Gloria Gary Lawlah (born March 12, 1939) is an American politician who served as the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Aging under Governor Martin O'Malley from 2007 to 2015.

Afterwards, she began working with elected officials and the local NAACP to integrate schools in Prince George's County, Maryland.

She then got involved with the Prince George's County Women's Democratic Club, where she was able to meet U.S. Representative Gladys Spellman, Maryland governor Marvin Mandel, and then-state Senator Steny Hoyer.

In 1990, she challenged and defeated anti-abortion state Senator Frank Komenda in the Democratic primary elections after he voted for legislation that would have eliminated about 90 percent of abortions in Maryland.

[21] Despite objections she made during hearings, Lawlah supported legislation backed by Governor Bob Ehrlich in 2004 to allow Prince George's County racetracks to have slot machines.

[22] In July 2011, Lawlah resigned from the Video Lottery Facility Location Commission after attending a single meeting, saying that she was "thrilled" to be named but had not anticipated the "tough" schedule.

[24] In August 1994, she came to White's support after a Circuit Court judge ruled that she failed to adequately represent a woman charged with conspiring to murder her parents.