Redmond council advances welcoming resolution for transgender residents, aims for adoption before Pride Month

Council Vice President Forsyth introduced a welcoming resolution on May 13, 2025, reaffirming Redmond’s commitment to transgender residents and requesting further work to finalize language for council consideration.

The resolution states the city’s intent to make services inclusive and to “push back against the hate with policy grounded in human dignity.” Forsyth described the proposal as a public commitment and thanked local LGBTQIA+ advocates who contributed input.

Why it matters: Forsyth framed the resolution as a local, policy‑level response to a national rise in policies targeting transgender individuals, especially youth. The resolution carries symbolic and practical elements — staff would review implementation steps to ensure city services and communications align with the stated commitment.

Discussion and council direction

- Forsyth asked the council whether to proceed with refining the draft. She proposed next steps: council members provide feedback to the chief policy advisor (Deidra), staff compile those edits and, if needed, discuss legal considerations in executive session with the city attorney. The goal discussed was adoption by the first council meeting of June (ahead of Pride Month).

- Council Member Nueva Camino highlighted the importance of putting protections into policy to prevent regression and encouraged moving forward.

- Council Member Fields voiced strong support and said the resolution sends a message beyond Redmond’s borders.

- Council Vice President Forsyth suggested one amendment to add language in Section 5: “actively celebrate and uplift” by raising the Pride flag every June; council members indicated support for further refinement of that language.

- Council confirmed unanimous interest in continuing work on the resolution and pursuing the adoption timeline discussed. Staff offered to set a follow‑up meeting with the chief policy advisor and to compile council feedback for a revised draft.

Discussion vs. decisions

- Discussion: council discussed the substance of the resolution, related outreach, whether aspects should be handled in executive session with legal counsel, and a proposed addition to flag‑raising language.

- Direction/assignment: council asked staff and the chief policy advisor to compile edits, offered the option of an executive session with the attorney if legal issues warrant review, and directed staff to prepare a revised draft for early June consideration.

- Formal action: no final vote was taken; council registered unanimous support to proceed with drafting and review.

Quotes

- “Here we say clearly you belong, you are valued and your rights matter,” said Council Vice President Forsyth.

- “The thing that we can do to safeguard against regressing any further is by creating policy, by putting it down on words and then walking that out,” said Council Member Nueva Camino.

Ending

Council members indicated unanimous support to continue work on the resolution, and staff will compile council edits and schedule follow‑up to prepare a draft for council consideration with a target of adoption in early June, ahead of Pride Month.