The Tacoma City Council unanimously voted to pass Resolution 41628 at a meeting on February 25, which made the city the third in the state, following Olympia and Shoreline, to designate itself as a sanctuary city for LGBTQIA+ people.

The resolution affirms and reaffirms the city's "commitment to ensuring that all individuals, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, feel safe and supported," as well as to "diversity, inclusion, and justice" so all residents can "live without fear of discrimination or harm," and to protecting the civil rights of LGBTQIA2S+ people.

"I've watched as many in the LGBTQIA+ community were forced to move from their states in rural cities," Oliver Webb, operations director at the Diversity Alliance for Puget Sound, said during public comment. "Transgender friends and clients stopped public transitions out of fear for their lives, and there have been suicides. We are not safe — we are being literally hunted down."

Councilmember Olgy Diaz, who sponsored the resolution, she said she was blown away by the number of people who attended the meeting, adding that this resolution will build on decades of work that Tacoma and the state have done in relation to LGBTQIA2S+ protections.

"This resolution directs city staff to work within Washington's law against discrimination, and highlights one of the very first policies I passed when I came here to the city: to protect access for folks seeking gender-affirming care at our healthcare facilities here in Tacoma," Diaz said.

She acknowledged how, despite city and state leadership advocating for the community, LGBTQIA2S+ people still face ongoing violence and discrimination and systemic barriers that threaten their safety, well-being, and human rights.

"Transgender leaders are literally being erased from history in front of our eyes," Diaz said. "Tacoma will not erase our Trans and Queer leaders from our history."

Councilmember Joe Bushnell said she felt deeply troubled and uncomfortable celebrating while community members face real risks.

"Language can evoke a lot of things. It can evoke excitement, fear, joy, anger, etc., and my fear is that these resolutions tonight create a false hope," Bushnell said.

While Bushnell does not want to mislead the public into believing that the resolution will shield the public from federal legislation, Devin Rydel Kelly said during public comment that Trump and Musk's political efforts against Queer communities is deeply concerning.

"[The resolution] will serve as a beacon for other communities," Kelly added.