Maryland: Difference between revisions

	Maryland
	;
	Flag of Maryland
	Admittance Order: 7th
	Admitted to US: April 28, 1788 (237 years ago)
	Governor: Wes Moore (D)
	Lt. Governor: Aruna Miller (D)
	Senators: Chris Van Hollen (D); Angela Alsobrooks (D)
	Representatives: 7 Democrats; 1 Republican
	Official State website
	Capital: Annapolis
	Largest city: Baltimore
	Resource Guide: RL-MD

Latest revision as of 19:42, 17 May 2025

	This article contains information that may change due to political elections and evolving sexual norms. {This article last updated:05/17/2025)

Maryland is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. Baltimore is the largest city in the state, and the capital is Annapolis. Among its occasional nicknames are Old Line State, the Free State, and the Chesapeake Bay State. It is named after Henrietta Maria, the French-born Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland, who was known then in England as Mary.

Before its coastline was explored by Europeans in the 16th century, Maryland was inhabited by several groups of Native Americans, primarily Algonquian peoples, with lesser representation from Iroquoian and Siouan tribes. As one of the original Thirteen Colonies of England, Maryland was founded by George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, a Catholic convert who sought to provide a religious haven for Catholics persecuted in England. In 1632, Charles I of England granted Lord Baltimore a colonial charter, naming the colony after his wife, Henrietta Maria. Unlike the Pilgrims and Puritans, who rejected Catholicism in their settlements, Lord Baltimore envisioned a colony where individuals of various religious sects would coexist under the principle of toleration. Accordingly, in 1649, the Maryland General Assembly passed an Act Concerning Religion, which enshrined this principle by penalizing anyone who "reproached" a fellow Marylander based on religious affiliation. Nevertheless, religious strife was common in the early years, and Catholics remained a minority, though in greater numbers than in any other English colony.

Maryland's early settlements and population centers clustered around rivers and other waterways that empty into the Chesapeake Bay. Its economy was heavily plantation-based and centered primarily on the cultivation of tobacco. Great Britain's need for inexpensive labor led to the rapid expansion of indentured servants, penal labor, and African slaves. In 1760, Maryland's current boundaries took shape following the resolution of a long-standing border dispute with Pennsylvania. Maryland was an active participant in the events leading up to the American Revolution, and by 1776, its delegates signed the Declaration of Independence. Many of its citizens subsequently played key political and military roles in the war. In 1790, the state ceded land for the establishment of the U.S. capital of Washington, D.C.

Although it was a slave state, Maryland remained in the Union during the American Civil War, and its strategic location gave it a significant role in the conflict. After the Civil War, Maryland participated in the Industrial Revolution, driven by its seaports, railroad networks, and mass immigration from Europe. Since the 1940s, the state's population has grown rapidly to approximately six million residents, making it one of the most densely populated U.S. states. As of 2015, Maryland had the highest median household income of any state, largely due to its proximity to Washington, D.C., and a highly diversified economy that spans manufacturing, retail services, public administration, real estate, higher education, information technology, defense contracting, health care, and biotechnology. The state's central role in U.S. history is reflected in its hosting some of the highest numbers of historic landmarks per capita.

Sixteen of Maryland's twenty-three counties, along with the city of Baltimore, border the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay estuary and its numerous tributaries, which together total over 4,000 miles of shoreline. Although it is one of the smallest states in the U.S., Maryland features a variety of climates and topographical features that have earned it the nickname "America in Miniature." Likewise, Maryland's geography, culture, and history incorporate elements from the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, and Southern regions of the country.

Entymology

It is named after Henrietta Maria, the French-born Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland, who was known then in England as Mary.

Attitudes toward LGBTQ+ in Maryland

Maryland is widely recognized as one of the most LGBTQ-friendly states in the U.S., providing strong legal protections and generally supportive public opinion. However, challenges persist, particularly for LGBTQ+ youth and in specific social contexts.

