Massachusetts' Second-Largest City Declares Itself a 'Sanctuary' for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Communities

Worcester officials approved a measure Tuesday night declaring the second-largest city in Massachusetts a sanctuary city for the transgender community. The term "sanctuary city" is most often used in connection with immigration. But the Worcester City Council voted on a different kind of sanctuary city resolution during their latest meeting. The topic came up for debate in Worcester a month after Councilor-at-Large Thu Nguyen, who is the first non-binary member of the board, made allegations that they had been harassed and misgendered by other city leaders.

There's a new safe haven for those who identify as transgender in the Bay State, after Worcester officially became a sanctuary city for that community during a lengthy city council meeting on Tuesday night. This meeting lasted about five hours and there were about 200 people who showed up to voice their support. It was standing room only inside council chambers – as dozens of residents spoke before the city council in favor of making Worcester a sanctuary city for those who identify as transgender or of other diverse genders. This campaign comes on the heels of the first openly nonbinary member elected to the council -- Worcester City Councilor-at-Large Thu Nguyen -- taking a hiatus from the council, after they say the environment was transphobic.

On Tuesday night, the city council of Worcester, Massachusetts passed a resolution 9-2 to make the city a “sanctuary” for people who identify as transgender. The resolution states, “The City Council of the City of Worcester hereby reiterates its commitment to transgender rights and equal protections for transgender community members and declares itself a sanctuary city and a place of safety for transgender and gender diverse people … the City of Worcester recognizes the importance of gender-affirming healthcare as a matter of health, privacy, and equality … the City of Worcester hereby maintains it should be a policy of the City of Worcester that no city resources be utilized for cooperating with or providing information to any individual or out-of-state agency or department regarding the provision of gender-affirming healthcare or gender-affirming mental healthcare performed in Worcester and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts … the City of Worcester as a sanctuary city will not cooperate with Federal and State on policies aimed to harm transgender and gender diverse people