Allentown council adopts resolution declaring city a safe haven for LGBTQ residents

Allentown City Council on the evening it was introduced adopted Resolution R48, a nonbinding statement declaring the city a safe and welcoming haven for LGBTQ people and urging county and state officials to support policies that protect access to gender-affirming care.

The resolution drew nearly two hours of public comment from transgender residents, health-care providers and LGBTQ advocates who described access to gender-affirming treatment as life‑saving. “Access to this treatment quite literally made my life into a life worth living,” said Amelia Conway, a trans woman who told council she received transition‑related care in Allentown.

The public testimony framed the local action in the context of national developments. Corinne Goodwin, executive director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Trans Equity Project, told the council that in the prior week anti‑trans proposals and provider targeting had accelerated nationally and that providers and networks had begun removing information about gender‑affirming care from public websites. “People’s lives are at stake,” Goodwin said.

Local providers and advocates emphasized both health and community impacts. Krista Brownlee, interim executive director of the Bradbury Sullivan LGBT Community Center, said the resolution “will affirm our city's commitment to keeping LGBTQ+ health care safe, accessible, and free from discrimination or government interference.” Dr. Christine Hartigan, a licensed psychologist who provides gender‑affirming care in Allentown, cited international standards of care and peer‑reviewed research and described the treatment as reducing rates of anxiety, depression and suicide among transgender people.

State Representative Josh Siegel, who addressed the council, praised the council’s unanimous sponsorship and framed the resolution as local leadership where state and federal avenues are blocked. “It is more important than ever now that our local legislative bodies lead by example,” Siegel said, adding that he has introduced state legislation intended to protect providers and patients but that the state Senate has not taken it up.

Mayor (name not specified in the record) told council staff are already drafting administrative policies that would implement several of the resolution’s aims, including a draft policy to decline requests from other jurisdictions to assist in enforcement actions related to gender‑affirming care and guidance limiting city personnel collection of information about care. The mayor also said the city will continue work to fill vacancies on the Human Relations Commission to ensure the body can investigate claims of discrimination.

Councilwoman Natalie Santos introduced the resolution; council members present voted to adopt it. Councilmember Gerlach, who spoke after public comment, thanked colleagues for swift, unanimous sponsorship and stressed that while a resolution is symbolic it can be paired with administrative actions to provide immediate protections.

The resolution is a statement of city policy; it does not change state law. The mayor and administration said they will follow up with specific administrative policies to implement parts of the resolution and invited community input as they complete that work.