City Council declares Olympia sanctuary city for trans and queer people

The City of Olympia has joined a small group of jurisdictions in the country declaring itself a sanctuary city for LGBTQIA2S+ people, just a month after community members came to City Council asking for leaders to expand protections.

Assistant City Manager Stacey Ray presented the council with the resolution during a meeting Tuesday, Jan. 28. The council passed the resolution unanimously.

Ray said the council asked staff in December to draft a resolution declaring Olympia a sanctuary city affirming a commitment to ensuring that all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, feel safe and supported in the community.

“You asked for a collaborative approach to developing the resolution that reflects our community’s values, needs and voice, and that includes actionable statements and with urgency to address rising concerns and fears in light of the new administration,” Ray said. “The resolution before you tonight meets all three requests.”

She said the resolution comes quickly to the council so as to be responsive to the moment. She said it was developed with input and review by LGBTQIA2S+ and allied community members and groups.

The expanded LGBTQIA2S+ acronym stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and trans, queer and questioning, intersex, asexual or agender, and two-spirit. The plus-sign signifies additional identity terms to be inclusive.

Ray said Olympia joins only three other places in the U.S. that have declared themselves a sanctuary city or state for queer people. They are New York State, Kansas City, and Ithaca, New York, she said.

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