Kris Fair Announces Run for State Delegate

Candidate seeks to be first openly gay representative from Western MD

Kris Fair

Kris Fair, a Democrat and lifelong resident of Frederick County, will officially announce his candidacy for the Maryland House of Delegates in the current District 3A at a free event on November 15. It will take place at the Monocacy Brewing Company, 1781 N Market Street Frederick, MD 21701 at 6 p.m. The program will run from 6:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

Delegate Karen Lewis Young will be introducing Fair at the kickoff event and endorsing him for the seat she currently holds. Delegate Lewis Young is preparing her run for the Maryland State Senate with the impending retirement of Senator Ron Young. Fair has served as Delegate Lewis Young’s legislative director and former campaign manager. In addition, speakers will include local activists and campaign co-chairs Tracy Racheff and Wil Graham.

At the announcement, numerous local businesses and organizations will be represented, including Brewer’s Alley beer, Dublin Roasters coffee, and food from Traditional Authentic Mexican Food truck. Additionally, The Frederick County Health Department will be providing COVID-19 Vaccines (Moderna, Pfizer, and J & J). Love for Lochlin will be providing free Flu Vaccines.

The campaign asks attendees to bring hygienic items (toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothbrush, hairbrush, deodorant, body wash, toilet paper, etc.) that will be donated through a local nonprofit to families in need during the holiday season.

Fair will outline his message of “Progress Starts on Day One.” His campaign will focus on post-Covid recovery, access to quality education and healthcare for all, fighting for social justice and equity, and investing in critical community needs, including the environment, fair wages, housing, and mental health. He will also share how he is uniquely qualified with vast experience in the nonprofit, for-profit, and public sectors and how he will harness his lived experience to support all Frederick residents with a powerful voice in Annapolis.

“As Delegate I will apply my lived experience growing up gay in rural Frederick County, surviving the many adversities in our community to become one of the leaders that built the largest LGBTQ+ organization in Western Maryland,” Fair told me. “I will fight every day for Frederick residents and my LGBTQ+ family.”

Fair, who is the current Executive Director of The Frederick Center, a support and advocacy organization serving the LGBTQ+ communities in the broader Frederick area, has 20 years’ leadership experience in civil rights and community outreach organizations serving the disenfranchised with a strong track record of inter-agency coordination. Previously, he chaired The Frederick Center Board of Directors for over four years and had been the Director of Frederick Pride since 2012.

A graduate of Linganore High School in 2002, Frederick Community College in 2008, and Hood College in 2012, Fair has been active with numerous organizations besides The Frederick Center. They include The Frederick Arts Council, The Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP), MOM’s Demand Action, The Golden Mile Alliance, Marylanders for Marriage Equality, The Greater Frederick Advertising Federation, Frederick County Democratic Party, and Weinberg Center for the Arts.

In recognition of his strategic planning abilities, leadership skills, and contributions of many volunteer hours, Kris has been honored with the Community Foundation of Frederick County’s Wertheimer Award, The Human Relations Commission’s Lord Nickens Public Service Award, and Hood College’s Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Award. He has been named the Frederick County Democratic Party volunteer of the year and was recently featured in Frederick Magazine’s People to Watch.

Kris Fair currently lives in Frederick City with his husband, Dominick.  

For more information, email info@krisfair.com or visit here.

Frederick Commemorates Transgender Day of Remembrance

The Frederick Center, its Trans and Gender Nonbinary Group, and Hood College present the 2nd annual Frederick Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) on Monday, November 20 at 7 pm in the Marx Center of Hood College (401 Rosemont Avenue). 

We remember those taken from us by anti-transgender violence and transphobia through murder and suicide – centering the experiences of trans women of color, who continue to be targeted in our community and country as well as around the world.

Transgender and gender non-binary community members come together with the greater LGBTQ community, allies, civic leaders, Hood College students and staff, and loved ones and neighbors to share our grief and anger, appreciate the lives and gifts of those lost, highlight the legacy of transgender people, and commit to work towards trans-inclusive social justice. 
The names of transgender people lost in 2017 to an epidemic of violence at home and abroad will be a focus of the observance.

