Bend staff present draft resolution expanding 'welcoming city' commitment to 2SLGBTQIA+ community; commissioners raise wording questions

City staff presented a draft city council resolution that would expand Bend's 2017 welcoming-city commitment to explicitly name and support 2SLGBTQIA+ people, including transgender and non-binary residents.

Andres Portela, equity and inclusion director, read the proposed resolution aloud and said the measure affirms the city's "commitment to fostering a community where individuals of all sexual orientation, gender identities, and gender expression are treated with dignity, equity, and respect." He said the draft would "expand its welcoming city commitment to 2SLGBTQIA+ people" and would "actively oppose legislation or other actions at the state or federal level that threaten the rights, safety and dignity of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals."

Commissioners and staff emphasized the document is a policy statement rather than a law, and flagged several drafting and outreach issues. Commissioner Linda Heamer, who identified herself as a 2SLGBTQIA+ community member, noted the draft highlights that transgender and non-binary people face "heightened risk" yet the body of the resolution speaks broadly about the entire 2SLGBTQIA+ community. She recommended the title reflect the resolution's substantive scope and suggested the content, not the title, should determine how the item is labeled when it goes to council.

Commissioners asked staff to clarify how the resolution would interact with local anti-hate and anti-discrimination work. Portela said the city has been coordinating with a nonprofit partner on outreach, education and tracking complaints and that the city is working with internal groups (including an employee resource group) and community leaders. City Attorney Ian Lighthizer said the draft intentionally uses the existing "welcoming city" framework because that was the structure adopted in 2017 and because the term "sanctuary" has no consistent legal meaning and can create divergent expectations.

Several commissioners asked about adding explicit language addressing hate speech and direct harms at the local level in addition to the pledge to oppose state or federal actions. Portela said that issue is part of broader outreach and that the equity team is tracking legal and policy developments at the state level. He told commissioners staff planned to meet with local 2SLGBTQIA+ leaders in the coming week and that the city is aiming to bring a revised draft to city council in mid‑April.

Why it matters: commissioners and staff framed the resolution as a visible municipal commitment that can guide local policy and outreach. They also emphasized the need to align the title, text and community expectations and to coordinate with community organizations for language and implementation details.

What happened next: Commissioners asked staff to continue outreach to affected groups and to revisit the draft's title and language before it goes to council. Portela invited further edits and said staff would incorporate HREC input before the mid‑April council packet.

Ending: Portela said staff would meet with local 2SLGBTQIA+ leaders and return to council in mid‑April; commissioners asked to be notified about further edits and outreach opportunities.