Should Portland declare the City of Portland will defend the rights of transgender people and all of the LGBTQIA2S+ community?

WHEREAS, the City of Portland recognizes the inherent worth and equal rights of all people, including transgender people and all LGBTQIA2S+ people, and seeks to provide a safe and welcoming environment for those who reside in, work in, or visit the City; andWHEREAS, thus far in the 2026 legislative session, 420 anti-LGBTQIA2S+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the country; andWHEREAS in U.S. v. Skrmetti, the Supreme Court attacked the civil liberties of the transgender community by upholding the state bans on vital, evidence-based, life-saving gender-affirming healthcare for youth; andWHEREAS, the City of Portland has a long history of supporting the LGBTQIA2S+ community, and specifically the transgender community, in ways that include but are not limited to, celebrating of Pride and Transgender Day of Visibility in Portland City Council Chambers, providing robust gender affirming care employee benefits, supporting pro-LGBTQIA2S+ legislation, supporting the development of an LGBTQIA2S+ Program within the Office of Equity, providing training opportunities for staff to learn how to be strong allies to the LGBTQIA2S+ community, developing strong Human Resources Administrative Rules that affirm that no City employee can be discriminated against based on gender identity or gender expression in any aspect of employment, supporting the LGBTQ+ Historic Sites Project, and providing support for community spaces that honor the contributions of LGBTQIA2S+ Portlanders; andWHEREAS, Chapter 23 of Portland City Code states that "It is the policy of the City to eliminate discrimination based on race, religion, color, sex, marital status, familial status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or source of income. Such discrimination poses a threat to the health, safety and general welfare of Portland community members and menaces the institutions and foundation of our community."; andWHEREAS, the City of Portland supports the Oregon Legislature's demonstrated commitment to protecting transgender and LGBTQIA2S+ people including but not limited to the passage of the LGBTQIA2S+ Student Success plan, the Oregon Equality Act, the Oregon Family Fairness Act, and House Bill 2002 (2023) which clarifies and protects provider and patient rights in regard to gender-affirming care and requires insurance coverage of medically necessary gender-affirming care, as well as the prohibition of conversion therapy; andWHEREAS, the City of Portland unequivocally supports the LGBTQIA2S+ community members and their families who are fleeing anti-LGBTQIA2S+ States and Cities, and affirms the right for these people to live in a city that is supportive and welcoming; andWHEREAS, the City of Portland unequivocally supports the rights of individuals to seek, obtain, or provide gender-affirming care that is legal in the state of Oregon; andWHEREAS, the City of Portland unequivocally supports the right of LGBTQIA2S+ young people to be affirmed in their identities; andNOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City will, in a manner consistent with Oregon and federal law, prohibit the use of City funds, facilities, properties, personnel, technology, or equipment to enforce or facilitate the collection of any out-of-state judgment entered, or criminal investigation, or prosecution in another state to the extent the judgment, investigation, or prosecution arises out of other jurisdictions' criminalization or penalization of transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people access to healthcare that is lawful in Oregon. Identical protections shall apply to any other persons or entities who provide support to transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people to access healthcare that is lawful in Oregon; andBE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the City of Portland calls on the State to continue passing legislation that protects the rights of LGBTQIA2S+ people, especially transgender people, and continue to provide resources to community organizations that directly support the health and well-being of the LGBTQIA2S+ community; andBE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the City of Portland reaffirms its commitment to LGBTQIA2S+ equity and commitment to fostering a community where all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity can live authentically and thrive.