This week, Seattle’s Democratic mayor introduced a city ordinance aimed at enhancing protections for individuals pursuing transgender care and surgeries, while condemning the Trump administration’s “hateful, dangerous, and discriminatory attacks” on the LGBTQ+ community.
Mayor Bruce Harrell, who campaigned as a moderate prior to his 2021 election victory, has previously shown support for transgender care, focusing on public safety and aiding local businesses, according to The Seattle Times.
Harrell’s election followed unrest in the city after the death of George Floyd and the events surrounding the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, which, combined with the pandemic, significantly impacted downtown Seattle.
The Seattle Times noted in 2023 that Harrell represented a shift toward the center, moving away from some of Seattle’s more left-leaning leaders.
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Bruce Harrell was elected Seattle’s mayor in 2021. (Mat Hayward/Getty Images)
On Thursday, conservative Seattle radio host Jason Rantz labeled Harrell’s proposed city legislation as “extreme,” albeit “mostly toothless” and primarily “virtue signaling” aimed at appealing to Seattle’s progressive base.
Harrell introduced the legislation in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order that halted federal funding for providers offering transgender healthcare to individuals under 19.
“We take pride in Seattle’s reputation as a welcoming and inclusive city for the LGBTQ+ community and value their substantial contributions to our city’s culture and vibrancy,” Harrell stated this week.
“This legislation is a significant step to bolster local protections and support our LGBTQ+ community against the hateful, dangerous, and discriminatory attacks from the Trump administration and others, ensuring that all residents can access essential healthcare services.”
Activists for and against transgender rights gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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Trump’s executive orders have faced challenges, resulting in lawsuits that have temporarily stalled their implementation in the courts.
In light of the federal directives, some hospitals nationwide paused transgender care services to safeguard against potential funding losses.
A judge in Seattle also put a hold on these orders in four states amidst legal actions taken by a coalition of Democrat-led states.
The Seattle skyline viewed from Lake Union in Washington state. (Jeff Halstead/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Harrell emphasized that the ordinance reinforces Washington state’s “Shield Law” that safeguards transgender individuals seeking reproductive services as well as those providing such care from prosecution.
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This week, Harrell noted in a city announcement that he signed legislation in 2022 making it a misdemeanor to infringe upon reproductive or transgender care. Additionally, during his time on the Seattle City Council before his election, he was a “vocal” advocate for access to transgender healthcare for city employees.
Officials from Harrell’s office and the Trump administration did not respond immediately to requests for comments from Fox News Digital.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
