In a landmark decision, the Worcester City Council in Massachusetts voted 9-2 to designate the city as a sanctuary for transgender and gender-diverse individuals.
This resolution, passed after a nearly five-hour meeting, underscores Worcester’s commitment to protecting the rights and safety of its LGBTQIA+ community.
According to Fox News, The council chamber was filled with approximately 200 supporters from the LGBTQIA+ community, many of whom shared personal stories and expressed concerns about their safety.
One attendee emphasized the importance of local protection, stating, “If the city I work in, let alone live in, cannot plainly state that the queer community is safe here, I cannot safely and effectively do my job.”
The resolution reaffirms the city’s dedication to transgender rights and equal protections and acknowledges the critical importance of gender-affirming healthcare.
It pledges that Worcester will not cooperate with federal or out-of-state authorities attempting to undermine these rights.
This decision comes in the wake of Councilor-at-Large Thu Nguyen, the council’s first openly nonbinary member, taking a hiatus due to allegations of a transphobic environment within the council.
Nguyen returned to cast a supportive vote for the resolution.
The vote builds upon Worcester’s recent allocation of $500,000 for LGBTQIA+ community resources, further solidifying the city’s role as a leader in supporting and protecting its diverse population.
