Residents tell Logan City Council harassment of transgender and Latino residents is rising, urge action

At the Feb. 4 Logan City Council meeting, resident Ethan Payne told the council that he has heard multiple recent reports of harassment directed at transgender residents and Latino students and asked elected officials to take visible steps to address the problem.

Payne said, “in the past 2 weeks, I've had 3 different friends of mine from the transgender community come tell me that they are looking to move … because of directed harassment they've received in this town.” He told the council people had shouted slurs, drivers had “run off the road” people who displayed Pride stickers and that a Logan High School counselor had reported increased harassment of Latino students.

The comments came during the meeting’s public-comment period, a time the council sets aside for matters not otherwise on the agenda. Payne suggested several possible responses: a public statement from the mayor or council, inviting outside speakers, and expanded training for workplaces and schools. He cited CAPSA as a local training provider and named Darren Herrick as a potential speaker.

Council members later returned to the subject in their remarks. Council member Melissa said officials should be aware these incidents may increase in number and reporting and urged vigilance at the school-district level. Council member Ernesto (first name only in the meeting record) described concern in the Latino community and said intimidation incidents — including civilians blocking or harassing others — appear to be increasing nationally and could emerge locally. Ernesto said such fear can affect whether people seek health care or other services.

No formal council action was taken during the Feb. 4 meeting on the issue. Several council members and staff described ongoing community outreach efforts — including the Point-in-Time count and warming-center services — and encouraged residents to report incidents to police and to use community resources. Payne and other speakers framed their requests as calls for local leadership rather than immediate legislative action.

Why it matters: Council members and residents described recent, specific allegations of harassment affecting vulnerable groups in Logan. Council acknowledgement and offers of local resources make the issue part of the official record; any future formal actions (for example, a public statement, formal training program, or partnerships with community organizations) would require separate council direction or staff follow-up.

Community members who spoke during public comment urged steps now: a public statement, public speakers, and expanded training for schools and workplaces. Council members encouraged reporting to law enforcement and flagged school-district conversations already underway.

The council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for the first and third Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m.; residents who want to register concerns in writing were reminded about city and school-district contacts and the meeting’s public-comment procedures.