Boston City Council Declares Boston a 'Sanctuary City' for Transgender Community

the Boston City Council voted 12 - 1 to declare Boston a "sanctuary city" for members of the transgender community. Councilors Julia Mejia and Liz Breadon proposed this measure, citing harmful rhetoric from President Donald Trump and the White House as the impetus for Boston to show support for the transgender community.

Mejia stated, "Boston will not back down. We're witnessing attacks on our transgender loved ones, and at the local level, many people feel helpless." Liz Breadon, the first openly gay woman elected to the council, mentioned that the United States is facing "unprecedented times" where "many of our neighbors feel unsafe and anxious for various reasons." At the council meeting, she pointed out, "This resolution addresses a crucial issue that demands our attention. Since the election, there has been a significant increase in anti - trans rhetoric and violence, causing great stress and anxiety within the LGBTQI+ community, especially among our transgender siblings."

The resolution stipulates, in part, that Boston is "committed to protecting transgender and gender - diverse individuals. Taxpayer - funded agencies should not cooperate with federal efforts to cut resources that safeguard their rights. Boston will not comply with federal or state policies that harm transgender and gender - diverse people and remains dedicated to ensuring their access to healthcare, housing, education, and employment without fear of discrimination."

Mejia and Breadon acknowledged that the resolution is symbolic and non - binding, but Mejia considered it a crucial first step and "an opportunity to lay the foundation for future legislation."

Councilor Ed Flynn was the only member to vote against the measure. According to the Boston Herald, Flynn said, "I would like to know more about what this resolution entails. I don't mean to disrespect anyone, but I need a better understanding before casting my vote."

Sam Whiting from the Massachusetts Family Institute, an organization that believes "the male and female sexes are an inherent part of a person's nature, not a fictional social construct," contested the councilors' interpretation of the Trump administration's actions regarding transgender people. Whiting told NBC Boston, "We believe this misrepresents the executive orders. We support these orders and the efforts to protect children from the harms of gender ideology."

Boston's declaration as a "sanctuary city" for transgender individuals and other LGBTQ community members follows similar moves by Worcester and Cambridge in Massachusetts.