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ORDINANCE NO. ORD-22-0002
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LONG BEACH AMENDING THE LONG BEACH
MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING SECTION 1.08.150
RELATING TO GENDER REFERENCES
WHEREAS, the City of Long Beach government represents, supports, and serves all residents throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, while the City acts on behalf of all Long Beach residents, the Long Beach Municipal Code does not fully reflect the diversity of its people, as it does not currently only contain inclusive language which avoids the use of certain expressions or words that might be considered to exclude particular groups of people, especially gender specific words; and
WHEREAS, for instance, certain communities such as the transgender and non-binary communities often face stigma surrounding who they are from an early age, which is often rooted in inaccurate beliefs and politically motivated attacks on such identities; and
WHEREAS, these stigmas erect barriers in virtually every facet of life, denying people the equal opportunity to succeed and be accepted for who they are, which could have long-term impacts on mental health and economic and housing stability, especially where individuals experience familial rejection and isolation from social support systems; and
WHEREAS, for many people, living openly with respect to gender identity and expression can be its own act of defiance in a society that continues to set rigid cultural norms for gender identity and expression; and
WHEREAS, all too often, violence against communities such as transgender or gender non-conforming people goes underreported or misreported and 1 MJK:vr A21-05568 (Ord 1.24.22)
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17 the City must do its part to address and eliminate stigma, as well as discrimination across all facets of society, and embrace people of all genders for who they are; and WHEREAS, in 2021, there were over 250 anti-Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) bills introduced into legislatures around the country where the primary targets were our transgender and non-binary communities, specifically transgender youth, and, similarly, in the last few years, there has been a rise in anti transgender and anti-non-binary discrimination across the country; and WHEREAS, it is imperative that the City of Long Beach, recognized by the Human Rights Campaign as one of the best cities in the nation when it comes to supporting its LGBTQ community with local laws and policies, continues to promote an inclusive environment in which all of its residents, visitors, and workers, no matter their gender identities and/or expressions, feel valued and supported; and WHEREAS, the City Council has periodically amended the Long Beach Municipal Code to reflect societal changes and the needs of all people it serves; and WHEREAS, the use of the pronouns "he", "she", and "he or she", together, when referring to individuals is not inclusive of all people, including but not limited to people who may not ascribe to a particular, fixed, or certain gender, or people who 18 otherwise use different pronouns; and
19 WHEREAS, eliminating gender-specific language will further the City's 20 stance on non-discrimination by being comprehensive of all people regardless of their 21 gender identities, gender expressions, and/or pronouns; and 22 WHEREAS, it is important that the City of Long Beach amends the Long 23 Beach Municipal Code to ensure any existing gender references are deemed neutral and 24 inclusive so as to continue to represent and recognize all of its residents and visitors; 25 NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Long Beach ordains as 26 follows:
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MJK:vr A21-05568 (Ord 1.24.22)
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1 Section 1. Section 1.08.150 entitled "Gender References" is added to 2 Chapter 1.08, "General Provisions", of the Long Beach Municipal Code to read as 3 follows:
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26 1.08.150 Gender references.
Any gender reference in this Code shall be deemed neutral and inclusive in form and context.
Section 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this ordinance by the City Council and cause it to be posted in three (3) conspicuous places in the City of Long Beach, and it shall take effect on the thirty-first (31st) day after it is approved by the Mayor.
I hereby certify that the foregoing ordinance was adopted by the City Council of the City of Long Beach at its meeting of February 8 , 2022, by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers: Zendejas, Allen, Price, Supernaw, Saro, Uranga, Austin, Richardson.
Noes: Councilmembers: None.
Absent: Councilmembers: Mungo.
Recusal(s): Councilmembers:
None.
27 Approved:
28 MJK:vr A21-05568 (Ord 1.24.22)
01339930.docx
3 AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING
STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) ss
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )
CITY OF LONG BEACH )
Tamela Austin being duly sworn says: That I am employed in the Office of the City Clerk of the City of Long Beach; that on the 1 Qth day of February, 2022, I posted three true and correct copies of ORD-22-0002 in three conspicuous places in the City of Long Beach, to wit: One of said copies in the lobby of Civic Chambers; one of said copies in the Main Library; and one of said copies on the front counter of the Office of the City Clerk.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
This 1 Qth day of February 2022.