101. UPDATE - SB 0581/HB 0039 Change Waiver of Publication Bill - TransMaryland w/ Lee Blinder

<p>UPDATE</p> <p>The house bill passed. Now is the time to support  senate bill #<a href='https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0581'> SB0581 by Senator Hettleman</a>. It comes before the Senate’s JPR this Friday, February 26th at 10am. </p> <p>Folks can call and ask their state Senator to sign on as a co-sponsor to this bill, and also call the senators on the judicial proceedings committee to ask for them to support this bill and provide a favorable report.  </p> <p>For More info: </p> <p>https://transmaryland.org/updates/2021/2/24/action-alert</p> <p>https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0581</p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p> <p style="text-align:center;">----------</p> <p>The University of Maryland School of Public Policy Alumni Board's video and podcast series called Policy Dialogues discusses current events through a policy lens.</p> <p>Episode 13 talks with Lee Blinder who is the Executive Director of Trans Maryland, which is an organization that aims to promote trans wellness throughout Maryland by increasing access to affirming services and resources, while nurturing young trans leadership. </p> <p>Lee discusses <a href='http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0427?ys=2020RS'>HB 427</a> Change Waiver of Publication Bill - Maryland House Committee Hearing. What Does This Bill Do? Under current law, when filing for a legal name change in Maryland, an individual is required to pay to publish a notice of name change in their local newspaper. A petition can be filed to waive the publication requirement, and could be granted by a judge. Publication adds weeks, sometimes months, to the process and can cost up to an additional $250. Publication is also a violation of a person's privacy. The publication can linger on the Internet indefinitely and have adverse results. Some have resulted in workplace discrimination and even violence, in the cases of trans people and survivors of stalking or domestic violence. The process of