In a significant move, the City Council of Columbia, Missouri, recently passed a resolution declaring the city a sanctuary for LGBTQ+ individuals. The decision, passed by a 6-1 vote during a packed Council meeting, garnered widespread support from the community. and discrimination for using a restroom aligned with his gender identity.
However, not all council members were in favor of this. While acknowledging its intent, Councilmember Don Waterman expressed skepticism about its efficacy in reducing bullying and hate crimes.
Despite some opposition, the ordinance signifies a significant step forward for LGBTQ+ rights in Columbia, reaffirming the city’s commitment to equality and inclusivity.
Councilmember Roy Lovelady expressed the overwhelming response from residents, stating, “We literally heard from every ward in Columbia.” The measure was particularly meaningful for many, including a 10-year-old transgender boy, one of the plaintiffs, who was deeply moved by the potential implications of the law on his future.
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According to “LGBTQ Nation’, the ordinance says that Columbia is a safe place for people to express their support for LGBTQ+ people. It makes enforcing a 2023 state law banning gender-affirming care the lowest priority for law enforcement in the city and establishes policies for working with other jurisdictions trying to prosecute people for getting or helping others get gender-affirming care.
“The City Council affirms that being LGBTQ is not a disorder, disease, illness, deficiency or shortcoming and commits to finding ways to improve social outcomes for LGBTQ Columbians,” the ordinance reads.
“It’s really unfortunate that we even have to consider this,” said city councilmember Nick Knoth.
“The queer community is already a minority community in the United States, so having our voices heard, that recognition, that safety that makes us feel protected is really important,” said NClusion+ cofounder Anthony Plogger. “It’s essential.”
Several trans students from the University of Missouri talked about their experiences being bullied and said that the ordinance would make them feel safer.
“In July 2022 in Camden, Ohio, a young transgender man named Noah Ruiz was beaten by three cisgender men after using a women’s restroom,” a transgender man said at the meeting.
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“The owner of the faculty had instructed him to use the women’s room because he was assigned female at birth. Do you think his attackers let up when he explained he had a vagina? No, they called him homophobic slurs as they beat him.”
The law solidifies Columbia as a safe haven for LGBTQ+ individuals, affirming their freedom to express themselves. Notably, it addresses the enforcement of a state law implemented in 2023, which prohibits gender-affirming care. Under the new ordinance, enforcement of this law is deemed the lowest priority for law enforcement, while policies are established for collaboration with other jurisdictions pursuing prosecutions related to gender-affirming care.
Highlighting the city’s stance, the ordinance emphasizes that being LGBTQ+ is not a disorder or deficiency but rather a natural aspect of human diversity. Councilmember Nick Knoth lamented the necessity of such measures, stating, “It’s really unfortunate that we even have to consider this.”
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Anthony Plogger, cofounder of NClusion+, emphasized the significance of recognition and safety for the queer community, stressing its importance for protection and inclusion.
The ordinance received support from various quarters, including trans students from the University of Missouri, who shared personal experiences of bullying and expressed hope that the measure would foster a safer environment.
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