This is the second Transgender Day of Remembrance event in Frederick organized and led by the transgender community. Following the July 26 reinstatement of the ban on transgender soldiers in the U.S. military and record numbers of murdered trans people for the fourth year running, it is imperative that we gather and support this marginalized people.

This event, celebrated internationally, is a critical expression of concern about increasing levels of anti-trans violence as we work for a world free of hatred and brutality. “In Houston, Missouri, a transgender teen was brutally killed and defaced. She was further erased by both local and national media, who identified her with a male name and pronoun,” says Marcia Simpson, a local community leader and member of the planning committee. 

“We are going to say her name, Ally Steinfeld, and talk about the need to understand and support work committed to ending ignorance and anti-trans violence.”

The event is free, but donations are welcome and will support local trans resources. Wheelchair accessible. More information is available online at twitter account @FredTDoR, please use hashtag #FredTDoR for all social media mentions. 

The announcement flyer appears on Facebook. 

In November 1998, the murders of trans women Chanel Pickett and Rita Hester in Boston MA inspired a local candlelight vigil and the creation of the international Trans Day of Remembrance, now observed in dozens of countries and hundreds of cities – more here.

The Frederick Center was founded in 2012 with the vision of being the leading organization for LGBTQ resources and advocacy in central Maryland. It mission is to support, educate, link, organize, and provide outreach to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community and its allies. 

Contact The Frederick Center at: TheFrederickcenter.org; tfc@thefrederickcenter.org;
facebook.com/TheFrederickCenter; facebook.com/TheFrederickCenterYouth; The Frederick Center, PO Box 3231, Frederick, MD 21705-3231.

Trans Students, Allies Fighting for Safe Schools in Frederick

Lawsuit takes aim at protections passed by school board

Mark Procopio, Executive Director of FreeState Justice

Kaden is a 27 year-old transgender man (FTM) who works in Frederick, Md.  As part of the transgender student-led “Support FCPS [Frederick County Public Schools] Trans Students” Facebook page , Kaden posted that trans people from all over the U.S. face difficult challenges, such as “violence towards the community, employment discrimination, bullying” among others. 

He feels that these issues “stem from the mindset that trans people are the ‘other’ and maybe we don’t need to respect them or we can view them as inferior because they are different.” 

Visibility, advocacy and education, says Kaden, are the keys for Frederick residents to support their transgender neighbors.  This is especially important for transgender students.

To help foster this visibility as well as educate the public and build support, the “Support FCPS Trans Students” Facebook page has served as a platform to launch a campaign last spring called #IAmFrederick. The effort is aimed at bringing together trans students, family members, and allies to work towards better safe schools for transgender students.

    Kaden urges visibility.
Photo courtesy of Facebook

Kaden is among a diverse group of people—trans students, allies, family members, educators and counselors—who have participated in this campaign on both Facebook and Instagram whereby supporters are photographed holding up a certificate labeled #IAmFrederick and underneath write why they support trans youth.

This alliance successfully lobbied the Frederick Board of Education for Policy 443, a policy which would protect trans and gender non-conforming students by affirming their student rights.  More specifically, the policy allows students to choose the restroom based on their gender identity as well as participate in sports that are consistent with their gender identity. It would also allow students the opportunity to room with others according to their gender identity. The Board saw to it that privacy rights for all students are protected.

With overwhelming community support, Policy 443 was approved in June. 

“This policy, one of the most affirming of any county school system in the state, protects students from bullying, supports student privacy, and ensures that Frederick schools are safe and welcoming for all students,” said Mark Procopio, Executive Director of FreeState Justice, a legal advocacy organization that seeks to improve the lives of low-income LGBT Marylanders.  “It is a great victory for the student leaders who led the effort.”

A trans youth. Photo courtesy of Facebook

As I reported in the Washington Blade in August, a federal lawsuit in response to this action was filed in the District Court of Maryland by a 15-year-old girl under the pseudonym Mary Smith, and her mother, identified as Jane Doe against the Frederick County Board of Education and Superintendent Theresa Alban.

The lawsuit argues that the policy approved by the Frederick County Board of Education violates the girl’s fundamental right to bodily privacy, and her mother’s fundamental parental rights regarding the care and upbringing of her child.

