Seattle – Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced new legislation to strengthen local protections and safeguard access to gender-affirming and reproductive health care services in Seattle, with a focus on supporting the LGBTQ+ community and reaffirming the City’s commitment to be a safe, welcoming place for all people.
“We are proud of Seattle’s reputation as a welcoming and inclusive city for the LGBTQ+ community and recognize their immeasurable contributions to the vibrancy and culture of our city,” said Mayor Harrell. “This legislation is a tangible step to strengthen local protections and stand with our LGBTQ+ community in the face of hateful, dangerous, and discriminatory attacks from the Trump administration and others, ensuring that everyone has access to essential health care services. Leading with our One Seattle values of inclusion and acceptance, we will continue to fight to protect people’s right to live freely as their authentic selves.”
The legislation reiterates and affirms the City’s stance as a welcoming and supportive place for LGBTQ+ community members, extends Washington State’s “Shield Law” into city law, and protects people seeking or providing reproductive or gender-affirming care in Seattle from arrest or prosecution. The ordinance expressly extends the requirement to protect the provision of protected health care services to City employees and creates a local cause of action enforceable by the City.
“I am eager to support this legislation that will make Seattle a safe place for anyone seeking reproductive or gender-affirming care. It is more critical than ever that Seattle protect our residents,” said Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth. “We continue to lead with love against the harmful efforts to scapegoat members of the LGBTQ+ community. Seattle will always remain a safe and welcoming place for trans and non-binary Americans to call home.”
Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson in 2022, Mayor Harrell signed a suite of legislation supporting reproductive rights and access to health care, including a bill that made encroaching on individuals seeking reproductive and gender-affirming care a misdemeanor offense. As a member of the City Council, Mayor Harrell was a vocal advocate and supporter of including gender-affirming care as part of the City’s health care coverage for transgender employees.
The Mayor’s Office worked with LGBTQ+ City employees and the Seattle LGBTQ Commission on the proposed ordinance. The legislation has been transmitted to the City Council for consideration.
What People Are Saying:
Seattle City Councilmember Mark Solomon
“The Mayor’s proposal would reaffirm our city’s reputation as a beacon of liberty for those seeking the freedom to reach their full potential, with dignity, safe from politically-driven hatred and discrimination.”
Jessica Joy McHegg, Permit Process Leader in the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI)
“Seattle is a safe and welcoming place for the LGBTQIA+ community. As a transgender woman, a city employee and resident of the Capitol Hill neighborhood I draw little to no attention as I go about my daily routines. I do not want or need any special attention or assistance. I simply wish to live my life in an authentic way, free of discrimination and hate. I now feel individually targeted by my own federal government for simply existing. I am very grateful for the support of Mayor Harrell and the City Council in declaring legal protections to oppose the federal assault on my community’s basic human rights and dignity. I proudly stand with Seattle, united against hate and all forms of discrimination and oppression.”
Ilona Lohrey, cce, President & CEO of GSBA
“We applaud this legislation from Mayor Harrell that protects access to reproductive and gender-affirming care, safeguarding people’s rights and individual autonomy. This legislation is a critical way to support the health and safety of Seattle’s LGBTQ+ community in the wake of escalating rhetoric and attempts by the federal government to strip people of their fundamental rights. Let us continue to stand strong in our values and fight for the dignity of all people in our city.”
Patti Hearn, Executive Director of Seattle Pride
“Seattle Pride supports the City’s efforts to strengthen protections for our community through this vital Shield Law ordinance. At a time when LGBTQIA2S+ rights and reproductive freedoms are under unprecedented attack nationwide, this ordinance reinforces our city’s core values and sends a clear message: Seattle remains a safe haven and will always defend every person’s right to live authentically and access the care they need.”
Ashley Ford, Seattle LGBTQ Commission Co-Chair
“In the last few months we have seen cruel, misinformed, and targeted attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, with a particular, razor-sharp focus on the basic rights and dignities of transgender and gender non-conforming people. The federal administration’s recent actions, including executive orders and directions designed to incite fear and dismantle critical civil protections, demonstrate a deliberate and concerted effort to silence, reduce, and eradicate the power of LGBTQ+ people nationwide.
In Seattle, we have not been immune from these attacks. We’ve already seen the removal of LGBTQ Coordinators at our local Veterans Affairs Hospital, the abandonment of gender affirming care for young people at Seattle Children’s Hospital, violent hate crimes at gay bars, and more – all amongst rising fears from LGBTQ people, families, youth, businesses, educational centers, nonprofits & resource providers who are uncertain about what the next day might bring.
As a city that has historically provided a safe haven for queer people, recently celebrating 50 years of Pride, it is imperative that we take immediate action to safeguard the rights of LGBTQ+ people and families who live, work, and contribute to Seattle. By collaboratively taking these steps to strengthen our protections, Seattle reaffirms its position as a beacon of inclusivity and a national leader in LGBTQ+ rights advocacy while remaining accountable to its commitments to the LGBTQ+ community.
On the Seattle LGBTQ Commission, we affirm our commitment to our beloved community. We will continue to work with the Mayor’s Office, City Council, and City Departments to represent you and encourage proactive action during this political environment that is undeniably seeking to undermine the systems of which we rely on for acceptance, safety, security, and well-being. We promise to stand alongside you, today and every day, and face this uncertain future together.”