The second largest city in Massachusetts has voted to become a sanctuary city for trans and gender diverse people, preventing civic resources from being used to aid anti-trans federal policies. The resolution comes in direct response to Trump’s attacks on gender affirming care and the efforts to erase the recognition of trans people in the US.
On Tuesday, the Worcester City Council voted 9-2 to create a safe haven for the trans community. Worcester now joins fellow US sanctuary cities Ithaca, New York; Kansas City, Missouri; and California’s Sacramento, West Hollywood and San Francisco.
The resolution specifically calls out Trump’s recent anti-trans executive orders, which have included limiting the federal definition of sex to ‘male’ and ‘female.’ “I don’t care what your beliefs are, but to take the word ‘transgender‘ out of the vocabulary in the federal government is just plain wrong,” Worcester mayor Joseph Petty said.
According to the text of the resolution, the city of Worcester “reiterates its commitment to transgender rights and equal protections for transgender community members” and “recognizes the importance of gender-affirming healthcare as a matter of health, privacy, and equality.”
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Beyond simple recognition, the resolution stipulates that the city will not aid federal anti-trans policies. “No city resources … shall be utilized for detaining persons for solely seeking or providing gender-affirming care, including gender affirmation surgery or gender hormone therapy.”
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In addition, “No city resources [should be] utilized for cooperating with or providing information to any individual or out-of-state agency or department regarding the provision of gender-affirming healthcare or gender-affirming mental healthcare.”
“The City of Worcester as a sanctuary city will not cooperate with Federal and State on policies aimed to harm transgender and gender diverse people,” the resolution concludes.
The original petition was filed by Allie Cislo from local organization Queer Residents of Worcester and Our Allies. Speaking to local outlet Telegram & Gazette, Cislo recognized that the resolution is largely symbolic but did not diminish the importance of the city council’s commitment to trans rights.
“We’re very happy that it was passed this evening,” Cislo said. “It’s sad that it wasn’t unanimous, but I think we’re very pleased that Worcester has decided to affirm existing Massachusetts law and to reiterate that Worcester is a sanctuary for trans or gender-diverse people.”
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