HoCo Advocacy Corner
PFLAG Columbia-Howard County is a tax-exempt nonprofit 501(c)(3)organization. We do not endorse any political party or elected officials.
Join the PFLAG HoCo Advocacy Action Committee
If you’re interested in getting more involved, contact us to find out more about our Advocacy Action Committee. Together we will set our chapter advocacy priorities, organize candidates forums and other election season engagement events, ensure representation on local boards and commissions, and so much more. We can’t do this work without your help. Contact us to get involved today!
Submit your comment today in support of hard-won Title IX protections in sport!
20 states have anti-trans sports bans, with more states trying to pile on with trans discrimination. Now, it’s time to take action in support of trans student athletes. The Department of Education is taking comments from now through May 15th on its proposed rule on Title IX Athletics, which prohibits categorical exclusion of trans athletes by schools and sets criteria to which they must adhere to receive federal funds. Read our fact sheet to learn more about the proposed rule. Submit your comment today! Together we can ensure that non-discrimination protections based on sex are fully inclusive of our transgender, nonbinary and intersex loved ones and neighbors!
Find out what legislation has been proposed at the local level this legislative session.
Howard County Council
District 1
Liz Walsh
3430 Courthouse Drive
Ellicott City, MD 21043
410-313-2001 | Email
District 2
Opel Jones
3430 Courthouse Drive
Ellicott City, MD 21043
410-313-2001 | Email
District 3
Christiana Rigby
3430 Courthouse Drive
Ellicott City, MD 21043
410-313-2001 | Email
District 4
Deb Jung
3430 Courthouse Drive
Ellicott City, MD 21043
410-313-2001 | Email
District 5
David Yungmann
3430 Courthouse Drive
Ellicott City, MD 21043
410-313-2001 | Email
Baltimore County Council
District 1
Pat Young
754 Frederick Road
Catonsville, MD 21228
410-887-0896 | Email
District 2
Israel “Izzy” Patoka
400 Washington Avenue
Towson, Maryland 21204
410-887-3385 | Email
District 3
Wade Kach
400 Washington Avenue
Towson, MD 21204
410-887-3387 | Email
District 4
Julian E. Jones, Jr.
400 Washington Avenue
Towson, MD 21204
410-887-3389 | Email
District 5
David Marks
9210 Seven Courts Drive
Perry Hall, Maryland 21236
410-887-3384 | Email
District 6
Mike Ertel
7856 Belair Road
Baltimore, MD 21236
410-887-3388 | Email
District 7
Todd K. Crandell
7839 Eastpoint Mall | Suite 307
Baltimore, MD 21224
410-887-3383 | Email
General Assembly Delegations
Howard County General Assembly Delegation
District 9
Sen. Katie Fry Hester (D), District 9
James Senate Office Building, Room 304
11 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3671
e-mail: katiefry.hester@senate.state.md.us
Del. Chao Wu (D), District 9A
Lowe House Office Building, Room 217
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3556
e-mail: chao.wu@house.state.md.us
Del. Natalie Ziegler (D), District 9A
Lowe House Office Building, Room 214
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3352
e-mail: natalie.ziegler@house.state.md.us
Del. M. Courtney Watson (D), District 9B
Taylor House Office Building, Room 214
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3077
e-mail: courtney.watson@house.state.md.us
District 12
Sen. Clarence K. Lam (D), District 12
Miller Senate Office Building, Room 420
11 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3653
e-mail: clarence.lam@senate.state.md.us
Del. Jessica M. Feldmark (D), District 12A
Lowe House Office Building, Room 216
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3205
e-mail: jessica.feldmark@house.state.md.us
Del. Terri L. Hill (D), District 12A
Lowe House Office Building, Room 404
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3378
e-mail: terri.hill@house.state.md.us
District 13
Sen. Guy J. Guzzone (D), District 13
James Senate Office Building, 3 West Wing
11 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3572
e-mail: guy.guzzone@senate.state.md.us
Del. Vanessa E. Atterbeary (D), District 13
Taylor House Office Building, Room 131
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3471
e-mail: vanessa.atterbeary@house.state.md.us
Del. Pamela Lanman Guzzone (D), District 13
Taylor House Office Building, Room 216
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3083
e-mail: pam.guzzone@house.state.md.us
Del. Jennifer R. Terrasa (D), District 13
Lowe House Office Building, Room 217
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3246
e-mail: jen.terrasa@house.state.md.us
Baltimore County General Assembly Delegation
District 6
Sen. Johnny Ray Salling (R), District 6
James Senate Office Building, Room 416
11 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3587, (301) 858-3587
e-mail: johnny.salling@senate.state.md.us
Del. Robin L. Grammer, Jr. (R), District 6
Lowe House Office Building, Room 416
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3298
e-mail: robin.grammer@house.state.md.us
Del. Robert B. Long (R), District 6
