WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia has long been committed to being a welcoming City for all those who desire to live, visit, and work regardless of race, national origin, age, religion, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation; and
WHEREAS, Immigrants, LGBTQ+ and other marginalized people, make profound contributions to every facet of the City of Philadelphia’s cultural, economic, educational, and community life; and
WHEREAS, The right to reproductive healthcare and bodily autonomy is a fundamental right of all Philadelphians, and particularly important to secure for marginalized communities such as Black and Brown Philadelphians; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia has previously committed to protecting Philadelphia’s immigrants’ rights to feel secure, respected, and able to interact with public safety officials without fear. Philadelphia has committed to ensuring that its public resources will not be used to collaborate or contribute to Federal deportation efforts; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia has previously committed
to protect the rights and equal protections for LGBTQ+ people, and affirmed its commitment that no City resources should be spent to enforce state or federal laws that infringe upon the rights of LGBTQ+ people, in the face of an increase in threats to the rights and wellbeing of Transgender people in particular in State and Federal law; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia has previously committed to protecting Philadelphians’ fundamental rights to bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom, in light of the Supreme Court’s decision that stripped away constitutional protections for reproductive rights; and
WHEREAS, The fight to relentlessly defend and protect immigrant, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized communities is even more crucially important since the recent election. The fear of deportation, the stripping of hard-fought civil rights, and the potential for future limits to economic opportunity have become present dangers for many Philadelphians as a result of the recent election; and
WHEREAS, Targeted local action, advocacy, and investment in our most vulnerable residents is necessary to ensure that the City of Philadelphia reaffirms its commitment now to protect the rights and equal protections of immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and other marginalized communities; and
WHEREAS, The struggles and hopes of immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and all other marginalized people are interconnected, and the world that we collectively envision is one in which every Philadelphian is not only living a life without fear, but living a life where they feel safe, affirmed in every aspect of their identity, and free to exist as their full selves; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby authorize the Committee on Law and Government to hold hearings exploring Philadelphia’s readiness and commitment to protecting its immigrant, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized communities in advance of the impending Trump Administration.
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