Joanna L. Diamond

Vice President of External Relations

Planned Parenthood of Maryland

While working for the ACLU of Maryland a few years ago, Joanna L. Diamond led the efforts in Maryland to pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act in 2013, which requires employers in the state to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant women and those with medical conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth.

“This was a landmark bill for workers’ rights and women’s rights in Maryland,” she said. “It has been used as model legislation in other states, and I have been sought by other states to help determine campaign strategy for passing such groundbreaking legislation.”

Diamond, who has a law degree from the University of Baltimore, also led the ACLU drive to support Question 6, the referendum that legalized same-sex marriage in 2013. “I have spent my career in nonprofits and public-sector work to give voice to marginalized and underserved communities.”

Diamond is now the vice president of external relations for Planned Parenthood of Maryland, where she led a team in 2015 that fought multiple nationwide challenges that tried to limit women’s reproductive health care services.

“We got to a place where not only did Planned Parenthood of Maryland come out unscathed, but we also moved forward to expand contraceptive rights in Maryland,” Diamond said. “Every day, I use my law background, organizing and policy skills, and advocacy experience to the mission of expanding access to critical health-care services for the people that need it most.”

She is a board member of the Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women.