Boston City Council voted 12-1 on Wednesday to declare the city as a sanctuary for transgender individuals, a move that surprised many. Councilor-at-Large Julia Mejia and District 9 Councilor Liz Breadon led the effort, citing concerns over harmful rhetoric from President Donald Trump and the White House towards the transgender community. Mejia emphasized that Boston will not stand down in the face of attacks on trans individuals, while Breadon highlighted the rising anti-trans rhetoric and violence causing stress within the LGBTQI+ community.
The resolution affirms Boston’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of transgender and gender-diverse individuals, stating that taxpayer-funded agencies will not comply with federal attempts to undermine these rights. The city vows not to support policies that harm the transgender community and pledges to ensure their access to essential services without discrimination. Although symbolic and nonbinding, Mejia views the resolution as a crucial initial step towards future legislation.
City Councilor Ed Flynn was the sole dissenting vote, expressing a desire for further information before making a decision. Sam Whiting of the Massachusetts Family Institute countered the councilors’ claims about the Trump administration’s actions towards transgender individuals, stating their support for efforts to protect children from what they perceive as the harms of gender ideology.
Boston joins Worcester and Cambridge in declaring itself a sanctuary city for transgender individuals and the broader LGBTQ community.