The content of the complaint is filled with vitriolic hype that lacks a basic understanding of what it means to be transgender.

For example, the suit’s language compares the School Board to a totalitarian regime and likens the School Board’s adopted policy to “child pornography” and “Nazi death camps.”  It also specifically maligns the sexual orientation of a School Board member.

It must be pointed out that the attorney representing the plaintiff, Daniel L. Cox, Esq. of the Emmitsburg, Md.-based Cox Law Center admits to be affiliated with the ADF—The Alliance Defending Freedom .  That fact is stated on the firm’s website. (See image below.)

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization that is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society, the Alliance Defending Freedom has been identified as a national anti-LGBT hate group. 

SPLC states that the Alliance Defending Freedom “supported the recriminalization of homosexuality in the U.S. and criminalization abroad; has defended state-sanctioned sterilization of trans people abroad; has linked homosexuality to pedophilia and claims that a ‘homosexual agenda’ will destroy Christianity and society.”

Undaunted, allies and advocates are determined to see that the policy is upheld.

“Every child in Frederick County Schools deserves a welcoming and safe environment to learn,” says FreeState Justice’s Mark Procopio.  “Policy 443 ensures that transgender students are protected from bullying and harassment and guards the privacy of all students.  It should be defended vigorously against this frivolous suit.”

Plaintiff's graphic on Frederick social media

The Board of Directors of The Frederick Center, a non-profit organization that serves the LGBTQ community in Central Maryland, weighed in as well with the following statement:

“[Members of] The Frederick Center Board of Directors were dismayed to learn of the lawsuit filed [in August] by Jane Doe in an attempt to block the implementation of FCPS Policy 443. Policies like 443 greatly benefit our Transgender community through its affirmation of their identity. The claims in the filing against the Board of Education appear to be baseless and desperate attempt to continue allowing discrimination in our schools and against our children.”

The plaintiff is demanding a jury trial. 

UPDATE:

From FreeState Justice, Maryland's leading LGBT advocacy group:

Today, a Frederick County transgender student filed a motion to defend his school board’s policies that seek to prevent discrimination, harassment, and stigmatization of transgender and gender nonconforming students in the school system, and that seek to ensure students are free to use school facilities in accordance with their gender identity. He is represented by FreeState Justice, the ACLU, and the ACLU of Maryland.

The student filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit currently pending in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, in which a non-transgender student seeks to overturn the Frederick County School Board’s policy protections for transgender students.

The school board’s policies, adopted in June 2017, were welcomed by community members from all over Frederick County. James van Kuilenburg, an honor student at Governor Thomas Johnson High School and the transgender student who moved to intervene today, explained that the policies “gave me the ability to finally be myself and access all parts of my education.”

The lawsuit against the Frederick County School Board was filed anonymously by a non-transgender student and her mother who claim that allowing transgender students restroom and locker room access infringes upon student privacy rights. However, the only privacy violation alleged in the plaintiff’s complaint is by a non-transgender student. The lawsuit also seeks to invalidate policies preventing harassment, and protecting the confidentiality and privacy of transgender students.

In the wake of the lawsuit, the Frederick County group “Support FCPS Trans Students” has started a social media campaign #IAmFrederick to show support for their transgender classmates.

According to van Kuilenberg, reversal of the policies would be “devastating.” “There is an epidemic of trans students feeling unsafe, depressed, and suicidal,” he explained, and a removal of the policies in place to protect them would “create a culture of fear and misunderstanding.”

“It’s important that trans students are given the opportunity to defend themselves against these shameful attempts to isolate and stigmatize them,” said Gabriel Arkles, senior staff attorney at the ACLU LGBT & HIV Project. He added, “Schools can and should provide extra privacy protections or private restroom or changing areas for any student who requests it. But no student has a right to demand that transgender students be segregated from their peers.”

“The Frederick County School Board did the right thing: they created policies that affirm and respect their students’ gender identity.” said Jennifer Kent, Managing Attorney of FreeState Justice, “We intend to vigorously defend these policies in the interests of our client and affected students in Frederick County Public Schools.”

