuts in state aid as well as tax proposals that could disproportionately affect Montgomery residents.

‘‘So we could get taxed more, get less for our money and face cuts,” said council Vice President Michael J. Knapp (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown.

Added to that, Leggett (D) said, is the county’s projected deficit — $308 million for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The executive said he has been amazed at how many people who do not understand Montgomery’s budget problems.

The new advisory commission, to be announced Thursday, will be a resource for the county’s military veterans, Leggett told council members.

‘‘We have a large veteran population in the county and it appears now is the time pull services for veterans together in on place. This is long overdue,” said Leggett, a Vietnam war veteran who served in the Army.

On the mend

George Leventhal has been sidelined — temporarily — after a deer jumped through his car window on the Beltway on Thursday evening. The councilman’s jaw, chin and left eye socket were broken; he has to have surgery. He was released from the hospital on Sunday.

Calling from his home Monday, the councilman said he is unable to drive. But while he could not participate in Tuesday’s council session (council members are not allowed to cast proxy votes), Leventhal said he will participate in the council’s Health and Human Services Committee meeting via phone on Thursday.

‘‘I’m still recovering and participation in [Tuesday’s] daylong session on the growth policy is just too much at this time. By Thursday, I will be more alert,” he said.

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on interest in a hospital benchmark study. Leventhal, the panel’s chairman, asked for the study months ago to gauge how potential changes such as moves, closures and expansions to the area hospitals would affect access to health care.