California City Wants to Become Transgender 'Sanctuary'
resolution Tuesday that would declare Sacramento a "sanctuary city" for transgender people. The proposal will be presented at the council's 5 p.m.
session this evening, notably after Mayor Darrell Steinberg recognizes International Transgender Week of Visibility.District 4 Councilmember Katie Valenzuela, who introduced the resolution, told Newsweek that it is "modeled after similar sanctuary city legislation we passed to protect immigrants and asylum seekers." It seeks to ensure transgender rights and prevent the use of city resources, including law enforcement officers, to detain those seeking gender-affirming care.A growing number of states are adopting policies that restrict access to gender-affirming care, especially for minors.
According to the nonprofit health policy research center, KFF, formerly The Kaiser Family Foundation, as of January 2024, 23 states have laws or policies that limit minors' access to gender-affirming care.
Over the past two years, there has been a five-fold increase in states with prohibitive measures. KFF estimates that 38 percent of transgender youth live in states with restrictive policies."We are starting to see more people come to our community seeking gender-affirming care," Valenzuela told Newsweek, adding that this legislation was "directly informed by constituents of mine who identify as LGBTQ+."The resolution is intentionally timed to come just prior to March 31, the International Transgender Day of Visibility, Valenzuela told Newsweek."In preparation of future legislation that may criminalize those providing or seeking gender-affirming care and given the Council's stated values of equity and inclusion, it is important for the City of Sacramento to be proactive in reiterating our commitment to transgender rights and equal protections for transgender people by declaring ourselves a sanctuary city and a place of safety for transgender people," the proposal reads.Valenzuela says the resolution is shaped by a similar piece of.
