Maryland: Gays Among List of Suspected Terrorists

The Washington Post reported Jan. 23 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 The designation has since been rescinded.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, 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.”

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 Jan. 22, 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.