Wednesday June 26, 2019
Dear friends and community members,
My office and I send our solidarity to The Crescent bar on Capitol Hill, whose Pride flag was recently shredded, and The Lumber Yard and The Swallow, who also reported anti-LGBTQ targeting. We stand with the LGBTQ community in condemning these cowardly and hateful acts, and with all those who oppose the harassment of LGBTQ and other marginalized communities.
These acts, especially during the month of Pride, are totally unacceptable. They are a reminder of how right-wing ideas have become more emboldened since Trump took office, and that we have to keep building social movements both to protect against bigoted attacks, and to make further gains in our struggle for full equality for all LGBTQ people.
My office also stands with the Trans Pride celebration, in refusing to be intimidated by right-wing bigotry, and boldly protecting the LGBTQ community against hate crimes. Since the first Seattle Trans Pride celebration in 2013, when my City Council campaign and I marched with pride, my Council office has proudly supported and marched alongside the trans and non-binary community every year. Through the People’s Budget campaign in 2019, we were able to win funding for a trans health center at Nova High School, which will provide necessary services to LGBTQ students. However, these steps are just the beginning of fighting for justice for our marginalized communities.
Our city needs a 24-hour hate crime hotline, and an independently elected office to investigate workplace sexual, gender, and racial harassment, with full powers to hold corporations accountable. These services are necessary to provide support and justice for those impacted by harassment or hate crimes. We need to fully fund anti-bullying and harassment education in all our schools and workplaces. Regardless of federal policy from Trump, Seattle should reject laws and companies that allow discriminatory practices and policies. Seattle must be a sanctuary city in more than just a name, but in action as well.
In Seattle, LGBTQ and other marginalized communities are disproportionately impacted by the affordable housing crisis. Seattle needs rent control, and a tax on big corporations to fund a massive expansion of social housing and LGBTQ services. Our city cannot claim to be an accepting place for the LGBTQ community until we make Seattle affordable for all.
In solidarity,
Councilmember Kshama Sawant