Petition to Repeal Md. Transgender Bill Falls Short

An effort to repeal a bill banning discrimination against transgender people in Maryland has fallen short.

Backers of a petition to repeal the bill conceded Sunday that they gathered about 1,000 fewer signatures than they needed to get the issue on the November ballot.

The bill would ban discrimination against transgender people on matters relating to housing, employment, credit and use of public accommodations.

Democratic Governor Martin O'Malley signed it last month during his last bill signing as governor. He said in a statement Sunday that the measure is an example of Marylanders standing "on the side of fairness and progress.''

Opponents claimed the bill would enable predators posing as transgender people to enter opposite-sex restrooms. Delegate Neil Parrott, a Washington County Republican, led the petition effort.