Said ACLU of Maryland Senior Staff Attorney David Rocah, “Everyone seeking an education, including those who are transgender like James, should be treated fairly and equally under the law. Frederick is joined by hundreds of school districts around the country that allow transgender students to use school facilities based on their gender identity. These policies include transgender students as equal members of the school community while still protecting the privacy of all students.”

Counsel on the motion to intervene also include Leslie Cooper and Gabriel Arkles of the ACLU, David Rocah, and Nick Steiner of the ACLU of Maryland and John Hayes, Brian Whittaker, and Kenneth Nichols of the law firm Nixon Peabody, LLP.

Taking the Local Road to Equality

As the transgender rights bill (Fairness for All Marylanders Act) continues to work its way through the General Assembly with hopefully positive results, the last big piece of legislation for LGBT Marylanders will be joining marriage equality in the rear-view mirror.  This is not to say the work is done, however. 

Carrie Evans, the executive director of Equality Maryland, indicated that there are future legislative initiatives concerning equality and justice that intersect with being LGBT.  “We are more than our sexual orientation and gender identity,” she said.  “We are black, immigrant, parents, rural dwelling, disabled, young, and senior citizens, and Equality Maryland will work on advocating for the whole of an LGBT person’s identity and issues.” 

While Equality Maryland re-tools its mission to take on matters that concern these groups, there are those who strongly believe that the most effective way to deal with anti-gay brushfires around the state is to go local.  The recent physical attack of a gay couple in New York’s West Village should underscore the fact that there are too many haters out there, which cannot be masked by recent victories in marriage and transgender equality.

Having local affiliates throughout the state, similar to what the NAACP does, makes patently good sense.  Volunteers consisting of LGBT folks and allies in each county (or region) should form groups that could be called, for example, “Equality Allegany” or “Equality Eastern Shore” or “Equality Prince George’s” depending on the jurisdiction.

With an LGBT presence at the local level, there could be more efficient ways to interact with the police on crimes or hate bias incidents directed towards LGBT folks.  Local affiliates could meet with police representatives to discuss such matters and hold conversations to educate the police on LGBT concerns that cannot be accomplished at the state level.

Local equality affiliates could also interact with their elected officials whether they are county executives, councilpersons, state representatives or other elected officials.  Maryland is a diverse state with each jurisdiction having unique problems.  Residents of these localities are familiar with these issues; perhaps they know the officials well enough to have a cup of coffee and initiate meaningful dialogue.

The same could be said for the local school boards.  Numerous LGBT families have children attending schools, and there are, of course, LGBT kids all over.  While the state has anti-bullying measures in place, individual incidents need to be addressed at the local school board level.  Who is better equipped to discuss anti-bullying policies than those people living in the same county and who may be members of the PTA or personally know members of the board?

Getting the local business community behind its LGBT neighbors cannot be overemphasized.  As the fracas in Arizona proved, business people saw discrimination as counter-productive and applied strong pressure on Governor Brewer to veto the preposterous discriminatory bill.  The local affiliate representatives should meet with business owners—large and small—to determine how supporting LGBT rights would be mutually beneficial.

I would also encourage each local group to form a speakers’ bureau consisting of at least one LGBT person, a parent of an LGBT child and another ally to foster trust and understanding.  The speakers would explain that as more and more people come out as LGBT, they are your family members, friends, classmates, neighbors and co-workers.  The presentations and discussions concerning LGBT issues should be directed at businesses, government entities and even religious organizations.  They should push to get invited; such talks would resonate given that the presenters are neighbors and customers.

Efforts at the local level have already paid dividends over the years, and there are already such “equality organizations” in place.  I’ve seen firsthand the myriad accomplishments of PFLAG-Howard County, which is a model for advocacy in the state.  The chapter has been successful at the county and state levels as well as in the private sector to eliminate the last vestiges of discrimination.

The progress being made by both The LGBT Center and the PFLAG chapter in Frederick has been notable.  They are working with the police and businesses to create a comfortable environment for a growing LGBT population in what was once a very conservative area.

There are other PFLAG chapters around the state that could serve as the root organization for the equality affiliate.  Chapters exist in Baltimore, Carroll, Kent and Montgomery counties, so they would be off to a fast start.  There has also been some movement in organizing LGBT events in Anne Arundel.

