Residents, faith leaders and LGBTQ advocates urge Lane County to affirm sanctuary protections and add gender-identity coverage

Dozens of residents, faith leaders and LGBTQ advocates told the Lane County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 25 that the county should publicly reaffirm its sanctuary protections for immigrants and add explicit protections for gender identity.

Speakers said the county’s written, public commitments matter now because of recent federal action and a shift in national rhetoric that, they said, has increased fear among immigrants and transgender residents. The comments came during a lengthy public-comment period that commissioners described as one of the largest turnouts they had seen.

The comments were wide-ranging but consistent in their main requests: a public statement from county leadership pledging to follow Oregon sanctuary guidance; explicit inclusion of gender identity in any local sanctuary language; outreach to community organizations serving immigrants and transgender residents; and practical supports such as stockpiling gender-affirming medications.

Elliot Harwell, identified in the meeting as a trans woman who lives in Springfield, described personal reasons for asking the county to act and said the request amounts to protecting civil rights. "Right now, what we're seeing in The United States is those rights are being stripped away from people like me," Harwell said. "What people here in this audience, like me, are asking for is that Lane County take specific actionable steps to protect the civil rights of people who are trans and queer and who are immigrants."

Lake Castagna, identified as a co-founder of Queer Eugene who runs a state-funded countywide program supporting queer staff and students, said she is conducting listening sessions at schools and that students "desperately want to know that they are safe". "It means that they have a future of being able to be themselves," Castagna said.

Amanda Dellinger, who identified herself as a queer, nonbinary trans person and a young professional who works in Eugene, said a public statement is the primary request from her community. "Making a public statement is, really what's needed for people in my community as well as the immigrant populations to feel safe," Dellinger said, while acknowledging some officials might fear that a statement could increase risk.

Several speakers made similar requests for formal written commitments from county officials and other justice-system leaders. Judy Bowles, a Santa Clara resident who said she is a member of Temple Beth Israel's board of trustees and a former finance director of the city of Springfield, told commissioners she had asked the sheriff whether he would make a public statement; Bowles said, "He said he would be happy to do that." Bowles urged the commission to provide a similar, calming public confirmation that county services will be provided without discrimination.

Other speakers framed their appeals in moral and religious terms. Reverend Dennis Reynolds urged the board to "not simply affirm policy, but to speak out loud to say who we are," and several faith leaders said public declarations of inclusion would counter rising fear.

Speakers also asked for operational steps: better education within county offices about what sanctuary status means; explicit language protecting providers who serve immigrants and LGBTQ residents (for example, medical staff and attorneys); and ensuring continuity of gender-affirming medications if state or federal coverage changes.

Commissioners did not take any formal action during the public-comment period. When public comment ended, Chair Lovell thanked speakers and said commissioners had taken "copious notes." The meeting then proceeded to the consent calendar.

Why it matters: Commenters said a public, written affirmation from county leadership would provide immediate reassurance to immigrants and transgender residents facing fear and uncertainty, while several speakers also raised practical suggestions for county staff to coordinate protective services.

Voices: Many speakers were parents of transgender children, organizers of LGBTQ supports, faith leaders and longtime immigrant advocates. The breadth of testimony included both requests for public statements and offers of partnership with county offices.

What's next: Commissioners moved on to agenda business after public comment; no vote or directive to staff related to sanctuary or gender-identity protections was recorded in the meeting minutes.