Council News Release

Council President Richard Conlin
Councilmember Sally Bagshaw
Councilmember Tim Burgess
Councilmember Sally J. Clark
Councilmember Jean Godden
Councilmember Bruce Harrell
Councilmember Nick Licata
Councilmember Mike O'Brien
Councilmember Tom Rasmussen

Council reaffirms commitment to LGBT community

Council approves resolution and reaffirms Seattle's commitment to LGBT equal rights

SEATTLE – The Seattle City Council today passed resolution 31224 reaffirming the City of Seattle’s commitment to full equal rights for all residents and employees regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The resolution asks the City to assess the needs of Seattle’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, proposes strategies to meet those needs, and encourages City departments to participate in Seattle’s annual Pride celebration.

"The City of Seattle has a long history of being inclusive of our LGBT community and today's resolution reaffirms that commitment," said Councilmember Bruce Harrell, who co-sponsored the resolution with Councilmembers Clark, Licata and Rasmussen. "This resolution puts the City on record to work closely with the LGBT community to guarantee equal rights and provide for full participation of all our residents and City employees."

Today's Council resolution calls on City departments to work with the Seattle Office for Civil Rights and the Seattle LGBT Commission to provide a report to the Seattle City Council and the Mayor by June 2011. The report will assess the employment, housing, health, and other needs of Seattle’s LGBT community, and the Commission will propose strategies to meet those needs.

"It's fitting that we adopt this resolution during LGBT Pride month in Seattle," said Councilmember Sally J. Clark. "The LGBT movement has come far over the past 40 years, but there's still work to be done. This resolution is a great step toward recognizing the positive contributions our LGBT residents contribute to the Seattle landscape and to develop strategies to combat discrimination wherever it may be found."

"The City of Seattle has long prided itself on its commitment to diversity in all its forms," added Councilmember Rasmussen. "Civil rights protections for all are essential to ensure that our families are safer and more secure."

"It is fitting that City Council’s action comes at the beginning of Pride Week, when Seattle joins hundreds of communities across the country to celebrate equal rights and inclusion," said Christopher Perguero, co-chair of the Seattle LGBT Commission.

Added Lillie Cridland, co-chair of the Seattle LGBT Commission, "We look forward to working with the City in the coming months to develop a comprehensive needs assessment for Seattle’s LGBT community and to propose steps to address those needs."