Lowe House Office Building, Room 320
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3458
e-mail: bob.long@house.state.md.us
Del. Richard W. Metzgar (R), District 6
Lowe House Office Building, Room 414
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3332
e-mail: ric.metzgar@house.state.md.us
District 7
Sen. J. B. Jennings (R), District 7
James Senate Office Building, Room 403
11 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3706
e-mail: jb.jennings@senate.state.md.us
Del. Ryan Nawrocki, District 7A
Lowe House Office Building, Room 322
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3289
e-mail: ryan.nawrocki@house.state.md.us
Del. Kathy Szeliga (R), District 7A
Lowe House Office Building, Room 426
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3698
e-mail: kathy.szeliga@house.state.md.us
District 8
Sen. Katherine A. Klausmeier (D), District 8
James Senate Office Building, Room 123
11 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3620
e-mail: katherine.klausmeier@senate.state.md.us
Del. Nick Allen (D), District 8
Lowe House Office Building, Room 308
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3365
e-mail: nick.allen@house.state.md.us
Del. Harry (H.B.) Bhandari (D), District 8
Lowe House Office Building, Room 303
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3526
e-mail: harry.bhandari@house.state.md.us
Del. Carl W. Jackson (D), District 8
Lowe House Office Building, Room 303
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3766
e-mail: carl.jackson@house.state.md.us
District 10
Sen. Benjamin T. Brooks, Sr. (D), District 10
James Senate Office Building, 303
11 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3158
e-mail: benjamin.brooks@senate.state.md.us
Del. Adrienne A. Jones (D), House Speaker, District 10
State House, H-101, State Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3800
e-mail: adrienne.jones@house.state.md.us
Del. N. Scott Phillips (D), District 10
Lowe House Office Building, Room 319
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3358
e-mail: scott.phillips@house.state.md.us
Del. Jennifer White (D), District 10
Lowe House Office Building, Room 319
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3352
e-mail: jennifer.white@house.state.md.us
District 11
Sen. Shelly L. Hettleman (D), District 11
James Senate Office Building, Room 131
11 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3131
e-mail: shelly.hettleman@senate.state.md.us
Del. Cheryl E. Pasteur (D), District 11A
Lowe House Office Building, Room 306
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3833
e-mail: cheryl.pasteur@house.state.md.us
Del. Jon S. Cardin (D), District 11B
Lowe House Office Building, Room 304
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3054
e-mail: jon.cardin@house.state.md.us
Del. Dana M. Stein (D), District 11B
Taylor House Office Building, Room 251
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3527
e-mail: dana.stein@house.state.md.us
District 42
Sen. Christopher R. West (R), District 42
James Senate Office Building, Room 303
11 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3648
e-mail: chris.west@senate.state.md.us
Del. Nino Mangione (R), District 42A
Lowe House Office Building, Room 320
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3258
e-mail: nino.mangione@house.state.md.us
Del. Michele J. Guyton (D), District 42B
Lowe House Office Building, Room 426
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3793
e-mail: michele.guyton@house.state.md.us
District 43
Sen. Mary L. Washington (D), District 43
Miller Senate Office Building, 102
11 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3145
e-mail: mary.washington@senate.state.md.us
Del. Catherine M. Forbes (D), District 43B
Lowe House Office Building, Room 304
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3487
e-mail: cathi.forbes@house.state.md.us
District 44
Sen. Charles E. Sydnor III (D), District 44
James Senate Office Building, Room 216
11 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3612
e-mail: charles.sydnor@senate.state.md.us
Del. Eric D. Ebersole (D), District 44A
Lowe House Office Building, Room 305
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3328
e-mail: eric.ebersole@house.state.md.us
Del. Aletheia McCaskill (D), District 44B
Lowe House Office Building, Room 326
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3544
e-mail: aletheia.mccaskill@house.state.md.us
Del. Sheila S. Ruth (D), District 44B
Lowe House Office Building, Room 326
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3802
e-mail: sheila.ruth@house.state.md.us
Local Boards and Commissions
Local boards and commissions are vital aspects of our participatory democracy. These groups allow those of us who are not elected officials to have our voices heard on an official level when it comes to policy development and implementation. We are an umbrella community so ALL matters impact our community. PFLAG encourages you to GET INVOLVED! If you have the capacity, find a commission that covers a topic you’re interested in and see if you can sign up!
