Advocates and residents urge Kent council to adopt resolution protecting LGBTQI residents and workers

Three speakers used the March 18 public-comment period at the Kent City Council meeting to urge passage of a resolution supporting safety and protections for LGBTQI residents and workers.

Amosai Cheke (spelled in transcript as "Amosai Cheke") identified himself as a Kent resident and Utopia Washington organizer and said the issue was "about survival," describing a recent attack on a trans woman in Kent and youth pushed from homes. "When our community is under attack, where do you stand?" he asked council members.

Adrianna Suluai, who identified herself as a trans woman and a representative of Utopia Washington, described working with families and youth and urged the council not to delay action. "We cannot afford to wait," she said, calling the resolution a concrete expression of the city standing with queer and trans residents.

Shannon Jepsen Hernandez spoke as a teacher at Mill Creek Middle School, a 23-year resident of Kent and a downtown business owner (Back 40 Outfitters). She described a series of safety problems near her store — open drug use, multiple break-ins and a recent theft she said totaled $23,000 — and said those conditions also affect students who pass through downtown. She said those experiences motivated her to support measures addressing public safety and community services.

Councilmembers did not take action on a resolution during the meeting; speakers asked the council to move forward with a community-led resolution to improve safety and protections for LGBTQI residents.

Why it matters: Public comment placed personal safety and equity concerns before the council and framed them as a call for a formal municipal response. Speakers described incidents they said had occurred locally and asked the council for a clear, timely response.