Commissioners issue statement in support of immigrant and transgender community members
Today, the Board of County Commissioners voted to issue a statement reaffirming Lane County’s commitment to upholding the Oregon Sanctuary Promise Act and supporting transgender community members.
Commissioners directed the creation of the statement in response to requests from members of and advocates for the immigrant and transgender communities. The statement was developed with insight shared during meetings with local community groups.
The statement recognizes the purpose of Lane County Government is to improve the lives of our community members. Every person in our community is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect. Every person in Lane County should feel safe to live authentically, enjoy public spaces, access public services, and participate in community life regardless of the language they speak, the color of their skin, their gender identity, or any other factor historically used to exclude people from services and community.
Lane County’s commitment is to:
- welcome diverse people into our community, including immigrant, refugee, and transgender people, and build our systems with all people in mind.
- uphold Oregon’s Sanctuary Promise Act to ensure immigrant and refugee communities do not fear local law enforcement and feel safe reporting crimes.
- not request immigration status of people seeking services, except as required by law.
- provide equal access to services and care, in the preferred language of the people seeking those services or care.
- provide accessible signage, public messages, documents, and forms in multiple languages.
- use every avenue permitted by law to support the State of Oregon in affirming the rights of transgender people of all ages to receive any gender affirming healthcare that has been deemed medically necessary by a qualified healthcare provider.
- uphold the rights of people to seek gender-affirming care in our community and not comply with any requests to seek, detain, or report people who come to our community seeking gender-affirming care.
- challenge federal policies that harm transgender people and agree to use every avenue permitted by law to assure equal access to healthcare, housing, education, and employment.
- update and create policies across Lane County to protect the rights of transgender people and immigrants.
Read the full statement and accompanying board memo online.