The Californian city of Sacramento in the United States has declared itself a safe haven for transgender people

On Tuesday, the Sacramento City Council unanimously voted in favor of a resolution declaring the California capital a sanctuary for transgender people. UNN writes about this with reference to The Hill.

Details

The resolution, which has already gone into effect, ensures that city resources will not be used to enforce laws passed in other states that restrict access to gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors or adults.

City council members said the resolution was necessary to ensure that transgender people would remain protected in the event that existing state protections were repealed.

California has been a leader in protecting the rights of transgender people to access health care, but many states across the country are moving in the opposite direction. In preparation for future legislation that could criminalize those who provide or seek gender-affirming care, and given the Council's stated values of equality and inclusion, it is important that the City of Sacramento be proactive in reaffirming our commitment to transgender rights and equal protection for transgender people by declaring itself a city of refuge and a place of safety for transgender people

Similar non-binding sanctuary resolutions are being adopted by a growing number of cities, often in defiance of proposals by Republican lawmakers that threaten access to gender-affirming health care.

Context

Including California, 14 states and Washington, D.C., have passed "protective" laws that protect access to gender-affirming health care for transgender youth.

Twenty-four U.S. states have passed laws since 2021 that restrict transgender youth's access to treatment, including puberty blockers, hormones, and surgery. Laws passed in states such as Florida and Missouri also restrict access to health care for some transgender adults.