Sammamish City Planning Commissioner Wassim Fayed resigned Monday, June 5, after he made anti-LGBTQ+ remarks at the city's previous planning meeting. In a nearly six-minute tirade, Fayed denounced the LGBTQ+ community, saying, "These are not a disenfranchised minority people. We should not club them as part of the minority people." Fayed specifically mentioned disapproval of Pride Month.

Fayed's comments touched on recent right-wing talking points about the LGBTQ+ community, specifically that its members aim to "corrupt" children. "In my opinion, these are people who are promoting diseases and infestation into the mind of our kids in schools," he said before calling on his fellow community members to stand against the LGBTQ+ community.

Fayed also evoked religious sentiments when claiming, "God created us a male and a female, and to go against the creation of God and spread diseases in the community is something we should speak up against."

He repeatedly referenced the spread of "disease" throughout the Sammamish community, which he blamed on Queer and Trans people, who he claimed are members of the wealthy elite and over-represented in movies and television.

Community response
Nobody stopped Fayed from speaking or cut off his microphone during his rant. In the days following, the Sammamish City Council issued a statement addressing his speech. "While we acknowledge the Commissioner's right to free speech, we were shocked to hear the comments made, and we strongly condemn them," they wrote. "These comments do not represent our city or community. The City of Sammamish is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment where hate has no place."

The mayor of Sammamish, Kali Clark, who was the first member of the LGBTQ+ community elected to the position, also released a statement. "To our youth, hate has no place here. To all of our residents, our city staff, leadership, and our volunteers, hate has no place here," she said.

While many in the Sammamish community side with the statements from the council and the mayor, others believe it was too little too late. Citizens have questioned why commissioners did not denounce Fayed in person immediately following his remarks. Commissioner Kerry Bosworth said she was too stunned to speak at the moment.

Following the city planning meeting, a video of Fayed went viral on the internet. The City of Sammamish included a banner in the video clarifying that Fayed's words reflect his opinion, not that of the general Sammamish public or the city government.

Prominent local businessperson scorned
Fayed is a prominent businessperson in King County. In 2017 he opened Tanoor restaurant in Sammamish and later a second location in Seattle. The restaurant is known for providing authentic Lebanese food and has even secured business deals with Met and PCC Markets, where it sells its hummus and baba ghanoush. He also established the Sammamish Muslim Association with three other community leaders, and he served as imam at the local mosque he helped establish.

The Sammamish Muslim Association also released a statement following Fayed's anti-LGBTQ+ remarks. "Despite his resignation and apology, we write to clarify that our diverse Muslim community and Islamic faith do not condone his language or behavior," they said. "The religion of Islam is a religion of mercy that teaches kindness, compassion, and treatment of all human beings with dignity."

Following his resignation, Fayed clarified that he had planned to resign before his comments to focus more time and energy on his business. He also said that he has hired LGBTQ+ people to work at his restaurant and has "never discriminated against anyone."