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Speaker urges Renton council to adopt resolution and fund services to protect LGBTQIA+ residents
Summary
A public commenter urged the council to adopt a resolution defending transgender and gender-expansive residents and to fund crisis housing, legal aid and staff training; the remark came during the public comment portion and no formal council action was taken at the meeting.
Michael Westgar, who identified himself during public comment, urged the council to adopt a resolution declaring the city’s support for transgender, nonbinary and gender-expansive residents and to back that resolution with budget allocations for crisis housing and legal assistance.
"Renton must belong to record as a city that will stand up for our transgender, non binary, and gender expansive neighbors under attack," Westgar said, calling for prohibitions on use of city resources to investigate gender identity, investment in housing programs for trans youth experiencing homelessness and training for all city staff in gender-affirming services. He described a national context of hostile actions and urged local protections and funding.
Westgar recommended the resolution include concrete budgetary commitments, such as crisis housing and legal funds, and called on the council to act immediately. His remarks were delivered during the public comment period; council members did not vote on a resolution at the meeting.
Westgar cited a statistic during his remarks, saying "trans youth comprise 40% of our unhoused youth," which he framed as a reason to prioritize housing programs; the article presents that percentage as the speaker's assertion rather than an independently verified fact.
The comment was entered into the record; council members acknowledged public comment but took no immediate action on a resolution at the meeting.
