Humboldt County board issues proclamation supporting 2STGI community; local advocates thank county

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors approved a proclamation on Aug. 12 recognizing and supporting 2STGI (Two-Spirit, transgender, gender nonconforming, and intersex) residents and access to gender-affirming health care.

The proclamation, presented by Supervisor Ferreiro, said Humboldt County “recognizes the importance of gender affirming health care, including mental health services, as matters of essential daily living and equality” and pledged to “ensure to the greatest extent permitted by law that those rights are upheld for all residents and visitors to our county.” The document cited recent state and federal developments and referenced California Senate Bill 107 (SB 107) as a statutory protection that prevents out‑of‑state prosecution of people seeking gender‑affirming care in California.

Nut graf: The proclamation was adopted as part of the meeting’s proclamations and was received by local advocates who said the local measure matters amid national efforts to restrict transgender rights. County supervisors and advocacy representatives framed the proclamation as a local reaffirmation of protections and supports for gender‑diverse people.

Local advocates addressed the board after the proclamation. Asia Candrian Morton, clinical director and youth mentor at Queer Humboldt, said the proclamation was “very meaningful” and that youth leaders in the county had drafted and advocated for the measure. Morton told the board, “It is especially significant to us that we have local support from the board of supervisors here in Humboldt County.”

Supervisor Wilson and other supervisors voiced support during the discussion. Wilson said the proclamation affirms “our rights to self determination and self expression” and emphasized that respecting individuals’ gender identity upholds fundamental principles of freedom.

The proclamation document cited national counts of legislative action affecting transgender rights and summarized findings from a May 2024 Humboldt County school climate survey that reported negative mental‑health impacts among gender‑diverse students and housing instability concerns for youth who identify as queer. The proclamation also noted that California’s SB 107 (2022) protects patients and practitioners from extradition or prosecution based on out‑of‑state laws when gender‑affirming care is lawful in California.

The board also acknowledged that the proclamation was driven by local youth advocacy, and board members and community speakers thanked the youth leaders and advocacy organizations who helped draft and advance the proclamation.

Ending: County staff indicated the proclamation will be posted as part of the official record. Members of Queer Humboldt accepted the proclamation at the dais and posed for photographs with supervisors.