The GLCCB perhaps could serve as the principal organization in Baltimore City.  They have already taken big strides through their partnering with city government on a number of issues and have maintained a good relationship with the police—key successes in an urban environment.

Other affiliates, of course, would have to be established in rural counties.  The tasks are more daunting in those areas given the socially conservative mindset, but that is where the work is most needed.  Again, one should stress that those folks are their neighbors, customers, teachers, physicians and friends.  It’s worked before; it should work again.

All this localization is not designed to reduce Equality Maryland’s role in the quest for LGBT rights.  On the contrary, that organization could be a significant factor in the success of this effort.  I believe it should serve as the umbrella organization for the local affiliates.  Since the local groups would consist of volunteers, it would not place a financial burden on Equality Maryland.  They can use their database to identify potential volunteers around the state.

The larger organization would provide guidance on policy matters and connect the locals to elected officials.  Equality Maryland could hold an annual conference/fundraiser to discuss best practices among other subjects.  To the extent Equality Maryland would have control over the local groups would be left to the affiliates to negotiate. 

This is a big undertaking that will take time to succeed.  But going local is the right direction to take on the winding road to equality.

Looking Beyond Marriage Equality

Having just viewed the poignant and heartrending film Bridegroom on the OWN network, I’d be hard pressed to find a better case for marriage equality.  The documentary, produced by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, known best for her creating the TV series Designing Women and her close association with the Clintons, tells the real story of two young small-town men Shane Bitney Crone and Tom Bridegroom who fall deeply in love and remained together for six years until Tom’s fatal accident at the age of 29 in 2011.  

Using interviews and footage from Shane’s video diary, the film presents the intense love between the two men and the reactions from family members as their relationship blooms.  Sadly, Tom’s parents were not accepting. 

Following the accident, the hospital staff initially would not permit Shane to visit him as he was not “family” under hospital rules.  After he died, Tom’s parents cut Shane off from making funeral arrangements and being a part of the services.  His life and relationship with Tom was completely eradicated as if it never occurred.  Of course, if marriage equality was legal (they were living in Prop 8 California at the time), the couple would have been married according to their stated plans, and Shane would have had the right to make the funeral arrangements. 

This story is among countless others that illustrate why it is so important to keep up the momentum in forging the legalization of same-sex marriage throughout the country.

It’s a sexy and appealing issue in that many gay and lesbians’ dreams include settling down with the person they love and being committed to that person in a lasting relationship with all the legal rights, benefits and responsibilities conferred upon heterosexual couples. LGBT organizations have capitalized on the significance of marriage equality; many have flourished by raising funds to fight the good fight.

But as same-sex marriages become the law in state after state through the courts, legislatures and the ballot box (keep in mind that in 36 of the 50 states it is still not legal), what’s next for the LGBT movement, and in particular, those statewide LGBT organizations who have been in the forefront of the struggle?

Perhaps not as sunny as the thought of colorful weddings and a lifetime of bliss is the reality that there is a ton of work to do to achieve full equality for LGBT folks.  Senator Ben Cardin at Equality Maryland’s 25^th anniversary celebration said, “We will not be satisfied until we pass the Employment Non-discrimination Act,” popularly known as ENDA.

How important is this?  In no less than 29 states, a person can be fired from his/her job just for being gay.  The bill, which has been languishing in Congress for three decades, has been gaining steam over the years but can’t find its way to passage.  While the Senate is expected to consider a comprehensive ENDA by Thanksgiving, the tea party-controlled House of Representatives will create more obstacles despite overwhelming public support to end job discrimination based on sexual orientation.  That’s what they do.

At the same gala, Equality Maryland executive director Carrie Evans—and later echoed by Sen. Rich Madaleno—promised to work hard for passage of a statewide bill that would extend protections based on gender identity and expression.  Such laws exit in Baltimore City as well as Montgomery, Howard and Baltimore counties but no state measure has been enacted yet.  Many expect it can be accomplished if not this upcoming General Assembly (an election year) then 2015.  It’s way overdo.

Another area that local LGBT organizations can help considerably is the plight of homelessness among LGBT youth, a condition which Sen. Madaleno said cannot be tolerated.  Despite general gains in acceptance, young people are being tossed out of their homes by parents or family members for being gay or transgender or that the home environment is so rough that these kids have no choice but to leave.

