Tualatin council agrees to consider Transgender Day of Visibility proclamation after large public request

Tualatin City Council voted 6-1 on Feb. 24 to add a proclamation declaring March 31, 2025, as Transgender Day of Visibility to the council's March 24 agenda after multiple public speakers urged the city to show support for transgender and nonbinary residents.

The request came during the meeting's public-comment period, when residents and community leaders described safety concerns and urged the city to adopt a visible statement of support. "This day will be honored around the world as an opportunity to celebrate all that transgender and non binary people continue to contribute to humanity," said Chris Paul, co-chair of the IDEA Advisory Committee, asking the council to adopt the proclamation.

Why it matters: Supporters said the proclamation would be a symbolic, community-level statement in a period of heightened national debate and local anxiety among transgender people and families. Several speakers said visibility reduces isolation and helps safeguard access to public services.

Speakers at the meeting described personal and community impacts. Emily Baker, who identified herself as a trans woman and a long-time Tualatin resident, said she fears for basic protections and public access. "It's hard to know whether you're going to be welcome in public facilities and public housing," Baker said. Emma Gray, a resident of more than 25 years, called the proclamation "a way for us in Tualatin, as a loving and caring community, to say to a group of people currently facing terrifying prejudice that they are seen." Several other residents, including Kit Lorelei and Charice and Eric Vasquez, spoke in favor of the proclamation.

Council response and next steps: Councilor Sacco proposed that the proclamation be placed on the March 24 agenda for formal consideration. By a show-of-hands vote the council agreed to move the item up on the calendar; the mayor announced the tally as 6 in favor, 1 opposed, and said the proclamation text would be circulated in advance of the March 24 meeting for review.

Council members who spoke in support described the move as consistent with the city’s values and with prior community outreach. Council comments emphasized the council’s interest in supporting youth and vulnerable residents and noted that more detailed review of the proclamation text would occur at the March 24 meeting.

No formal adoption of the proclamation occurred on Feb. 24; the council only voted to add the item to the March 24 agenda and to circulate the proclamation language in advance for review.