Blades: Gay group once deemed a security threat

2 views

Skip to first unread message

Tom Dempsey

unread,

Jan 25, 2009, 8:51:59 PM1/25/09

to QueerMaryland, QueerMaryland, QueerDC, que...@googlegroups.com

Gay group once deemed a security threat
Police had Equality Maryland under surveillance
By AMY CAVANAUGH, Washington Blade | Jan 23, 5:09 PM

Equality Maryland, the state's largest gay civil rights group, was revealed this week to be among the many peaceful protest groups that were once designated a "security threat" by state officials.

The Washington Post reported Friday that the Maryland State Police's Homeland Security & Intelligence Division gave Equality Maryland the designation and considered the organization a terrorist group. The designation has since been rescinded.

Dan Furmansky, a former Equality Maryland executive director and leader of the organization when the designation was made, said the situation "feels like a throwback to the days when LGBT people were truly silenced by government."

The Associated Press reported that at least a dozen groups — including those opposed to war and the death penalty — were under surveillance in 2005 and 2006. Files were kept on Equality Maryland's plans to hold rallies outside the State House in Annapolis in favor of legislation that would reverse the state's ban on same-sex marriage. The files will be purged.

At a news conference Thursday, state lawmakers announced plans for legislation to prevent the Maryland State Police from future spying.

According to the Associated Press, Maryland State Sen. Jamie Raskin, a lead sponsor of the legislation and Equality Maryland ally, said the bill would prevent police from keeping files on citizens, except when part of a criminal investigation. Also, police would be required to have reasonable suspicion of criminal activities before initiating surveillance.

Furmansky noted that Equality Maryland is planning to support Raskin's proposal.

"I'm glad that Equality Maryland will be advocating for the Freedom of Association & Assembly Protection Act of 2009 and pursuing legal action with the [American Civil Liberties Union] to ascertain the full extent of the spying," he said.

Vic Basile, a former Human Rights Campaign executive director who lives in Baltimore, called the spying "a badge of honor," and added that "you would think that in this day and age we would be well beyond that kind of J. Edgar Hoover kind of behavior."

He said that Equality Maryland should "make sure the people responsible are brought to justice. They should be fired and if they violated law they ought to be prosecuted."

Kate Runyon, the current executive director of Equality Maryland, could not be immediately reached for comment Friday.