Howard County School System Commissions
- Community Advisory Council
- Career Academies Advisory Committees
- Elementary Curricular Advisory Committee (ECAC)
- Fine Arts Advisory Council
- Gifted and Talented Education Program Advisory Committee
- Howard County Early Childhood Advisory Council
- Instructional Technology and Library Media Advisory Board
- Mathematics Advisory Committee (MAC)
- School Health Council
- Science Advisory Committee (SAC)
- Secondary Language Arts Advisory Committee
- Social Studies Advisory Committee
- Special Education Community Advisory Committee (SECAC)
- World Language Advisory Committee (WLAC)
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Group
- Mental Health Community Subcabinet
- Program Innovation Advisory Board
- Special Education Advisory Council
- Student Advisory Council
Howard County Government Boards & Commissions
- Adult Public Guardianship Review Board
- Board of Elections
- Board of Health
- Board of Library Trustees
- Board to Promote Self Sufficiency
- Citizens’ Election Fund Commission
- Commission on Aging
- Commission on Disabilities
- Commission for Transitioning Students With Disabilities
- Commission for Veterans & Military Families
- Commission for Women
- Consumer Protection Advisory Board
- Design Advisory Panel
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission
- Early Childhood Advisory Council
- Economic Development Authority Board of Directors
- Equal Business Opportunity Commission
- Ethics Commission
- Historic Preservation Commission
- Housing Commission
- Housing & Community Development Board
- Howard County Early Childhood Advisory Council
- Howard County Police Accountability Board
- Human Rights Commission
- Human Trafficking Prevention Coordination Council
- Local Behavioral Health Authority (HCLBHA) Board
- Local Children’s Board
- Personnel Board
- Planning Board
- Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board
- Public Spaces Commission
- Public Works Board
- Recreation & Parks Advisory Board
- Revenue Authority
- Social Services Board
- Spending Affordability Advisory Committee
Baltimore County Public School System Commissions
- Area Education Advisory Councils
- Career and Technology Education Advisory Council
- The Citizens’ Advisory Committee for Gifted and Talented Education
- PTA Council
- Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee
Baltimore County Government Boards & Commissions
- Affordable Housing Work Group
- Adult Public Guardianship Review Board
- Advisory Arbitration Panel
- Commission on Aging
- Board of Appeals
- Commission on Arts and Sciences
- Behavioral Health Advisory Council
- Charter Review Commission
- Child Protection Panel
- Baltimore County Advisory Commission on Environmental Quality (CEQ)
- Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
- Human Trafficking Work Group
- Design Review Panel
- Commission on Disabilities
- Community Advisory Council
- Drug Overdose Lethality Review Team
- Economic Development Advisory Board
- Ethics Commission
- Equitable Policing Work Group
- Fair Election Fund Work Group
- Board of Health
- Human Relations Commission
- Landmarks Preservation Commission
- Board of Library Trustees
- Local Health Improvement Coalition
- Local Management Board
- Minority Business Enterprise Commission
- Opioid Response Working Group
- Personnel and Salary Advisory Board
- Planning Board
- Professional Services Selection Committee
- Board of Recreation and Parks
- Baltimore County Revenue Authority
- Board of Social Services
- Commission on Veterans’ Affairs
- Commission for Women
- Workforce Development Board
State of Maryland Boards and Commissions
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- Access to Counsel in Evictions Task Force
- Adaptive Reuse of Vacant Commercial Spaces, Work Group on
- African Affairs, Governor’s Commission on
- African-American History & Culture, Commission on
- Aging, Commission on (DA)
- Aging Services, Interagency Committee on
- Alternative Response, Advisory Council for (DHS)
- Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders Council, Virginia I. Jones
- Ambulance Safety, Task Force on
- Appellate Courts Judicial Nominating Commission
- Apprenticeship & Training Council (DOL)
- Architectural Review, State Board of (DGS)
- Art, Maryland Commission on Public
- Artistic Property, Commission on
