HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 45941
CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
RESOLUTION NO. 4594
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, AFFIRMING
RENTON AS A WELCOMING AND PROTECTIVE CITY FOR LESBIAN, GAY,
BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, INTERSEX, ASEXUAL, TWO-SPIRIT,
AND OTHER LGBTQIA2S+ INDIVIDUALS; REAFFIRMING THE CITY'S
COMMITMENT TO THE WASHINGTON LAW AGAINST DISCRIMINATION
AND WASHINGTON'S SHIELD LAW; AND DIRECTING CERTAIN LAWFUL
ACTIONS TO PROTECT THE CIVIL RIGHTS, SAFETY, AND WELL-BEING OF
ALL RESIDENTS, WORKERS, AND VISITORS.
WHEREAS, the City of Renton is committed to fostering a community in which all
individuals are treated with dignity, equity, and respect, regardless of sexual orientation,
gender identity, or gender expression; and
WHEREAS, the Washington Law Against Discrimination, chapter 49.60 RCW,
prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in
employment, housing, public accommodations, credit, and insurance, and the City is
committed to upholding those protections within its jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, in 2023 the Washington Legislature enacted Engrossed Substitute House
Bill 1469 (the "shield law"), which protects persons who seek, obtain, provide, or assist in
obtaining lawful gender-affirming health care or reproductive health care in Washington
from certain hostile legal actions originating outside the State; and
WHEREAS, on June 18, 2025, the United States Supreme Court in United States v.
Skrmetti upheld a state law restricting gender-affirming care for minors, and a number of
states and the federal executive branch have taken action to restrict gender-affirming care,
to limit inclusive educational content, and to narrow the legal recognition of transgender
and nonbinary individuals; and
RESOLUTION NO. 4594
2
WHEREAS, these developments have caused fear and uncertainty among
transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse residents and their families, and systemic
barriers continue to affect LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, including youth, people of color, elders,
immigrants, and persons experiencing housing instability; and
WHEREAS, gender-affirming health care and reproductive health care remain lawful
in Washington State, and the State has acted to protect access to that care; and
WHEREAS, anti-commandeering principles under the Tenth Amendment to the
United States Constitution recognize that the federal government may not compel a
municipality to administer or enforce a federal regulatory program, and the City may
determine how its own personnel, funds, and resources are used, consistent with state and
federal law and any valid court order; and
WHEREAS, the City of Renton has long affirmed its commitment to an inclusive and
welcoming community, including through its 2017 proclamation declaring Renton an
inclusive city, the establishment of the Equity Commission, and ongoing community-
recognition proclamations; and
WHEREAS, the City Council discussed affirming and protecting the rights of
LGBTQIA2S+ community members at its April 7, 2025 Committee of the Whole, and on June
1, 2026 adopted a motion directing the Administration to develop a resolution; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that a clear statement of the City's values, together
with specific and lawful actions within the City's authority, will advance the safety, inclusion,
and well-being of all Renton residents, workers, and visitors;
RESOLUTION NO. 4594
3
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON,
DO RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. The City of Renton affirms that every resident, worker, and visitor,
regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, has the right to live
and express themselves authentically and to be treated with dignity and equity, free from
unlawful discrimination and harassment. The City reaffirms its commitment to the
Washington Law Against Discrimination, chapter 49.60 RCW.
SECTION II. The City will continue to provide its services and to administer its
employment practices without unlawful discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation,
gender identity, or gender expression, consistent with chapter 49.60 RCW and applicable
City policy.
SECTION III. City personnel, funds, and resources shall not be used to investigate,
surveil, detain, or penalize any individual solely on the basis of that individual's sexual
orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or lawful receipt or provision of gender-
affirming or reproductive health care.
SECTION IV. Consistent with anti-commandeering principles, the City will not
voluntarily expend its own personnel or resources to assist another jurisdiction, or a federal
directive, in penalizing a person for conduct that is lawful in Washington State relating to
gender identity or to gender-affirming or reproductive health care.
SECTION V. With respect to employee health benefits:
A. The City recognizes that state and federal law protect against discrimination on
the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employee health benefits.
RESOLUTION NO. 4594
4
B. The City recognizes that the design of employee health benefits is subject to the
provisions of applicable collective bargaining agreements. Nothing in this Resolution
directs a particular plan design, alters the collective bargaining process, or is
intended to effect a unilateral change to a mandatory subject of bargaining.
C. If a change in state or federal law would restrict access to or coverage of gender-
affirming health care, any responsive change to employee health benefits shall be
pursued through collective bargaining.
SECTION VI. The Administration is directed to monitor developments in state and
federal law affecting the matters addressed in this Resolution, to track the conditions and
assurances attached to the City's federal grants, to ensure that the City's decisions
regarding the use of its resources under this Resolution remain consistent with those
conditions and assurances and with applicable law, and to report to the City Council,
including if compliance with this Resolution would place federal funding at risk or if a change
in law warrants the Council's consideration of options.
SECTION VII. Sections III and IV apply only to the City's own discretionary personnel,
funds, and resources. Nothing in this Resolution authorizes any action contrary to valid state
or federal law or a valid court order, or excuses any City officer or employee from performing
a duty, or from providing assistance, that is required by valid state or federal law, by a valid
court order, by a condition or assurance attached to a federal grant the City has accepted,
or in connection with a criminal investigation of a violation of Washington State law.
/ 0+&52"+*q*,qq
#Cq9Vlq \_[jKbKZVqZCqeGLbq /AbZQheL[WqZ_qMfbq9]\TM<9gKZVqfZq9Vlq\A_bZVqZ_q
<K`<iUbe9V<AqKbqGBR=q MVj9SK>qeHAq_AU9MX=A_qZDq fIAq/Ab[RhfM[Wq 9V=qeGAq9^\QL<9eKZVqZDqfGAq
\_ZjMbLZYqf[qZeJA_q]AabZVbqZ_q<N`<hUbe9V<AbqLbqV[fq9CCA<fA=q
3GLbq/Ab[SheM[VqLcq:qbf9eAUAVeqZCq Oflq][QL<mq9X=q =N_A<fP[Vq9V?q<_A9fAbq
VZq<9hbBq[Cq9<eLZXqZ_q]_Mj:fBq_MFHeqZEq9<eM[Vq9F9LVbfqeGAq LelqZ`qMfbqZCCL<A_bqZ_qAU\RZlAAbq
oq-00 q7q4! q $27q +5* "'qeGKdqeHq=9lqZDpq
.-/+6 q 7q3! q(8+/qfGNbqeGq @9lqZCq%hRnq q
q\]aZkB=q9cqe[qD[aUq
1J9VAq(ZR[WAlq LelqfeZ_WBlq
/ 0 0/ 0 q q
q
_U;V=[q-9jZVAq)9lZ_q