The Bellingham City Council is moving forward with an ordinance designed to strengthen protections for LGBTQ+ residents, especially transgender and nonbinary individuals, by adding anti-discrimination language to city law.
The ordinance, first brought forward by Councilmember Hannah Stone, would add protections to city law ensuring equal access to services regardless of gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation. Council members discussed the measure during a July 7 meeting, voting to approve a series of amendments. The ordinance will return for a final vote at a future meeting.
Stone said the proposal is rooted in the need to proactively protect residents as national threats to LGBTQ+ rights continue to rise.
“It’s about reaffirming what the city already stands for,” Stone said during the meeting. “But also preparing ourselves for what may come.”
Selene Etheredge, a transgender advocate with the local group Trans Survival, said the ordinance marks a meaningful shift from symbolic gestures to enforceable protection.
“A resolution is mostly just value statements,” Etheredge said. “An ordinance commits to action, it lists exactly how the city will support queer people instead of just saying that they do.”
Etheredge, who has spent the past four months organizing in Bellingham, said that while the ordinance falls short of the full “sanctuary” protections the community hoped for, it still represents progress. She said codifying rights at the city level could offer legal support in the event of restrictive state or federal policies.
“This ordinance is trying to codify constitutional rights already allowed to transgender individuals,” Etheredge said. “It’s a stepping stone for future defenses.”
Several public commenters and council members noted that Bellingham, while viewed as progressive, is not immune to national trends of anti-trans legislation and rising hostility. Etheredge said the city has seen increases in discrimination and mental health disparities in recent months.
“Just in the last five months since the inauguration, we’ve seen an increase in harassment, discrimination and the depression disparity of our community,” Etheredge said. “So many states won’t even have a conversation. Here, we have the rare privilege of bringing this to city hall and because of that, it’s imperative we act from this position of privilege.”
During the council meeting, members debated how best to reference state law, clarify reporting processes for hate crimes, and ensure that the city could respond quickly if future laws threaten local protections. Councilmember Michael Lilliquist said putting all the city’s commitments in one place would make them easier to find and enforce.
“We’re used to a deep dive of pulling all these pieces into one picture,” Lilliquist said. “To have the content in one document that more than likely would come up on a search queue, that’s extremely beneficial.”
Stone confirmed that much of the ordinance reflects feedback from LGBTQ+ community members who had asked for clearer language and accountability.
Looking ahead, Etheredge said Trans Survival plans to expand its focus to include reproductive rights, immigrant rights, and protections for people of color and Native communities. She said she hopes the conversation started in Bellingham will reach the state level.
“It is incredibly exhausting being the marginalized minority and having to fiercely advocate for what equality is,” Etheredge said. “We’re not privileged to just get it and other people forget that.”
Farrel Harten (he/him) is a senior at Western Washington University and a News Editor/Reporter for The Front. His reporting focuses on issues affecting international students and campus community affairs. Outside of journalism, he enjoys traveling, playing soccer, and spending time with dogs. For story tips or inquiries, contact him at farrelharten.thefront@gmail.com.