- Arts Council, Maryland State (DCOM)
- Asian-American Hate Crimes Work Group
- Asian-Pacific American Affairs, Governor’s Commission on
- Assisted-Living Facilities, Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes &
- Baltimore Corridor Transit Study – Red Line, Citizens’ Advisory Council for the
- Bay Restoration Fund Advisory Committee
- BayStat Program Scientific Advisory Panel
- Behavioral Health Advisory Council
- Broadening Options & Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) Advisory Board (SDOE)
- Building Rehabilitation Code Advisory Council, Maryland (DL)
- Cancer Control, State Council on
- Cannabis [Marijuana] Commission, Natalie M. LaPrade Medical
- Capital Debt Affordability Committee
- Career & Technology Education, State Board of (SDOE)
- Caregiving, Maryland Commission on (DHS)
- Caribbean Affairs, Governor’s Commission on
- Chesapeake & Atlantic Coastal Bays, Critical Area Commission for the (DNR)
- Central Maryland Regional Transit Plan Commission
- Chesapeake Bay, Governor’s Council on the
- Chesapeake Bay Bridge Reconstruction Advisory Group (DOT)
- Chesapeake Conservation Corps Program Board
- Child Abuse & Neglect, State Council on (DHS)
- Child Care Advisory Council, Office of (SDOE)
- Children, State Citizens Review Board for (DHS)
- Children, State Coordinating Council for
- Children’s Cabinet, Advisory Council to the
- Children’s Environmental Health & Protection Advisory Council, State
- Children’s Justice Act Committee (DHS)
- Civil Rights, Commission on
- Climate Change, Commission on (DOE)
- College Collaboration for Student Veterans Commission, Maryland (DVA)
- Community Health Resources Commission, Maryland (DH)
- Community Health Worker Advisory Committee, Maryland State
- Consumer Council
- Correctional Education Council (DOL)
- Correctional Standards, Commission on (DPSCS)
- Correctional Training Commission (DPSCS)
- Criminal Justice Information Advisory Board
- Criminal Sentencing Policy, State Commission on
- Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Maryland Advisory Council on the
- Deaf Culture Digital Library Advisory Board
- Debt, Commission on State
- Developmental Disabilities Council, Maryland
- Disabilities, Interagency Transition Council for Youth with
- Disabilities, Maryland Commission on (DOD)
- Disabilities Board, Interagency (DOD)
- Early Childhood Advisory Council, State (SDOE)
- Economic Development Commission, Maryland (DCOM)
- Education Funding in the State of Maryland Stakeholder Group, Cost of Adequacy of (SDOE)
- Educational Opportunity for Military Children, Maryland State Council on
- Emergency Management Advisory Council
- Emergency Response Commission, Maryland State
- Employment Advancement Right Now (EARN) Stakeholder Work Group (DOL)
- Environmental Advisory Council, Attorney General’s
- Environmental Justice & Sustainable Communities, Commission on
- Equal Pay Commission (DOL)
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Stakeholder Committee (SDOE)
- Expungement, Work Group to Study Partial
- Family Engagement Council, Superintendent’s (SDOE)
- Family Violence Council, Governor’s
- Fine Arts Education Advisory Panel (SDOE)
- Fire-Rescue Education & Training Commission, Maryland
- Food Desert Advisory Committee, Interagency (DHCD)
- Forest Conservancy District Boards (DNR)
- Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee, Maryland (DNR)
- Forestry Council, Sustainable (DNR)
- Forms Management Committee, Interagency (DGS)
- General Assembly Compensation Commission
- Gifted & Talented Education, Maryland State Advisory Council for (SDOE)
- Governor’s Salary Commission
- Grant Application Council, Maryland Efficient
- Hall of Records Commission
- Head-Start Collaboration Network, Maryland Advisory Council on (SDOE)
- Health & Human Services Referral Board (DH)
- Health & Physical Education, Advisory Council on (SDOE)
- Health & Wellness, State Advisory Council on (DH)
- Health Care Commission, Maryland (DH)
- Health Equity, Maryland Commission on
- Health Equity Resource Community Advisory Committee (DH)
- Hearing Detection & Intervention Advisory Council, Early (DH)
- Heritage Areas Authority, Maryland (DOP)
- Heroin & Opioid Coordinating Council, Governor’s Inter-Agency
- Higher Education Commission, Maryland
- Hispanic Affairs, Governor’s Commission on