Homelessness is a catastrophe to begin with; it’s even more acute for youth.  They are vulnerable to: poor health leading to disease, crime both as a victim or perpetrator, prostitution, drug and alcohol abuse—all tragedies considering their whole lives are ahead of them if they live that long.

In my interview with Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, she acknowledged the tragedy of homelessness.  “It is even more heartbreaking when it involves our LGBT youth. They face extra challenges, such as being rejected by their own families,” she said.  “My administration is aware of the many barriers that they face and we are working to create a safe place where youth can receive services, as there are several non-profit agencies willing to collaborate with the City to help address the concerns of our LGBT homeless youth.”

The Frederick Center, rapidly becoming a template for LGBT community centers, is also making a concerted effort to provide services to LGBT youth and mitigate the risk of homelessness.  A strong effort is needed in Baltimore by such organizations as the GLCCB and Equality Maryland to raise funds for the cause and work with the city on this mission.  It’s vital.

And you don’t have to be an organization to do your part.  Local drag performer Shawnna Alexander is putting together an event to feed homeless LGBT youth on Thanksgiving Day.  It will take place from 1 pm. to 5 p.m. at the Metropolitan Community Church, 401 W. Monument St. in Baltimore.  Shawwna is raising money for this project by asking local establishments to hold 50-50 raffles, and from what I’m hearing, there has been great success. 

Therefore, worthwhile causes can attract interest and money if cases made for these initiatives are well-articulated.  There are many other needs to be addressed, such as improving police relations, dealing with domestic violence, the aging population and on and on.

Marriage equality, extremely important as it is and a magnet for donors is one thing.  The less glamorous issues are another, and they must be dealt with and soon.

At the Center of LGBTQ Frederick

On a recent cool Saturday morning, there was a flurry of activity at the public library on E. Patrick Street in the heart of the historic district in Frederick, Md.  Several people were lugging pamphlets, name tags, business cards, beverages and pastries into the library’s community room while others were setting up tables and chairs and preparing a Power Point presentation. 

Outside the building, one can peer through the famous spires of Frederick and see the autumn colors on Maryland’s mountains in the distant west.  The foliage may as well have been rainbow colors as the folks performing these tasks inside were getting ready for the 2^nd annual general meeting of the LGBTQ Frederick Center or simply The Frederick Center (TFC).

Fifteen years ago, the idea of a gay center here would have been considered unimaginable.  Alex X. Mooney, a virulently anti-gay conservative Republican from Frederick was elected to the state Senate in 1998 using, in part, a message warning voters of the “homosexual agenda.”  He once said, “Homosexual activists have managed to gain legal recognition as a minority, based solely on their lifestyle choices, through so-called ‘hate crimes’ and domestic partnership laws.”

Employing divisive rhetoric like that, Mooney was elected two more times, reaffirming Frederick’s conservative leanings, but with decreasing margins each time.  Yet, with the help of changing demographics and a solid push by Equality Maryland, Mooney was finally unseated in 2010 by pro-LGBT former Frederick Mayor Ron Young. 

Frederick County, an exurb of Washington D.C. and Baltimore—a distance roughly equidistant to both—has seen a growth in population of around 25 percent since 2000.  Much of this increase is attributed to an influx of young married white collar workers and professionals or singles moving into new housing developments.  Indeed, the median age in the county is seven years younger than the rest of the state.

With the arrival of younger, more educated residents, a less conservative tilt exists, but the political landscape has not shifted to the point where it is like Montgomery County or Baltimore City.  Brian Walker, the president of TFC board said while there has been progress inside Frederick especially due to the increasing number of affirming churches, “the attitude towards LGBT folks outside of Frederick has been spotty.”

Nonetheless, a pro-LGBTQ mindset is on the rise.  Although in 2012 Romney defeated Obama by a 50% to 47% margin in Frederick County, voters affirmed Question 6 on same-sex marriage by 2,400 votes or 51% to 49%.