Legal Protections and Policies

Maryland has enacted comprehensive laws safeguarding LGBTQ+ rights:

Anti-Discrimination: State laws prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare.
Marriage and Adoption: Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2013, and same-sex couples are permitted to adopt children.
Gender Identity: Transgender individuals can change their legal gender without undergoing surgery.
Conversion Therapy: The state bans conversion therapy for minors.
Recent legislative sessions have further bolstered LGBTQ+ rights, enhancing Maryland's standing among states with protective laws.

Public Opinion

Public sentiment in Maryland largely supports LGBTQ+ rights:

A 2022 survey indicated that 87% of Marylanders favor laws protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination.
Support for same-sex marriage stood at 71% in 2022, reflecting a steady increase over recent years.
Despite overall support, debates have arisen, particularly concerning LGBTQ+ content in public schools. In Montgomery County, the inclusion of LGBTQ-themed books in elementary curricula led to legal challenges from parents citing religious objections. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on this matter, which could have nationwide implications.

Ongoing Challenges

While legal frameworks are robust, LGBTQ+ individuals in Maryland continue to face societal challenges:

Discrimination: Instances of workplace discrimination persist. For example, a transgender woman was awarded nearly $1 million after being wrongfully terminated and harassed at her job.
Youth Mental Health: A 2024 survey revealed that 44% of transgender and nonbinary youth in Maryland seriously considered suicide in the past year, highlighting the need for better mental health support.
School Environment: Many LGBTQ+ students report experiencing bullying and harassment, with a significant number not reporting these incidents to school authorities.

Community and Advocacy

Maryland hosts several organizations dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ+ community:

Equality Maryland: Advocates for LGBTQ+ rights through education and policy initiatives.
FreeState Justice: Provides legal services and advocacy for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Pride Center of Maryland: Offers resources and support to LGBTQ+ individuals and hosts community events.

These organizations play a crucial role in advancing equality and providing support across the state.

History of the Maryland Flag

The Maryland State Flag is divided into a grid of four equal parts with two rows and two columns. The flag pays tribute to the founder of Maryland, George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore. The top left and bottom right quadrants of the flag feature a black and yellow design derived from the coat of arms of the Calvert family; this design comprises eight sections of gold and eight sections of black arranged diagonally. The top right and bottom left quadrants of the flag showcase a red and white botonee cross design representing Calvert's mother's side of the family, the Crossland Family. The Crossland family design also consists of white in the top left and bottom right and red in the top right and bottom left. At the center of the design is a botonee cross, which cuts through the four quadrants and is white on the red portions and red on the white portions. The Maryland State Flag was adopted on March 9th, 1904, and is distinctive as the only state flag in the United States that is based on English heraldry and one of only four US state flags that does not include the color blue.

Maryland is located in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States of America and shares borders with Pennsylvania, the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia, and the Atlantic Ocean. Maryland was named after Henrietta Maria of France, who was the Queen consort of England. The capital city is Annapolis and the largest city is Baltimore. Due to its wide and diverse range of land, including marshlands, mountains, forests, beaches, etc., it is known as "America in Miniature." Maryland is also referred to as "The Old Line State," a nickname coined by General George Washington, which pays homage to the state's location as a dividing line between the North and South during the Civil War. Another nickname for the state is "The Free State," which represents the loose enforcement and outright defiance of alcohol restrictions during the alcohol prohibition era of 1920-1933 by the leaders of Maryland.

The first inhabitants of Maryland subsisted by hunting animals like deer and rabbits and eventually evolved to cultivate agriculture as a means of subsistence. The first European to explore the area was the Italian John Cabot in 1498; however, the first settlements were not established until 1634, following the arrival of the British. In 1632, King Charles I of England granted George Calvert the "royal charter" for the colony of Maryland. George Calvert's son Cecil inherited the land upon Calvert's death, and his brother Leonard led settlers to Maryland and established St. Mary's, which became the capital of Maryland. In 1776, Maryland joined with other colonies of the United States of America in declaring independence from Britain. Maryland officially became the 7th state of the United States of America on April 28th, 1788.

Maryland has many important historic and religious buildings; however, the most popular tourist attraction in Maryland is the National Aquarium, which was built on August 8th, 1981, and attracts approximately 1.5 million visitors a year to learn about the more than 750 species of fish and 17,000 specimens featured at the site.