It took years of organizing and lobbying and coalition building and storytelling. But soon, the Fairness for All Marylanders Act of 2014 will become law.

Just last week, in a 82-57 vote, the Maryland House of Delegates passed the bill which will protect transgender Marylanders from discrimination at work and in our communities. The Senate gave approval to the bill earlier this year, and the Governor has pledged to sign it.

This historic win is the result of tireless work by transgender Marylanders and the team at Equality Maryland and the Maryland Coalition for Trans Equality. According to Carrie Evans, Equality Maryland’s executive director:

“This is the culmination of a very long and sustained effort by Equality Maryland to ensure transgender Marylanders are included in our state’s anti-discrimination laws.  This win is the result of so many people and organizations – transgender individuals and their families showing up and telling their stories year after year, elected officials, many years of dedicated and committed Equality Maryland Board and staff, amazing coalition partners like the Human Rights Campaign.”

Like most pro-LGBT victories, this win took years of work and didn’t come without its challenges.

During debate on the bill in the House of Delegates, one lawmaker referenced the 2001 nondiscrimination bill that protected LGB Marylanders but excluded transgender people:

“What we are about to do today is important,” said state Del. Maggie McIntosh (D-Baltimore City). “This is an important group of people today who frankly we left out 11 years ago. They’re beat up. They’re ridiculed. They are suffering and they need to hold their head up high just like I do.”

Even with passionate support and steadfast leadership from legislators like Del. McIntosh and others, anti-LGBT opponents attempted to derail passage. Several lawmakers proposed amendments that attempted to roll back critical protections in the bill. But advocates had prepared for these harmful efforts, and lawmakers remained strong in the face of opponent scare tactics.

To win this year, after so many years of tireless work, Equality Maryland organized the Maryland Coalition for Trans Equality, a broad coalition of organizations and individuals working to advance equality for transgender Marylanders. It was this coalition and its organizing strategies that Carrie believes was imperative to successful passage of the bill:

“We have been laying the groundwork for this win in many ways. For years, Equality Maryland and our supporters have organized in the streets, lobbied in Annapolis, educated the media and raised our community's voice to support fairness for transgender Marylanders.

From collecting more than 12,000 constituent postcards, to turning out hundreds of people to lobby specifically for transgender rights, our work has focused on building a grassroots movement aimed at empowering transgender Marylanders and their supporters and allies.

We also followed the successful strategy from our fight for marriage equality and brought together more than 50 organizations to form the Maryland Coalition for Trans Equality. This was key to demonstrating a diverse commitment to this bill.”

The Fairness for All Marylanders Act of 2014 is a huge step forward not only for the state of Maryland but for the nation as whole. This bill makes explicit the state’s commitment to providing people of diverse gender identities and expressions equal protection under the law, and it guarantees transgender and gender nonconforming people the opportunity to contribute to their communities and to the local economy.

In 29 states, LGBT individuals can be fired from their jobs, denied a mortgage, and even refused a hotel room simply because of who they are or who they love. In three more states, transgender people are denied critical nondiscrimination protections that have been extended to LGB people.

This important win in Maryland is a powerful example for lawmakers in these 32 states, many of which are currently considering legislation that would protect LGBT people from discrimination. Maryland lawmakers stood on the right side of history, stood against discrimination, stood for transgender Marylanders. From Missouri to Florida, Ohio to Georgia, Pennsylvania to Texas -- lawmakers will soon have the same opportunity to do the right thing.