Massachusetts’ 2nd largest city becomes a sanctuary for trans people

On Tuesday night, the city council of Worcester, Massachusetts, decisively voted to declare the state’s second-largest city a sanctuary for transgender and gender-diverse individuals. This decision follows a situation where a nonbinary city council member took a leave of absence citing a “discriminatory and toxic” environment within the city council.

According to ‘LGBTQ Nation’, the resolution was approved with a 9-2 vote after a passionate four-hour discussion before a crowded audience. The opposing votes came from council members who cautioned that Worcester might risk losing federal funding for not adhering to executive orders from President Donald Trump concerning “gender ideology” and gender-affirming healthcare for minors. "We’re just passing a resolution saying, ‘Hey, we’ve got your back,’” Mayor Joseph M. Petty explained to those present.

“We’re very happy that it was passed this evening,” expressed Allie Cislo, an LGBTQ+ advocate who aimed to reinforce a pledge that state funds wouldn't be used to detain individuals seeking or providing gender-affirming care.

“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,” Cislo commented to the Telegram & Gazette.

The vote occurred amid ongoing debates over transgender issues within the city council, which were sparked by accusations from nonbinary member Councilor-at-Large Thu Nguyen. Nguyen accused Mayor Petty and other council members of fostering a “discriminatory and toxic” culture.

In January, Nguyen announced a month-long hiatus due to the “transphobia” of their colleagues. They reported being misgendered by Mayor Petty and fellow Councilor-at-Large Kathleen Toomey on the council floor, and claimed another council member referred to them as “it” multiple times.

Nguyen said before their leave of absence, “I wish to have felt safe on this council floor, but I don’t.”

Having taken office three years ago as Massachusetts’s first nonbinary elected official, the meeting marked Nguyen’s return to chambers following their protest. During the meeting, Council Vice Chairman Khrystian E. King supported the petition, suggesting that losing federal funds was not inevitable, as cities in Massachusetts successfully contested Trump-issued executive orders in 2017 aimed at withdrawing federal support from sanctuary cities for immigrants.

Councilor-at-Large Donna M. Colorio, who opposed the resolution, referenced a city solicitor’s report that questioned potential executive orders from the president and court rulings from Trump-appointed members regarding pending litigation.

“There’s a lot of leeway whether we would lose federal funding,” Colorio said.

Councilor-at-Large Morris A. Bergman, who also voted “no,” faced interruptions from the audience with jeers and snorts.

In response to the opposition, Aidan Brueckner, one of the numerous speakers, remarked, “What they said is essentially this: It will cost too much money to defend our LGBT constituents. How much for one trans life? How many dollars does it take to put them on the chopping block?”

Despite Mayor Petty’s support for the resolution, he faced criticism from supporters of Nguyen gathered at City Hall, with chants of “Got to go! Joe Petty has got to go!” echoing in the council chambers.