With positive support in Frederick increasing, it is no small wonder that The Frederick Center emerged; yet it did so because its founder realized something was missing.   “I felt there was a need for an LGBTQ center in Frederick because of my experience,” says Austin Beach, 21, who is also the Executive Director of TFC. “As a young man discovering my identity I had no resources that were easily available to me and I felt firsthand how that affected me. I didn't want anyone else to go through that same process of feeling there was no one there to help them.”  In January 2012, TFC was born.

The annual meeting on October 19 drew about 25 people from in and around Frederick.  It began with a report from TFC’s treasurer Peter Brehm where he proudly announced that during this fiscal year that will end December 31, there has already been an exponential increase in the fledgling organization’s coffers.  “Most of the money came from Pride where about 1,000 attended and through donations by couples in the name of marriage equality,” he explained.

Maureen Connors and Cindie Beach (Austin’s mother) discussed TFC’s upcoming anti-bullying campaign that will include a presentation of the film Bully and panel discussions from a legal and mental health perspective. 

Cindie heads up TFC’s youth group where “over the past two years, there had been a total of 70 youth and of those, seven were at one time homeless.”  She also performed four suicide interventions. “To succeed, the youth must have a roof over their heads and food in their mouths,” Cindie says passionately.   “We need emergency housing and long-term housing for these kids and a support system in place. Some get thrown out for being LGBT and appear at my door.  It breaks my heart.”

A survey conducted at Frederick Pride, which takes place at Utica Park, indicated an overwhelming desire for TFC to be in the forefront of youth services.  Among the activities for the youth group are topical educational events, socials, games and discussions.  They meet weekly, mostly at the Grace United Church of Christ.

Although LGBTQ youth is a significant focus for TFC, there is still a desire to reach out to LGBT adults and try to get them involved. Katherine Jones chairs the Adult Services Committee where such activities as social events, bike rides, hiking, plays and brunches take place. 

Austin announced noteworthy progress in improving relations with the Frederick police and LGBTQ folks. Three training sessions on LGBTQ issues have occurred and more will come.  Topics to be raised include: parental abuse of LGBTQ children, searches and pat-downs, handling domestic violence cases, searches of gender-variant people and those transitioning. 

“The police are very forward-thinking due to efforts by current chief Tom Ledwell and Training Coordinator Lt. Dwight Sommers,” adds Cindie.  “They seek us out for sensitivity training.  Sommers wants to connect us with security personnel at Frederick Community College, Ft. Detrick, and others.”

Jackie Zirkin announced the formation of a sexual abuse survivor peer support group called Peaceful Connections.  A Facebook page with that name exists so that people can connect.

Keiden Bren Stamoulis briefly discussed Trans-Variant—a leading support services provider in Central Maryland for trans-variant individuals—followed by a Power Point presentation on gender roles and identity using the “Genderbread” diagram.  Later Keiden and Ahlea Gavin appeared on a panel moderated by Katherine Jones that discussed a range of transgender issues.

So much progress has already been made including writing bylaws, and more is on the way.  TFC is filing for 501(c)(3) status.  A directory of businesses in and around Frederick that are either LGBTQ-owned or -friendly is being developed.  Also, a directory for LGBTQ-friendly health services, gyms, dentists and physicians is being compiled.  And the group is thinking of partnering with businesses in such ventures as a gay wedding expo.

“I have been incredibly proud of all we have accomplished in the first couple years,” says Austin. “We are way ahead of where most organizations are expected to be at this point in our development and what we have managed to accomplish through the hard work of a dedicated local community is creating a solid foundation for an impressive presence in the local community.”

TFC does not have a permanent home as of yet.  They hold events in Frederick’s affirming churches and other pro-LGBTQ business establishments.  But that could change.  “I envision the center being a focal point of support, resources, and education for Marylanders LGBTQ community both inside, but especially outside of the DC and Baltimore areas,” Austin points out. “I hope to soon see us having our own space, offering transitional services, counseling, shelter space, etc. to the LGBTQ community and if all goes well, being on the forefront of LGBTQ advocacy in Maryland in the ever-growing area of Frederick.”

For more information about The Frederick Center, click here.

PHOTO: The Frederick Center’s leaders, from left: executive director Austin Beach, board members Diane Iñiguez, Rev. Dr. Robert Apgar-Taylor, Katherine Jones, Brian Walker, Cindie Beach, Maureen Conners and Peter Brehm