- Historic Preservation, Maryland Advisory Council on (DOP)
- Homelessness, Interagency Council on
- Housing Finance Review Committee (DHCD)
- Independent-Living Council, Maryland Statewide
- Indian Affairs, Commission on
- Institutional Educator Pay Plan Committee
- Institutional Review Board (DH)
- Judges, Masters & Juvenile Justice Committee (DJS)
- Judicial Compensation Commission
- Judicial Disabilities, Commission on
- Judicial Nominating Commissions
- Justice Reinvestment Commission, Local Government
- Justice Reinvestment Oversight Board
- Juvenile Justice Reform Council
- Juvenile Services, State Advisory Board for (DJS)
- Juvenile Services Educational Programs, Coordinating Council for (SDOE)
- Law Enforcement Body Camera Task Force
- Law Enforcement Coordinating Council, State
- LGBTQ Affairs, Commission on
- Library Board, Maryland State
- Life Sciences Advisory Board, Maryland (DCOM)
- Local Government Investment Pool Advisory Committee, Maryland
- Lynching Truth & Reconciliation Commission, Maryland
- Medicaid Advisory Committee, Maryland (DH)
- Medical Advisory Board (MVA)
- Mental & Behavioral Health in Maryland, Commission to Study
- Middle Eastern American Affairs, Governor’s Commission on
- Minority Affairs, Interdepartmental Advisory Committee for
- Minority Business Enterprise Advisory Committee (DOT)
- Minority Health, Advisory Committee on (DH)
- National Historical Publications & Records Commission, Md. Advisory Board of the
- National Register of Historic Places, Governor’s Consulting Committee on the (DOP)
- Nursing Homes & Assisted-Living Facilities, Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in
- Occupational Safety & Health Advisory Board (DOL)
- Opioid-Associated Disease Prevention & Outreach Programs, Standing Advisory Committee on (DH)
- Orphans’ Courts, Task Force to Study the Maryland
- Outdoor Recreation Economic Commission, Maryland
- P-20 Leadership Council of Maryland
- Park Advisory Commission (DNR)
- Parole Commission, Maryland (DPSCS)
- Pathways in Technology Early College High (P-TECH) Schools Stakeholder Work Group (SDOE)
- Patuxent River Commission, State (DOP)
- Police Training & Standards Commission, Maryland (DPSCS)
- Prescription-Drug Monitoring, Advisory Board on (DH)
- Pro Bono Program Committee
- Procurement Improvement Council (BPW)
- Procurement Review Board (DGS)
- Professional Standards & Teacher Education Board (SDOE)
- Prosecutor Selection & Disabilities Commission, State
- Public Information Act Compliance Board, State
- Quality Care at the End of Life, State Advisory Council on
- Redistricting Commission, Maryland Citizen
- Rehabilitation Council, Maryland State (SDOE)
- Renewable Energy Development & Siting, Governor’s Task Force on
- Renewable Energy Task Force, Maryland
- Residential Boarding Education Programs, Board of Trustees of (SDOE)
- Revenue Estimates, Board of
- School Construction, Interagency Commission on
- School Facilities, Work Group on the Assessment & Funding of
- School Health Council, Maryland State (DH)
- School-Based Health Centers, Maryland Council on Advancement of (DH)
- Service & Volunteerism, Governor’s Commission on
- Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Policy & Funding Committee, Maryland
- Sickle Cell Disease, Statewide Steering Committee on Services for Adults with
- South Asian American Affairs, Governor’s Commission on
- Special Education State Advisory Committee (SDOE)
- State’s Attorneys’ Coordination Council
- State’s Attorneys Liaison Committee (DJS)
- Suicide Prevention, Maryland Commission on
- Tourism Development Board, Maryland (DCOM)
- Trauma-Informed Care, Commission on (DHS)
- Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commissions
- Two-Generation Family Economic Security Commission (DHS) (2020)
- Uniform State Laws, State Commission on
- Utility Assistance, Work Group on Low-Income
- Veterans Commission, Maryland (DVA)
- Veterans Home Commission, Maryland (DVA)
- Victim Services, State Board of
- Violence Intervention & Prevention Advisory Council, Maryland
- Volunteerism, Governor’s Commission on Service &
- Women, Maryland Commission for (DHS)
- Workers’ Compensation Commission, Advisory Committee on Budget of State
- Youth Advisory Council, Maryland
- Youth Apprenticeship Advisory Council (DOL)
- Youth Camp Safety Advisory Council (DH)