December 17, 2024
City Council
DATE: December 17, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Council Member Cesar Zepeda
Subject:
Resolution Declaring the City of Richmond a Sanctuary
City for Transgender People
FINANCIAL IMPACT: No known financial impact to the City
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
Proclamation Recognizing Transgender Day of
Remembrance - October 22, 2024
Proclamation Recognizing June as LGBTQI+ Pride
Month - May 28, 2024
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
In preparation of future legislation that may criminalize those providing or seeking gender -affirming care ,
transgender individuals need a place of safety that
ensures the rights of transgender individuals are upheld and equally protected , and that no city resources -
including staff time - would be used to detain individuals seeking care, or otherwise to cooperate with jurisdictions seeking to enforce laws criminalizing gender affirming care in other jurisdictions.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution to declare the City of Richmond a
sanctuary city for transgender individuals seeking gender- affirming care and to extend protections to providers who offer gender-affirming care and that no city resources - including staff time - would be used to detain individuals seeking or providing care, or otherwise to cooperate with jurisdictions seeking to enforce laws criminalizing gender- AGENDA
REPORT
December 17, 2024
affirming care in other jurisdictions. Councilmember Cesar Zepeda (510-620-6593).
DISCUSSION:
California has been a leader in protecting the rights of transgender individuals to access care, but many states across the nation are moving in the opposite direction. 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 Richmond to be proactive in reiterating our commitment to transgender rights and equal pro tections for transgender people by declaring ourselves a sanctuary city and a place of safety for transgender people.
The State of California passed SB 107 in 2022 protecting individuals seeking sanctuary from out-of-state prosecution and explicitly prohib its law enforcement agencies from knowingly making or participating in the arrest or extradition of an individual pursuant to an out -of-state arrest warrant based on another state’s law against receiving gender- affirming healthcare in California.
As of th e date of this legislation, California law does not restrict access to gender - affirming healthcare and bans insurance exclusions for gender -affirming healthcare .
However, other states may adopt or expand laws that impose criminal punishment, civil liability, administrative penalties, or professional sanctions on healthcare professionals who provide gender-affirming healthcare and on persons who seek, receive, or assist another in receiving gender-affirming healthcare in the City of Richmond.
This resolutio n would also resolve to ensure the rights of transgender individuals in Richmond are upheld, and that no city resources – including staff time – would be used to detain individuals seeking care, or otherwise to cooperate with jurisdictions seeking to enforce laws criminalizing gender-affirming care in other jurisdictions.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution