Reso. No. 92-17
RESOLUTION NO. 92-17
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER,
INTERSEX, QUEER AND QUESTIONING (LGBTIQQ) COMMUNITY AND
ESTABLISHING A POLICY TO PREVENT CITY-FUNDED TRAVEL TO STATES
WITH LAWS DISCRIMINATING ON THE BASIS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION,
GENDER IDENTITY OR GENDER EXPRESSION
WHEREAS, the State of California is committed to protecting civil rights, preventing discrimination, and taking action to avoid supporting or financing discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people; and
WHEREAS, the City of Richmond has resolved to be a leading community in the protection of civil rights and preventing discrimination; and WHEREAS, Richmond Rainbow Pride is the first and only LGBTQ community organization in the City of Rich mond, comprised of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and questioning (LGBTIQQ) individuals and allies who liv e, work and gather in the Richmond community, coming together for the collective benefit of their fellow LGBTIQQ community members; and
WHEREAS, Richmond Rainbow Pride seeks to a dvocate for local po licy change to preserve and protect the rights of the LGBTIQQ community within the city of Richmond; and WHEREAS, in direct response to the landmar k Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges in which the Court ruled that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples, there are bills passed and pending in state legislat ures across the country that are designed to allow discrimination against LGBTIQQ people in many aspects of their lives; and WHEREAS, there continue to be states that enact laws to void or repeal protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, or that authorizes or require discrimination against same-sex couples or their families; and WHEREAS, Assembly Bill No. 1887 “State government: discrimination: travel” sponsored by California Assemb ly Member Low was lawfully passed in both houses of the legislature and chaptered in September of 2016 after being signed by Governor Brown; and WHEREAS, According to the California Department of Justice, Assembly Bill No. 1887 prohibits a state agency, department, board, or commission from requiring any state employees, officers, or members to travel to another state that, after June 26, 2015, has enacted a law that eliminates protections against discrimination on th e basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; and
WHEREAS, the City of Richmond should commit to a similar policy in order to continue to show commitment to antidiscrimin ation and represent the values of equity and acceptance.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Richmond City Council stands in solidarity and support of the LGBTIQQ commun ity in Richmond and across the country, and against the institutionalization of discriminatory laws across the country; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Richmond City C ouncil supports the policies of the state of California established in Assembly Bill No. 1887 “State government:
discrimination: travel.”; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Rich mond, in concurrence with California Government Code § 11139.8, hereby adopt s the following policy prohibiting any city agency, department, board, or commission from requiring any city employees, officers, or members to travel to a state that, after June 26, 2015, has enacted a law that:
(1) has the effect of voiding or repealing existing state or loca l protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; or