State College is now a trans sanctuary city. Here’s what that means for the LGBTQ community

The State College borough is now a trans sanctuary city after the council unanimously adopted a resolution to protect the rights of trans people and gender-affirming care Monday.

The resolution, introduced to the council and proposed by the Centre County Democratic Socialists of America, protects and grants “refuge to transgender and non-binary youth and their parents fleeing states with anti-transgender laws.” It further affirms State College as a safe and welcoming haven for the LGBTQ community.

It also declares the borough a safe haven for gender-affirming health care.

Trans rights are human rights, Borough Council President Evan Myers said.

“The expansion of rights in the United States is a constant struggle, but our whole history is one of expanding those rights. We’re not always successful but expanding rights of marginalized communities is our birthright,” Myers said.

Discrimination based on race, religion, immigrant status, gender and gender identity are under attack, he said.

“We need to do all we can to protect all of those rights. We’re not going back,” Myers said.

With the resolution, borough personnel can’t criminally prosecute or impose administrative penalties on anyone for providing, seeking or assisting someone who is seeking or receiving gender-affirming health care. If Pennsylvania passes a law that imposes criminal punishment or the like on any individual or organization doing so, the resolution states enforcement of such law should be the borough’s lowest priority.

“The Borough Council of State College firmly states its commitment to protecting human rights for all individuals and believes that access to healthcare, education, and peaceful enjoyment of their lives are fundamental rights to all people in the borough. The Borough of State College hereby reiterates its commitment to transgender rights and equal protections for transgender community members and declares itself a safe city and sanctuary for transgender people to live and seek care,” the resolution reads, in part.

A dozen community members spoke in support of the resolution. Many shared their own experiences of harassment or discrimination in State College because of their identity, highlighting why this resolution was an important step to take.

Michel Lee Garrett, a board member of Centre LGBT+ , applauded the resolution.

“As a transgender member of our community, the work that you are doing here tonight is life saving. I am alive because of transition, and because of the privilege of being able to access gender affirming care. I am alive and successful and thriving, in large part because State College has been a sanctuary to me where I was able to blossom into the version of myself that I was always supposed to be, and that many of my trans and non binary, gender queer, fluid, non-conforming siblings do not have the privilege of accessing,” Garrett said.

In a statement, Centre LGBT+ said they “wholeheartedly and enthusiastically” support the resolution. It thanked the council for passing the resolution and the community members who led the effort to bring it to the council.

Sav Winchester, of Spring Township, said legislation like this is an important start for the community.

“I also want to say how important it is to include trans children with the same protections and care as trans adults. And that did not go unnoticed when I was reading the resolution,” Winchester said.

Council member Matt Herndon said the resolution shouldn’t be needed but hearing the public comments showed how much it is. One commenter said passing the resolution is the least the borough can do — and Herndon agreed.

“...This will make members of our community feel safer and more included while not directly harming others. So I think we should pass it, as I’ve said before, though, to be truly inclusive, we must finish our work on zoning and allow more housing to be built here, because otherwise the promise of sanctuary will only be for the select few who are actually able to find a home here, and we must do better,” he said.

Council member Nalini Krishnankutty said to ensure true inclusiveness they need to constantly evaluate who is left out and what more they can do. She said the resolution is a good first step and that they’re committed to doing more.

“This is a first step that I’m very proud in this moment in time as anti-trans legislation is gaining momentum. So I’m really thankful for this,” she said.

When the resolution was adopted, the council was met with applause from the roughly 40-50 people in attendance.

Many states have passed laws banning medical treatments and some surgical procedures for minors. According to the Human Rights Campaign, 39% (117,600) trans youth aged 13-17 are living in the 25 states that have passed bans on gender-affirming care, as of May 2024.

The resolution states that in a situation concerning out-of-state jurisdictions, borough personnel shouldn’t enforce laws that impose criminal punishment, civil liability, administrative penalties or professional sanctions on an individual or organization for providing, seeking, receiving or assisting in seeking/receiving gender-affirming health care. They will also decline requests to stop, arrest, detain or transfer people to out-of-state custody based on such conduct.

Jonathan Bauman, a Patton Township resident, said passing this resolution will not only help local trans people, but could also inspire larger government bodies, like the county and state, to do the same. The resolution urges the Centre County Commissioners to pass a similar resolution that protects the rights of transgender and non-binary people, and protections for gender-affirming health care.

Centre LGBT+, in its statement, also encouraged other municipalities to adopt similar resolutions “during this time of profound challenge for the LGBT+ community.”

During Tuesday’s Centre County Commissioners meeting, the CDT asked the board if they had been approached about a resolution and if they were considering adopting something similar. Commissioner Mark Higgins declined to comment, saying that was the first time they’d heard of the resolution.

Other cities throughout the United States have passed similar resolutions, including Pittsburgh and Philadelphia . The borough called on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and the state legislature to pass a “shield law.” Under a shield law, if someone travels from a state where gender-affirming health care is banned and receives that care in Pennsylvania, they would be protected against civil or criminal charges from the banned state, according to the resolution.

The resolution comes as at least one Centre County school district held off on adopting the Biden administration’s new Title IX regulations . The new regulations introduce additional protections for LGBTQ students, prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.