The city of Columbia, Missouri, has declared itself a sanctuary for LGBTQ residents.

Columbia City Council members passed the ‘LGBTQ Safe Haven’ ordinance in a 6 to 1 vote.

The sanctuary city ordinance includes language “referencing potential future state laws barring bathroom access for transgender individuals or public drag performances,” Columbia Daily Tribune reports.

“Columbia City Council members passed an ordinance by a vote of 6 to 1 that ensured LGBTQ individuals, families, and establishments felt safe within the community,” KRCG 13 reporter Mark Slavit wrote.

Ward 5 council member Don Waterman was the lone dissenting vote.

Public comment on the ordinance lasted approximately three hours before the council vote.

“That said, this ordinance for me is not really necessary. I base that on several things,” Waterman commented.

According to the Columbia Daily Tribune, Waterman felt Columbia was already considered a safe haven, wouldn’t change the hearts or minds of residents, and wouldn’t impact existing state laws.

KRCG 13 reports:

The ordinance ensured LGBTQ individuals, families, and establishments felt safe within the community. Those who gave public comment on the ordinance waited in a line from the speaker’s podium to outside of the council chamber. Mid-Missouri Pride Fest spokesman Joe Jefferies told city leaders it was important that Columbia had the title of a Sanctuary City for Queer Missourians.

Jefferies said, “This ordinance is not merely a political statement or gesture of performant tokenism. It is a vital step toward safeguarding the human rights of queer Columbians, enabling them to thrive safely within Columbia’s city limits.”

Fifth Ward Councilman Don Waterman was the only member of the council to vote no on the ordinance. Waterman heard complaints from transgenders during the public comment about trouble in public bathrooms and bullying. Waterman said the ordinance would not prevent those problems.

From the Columbia Daily Tribune:

“I would wholeheartedly support a resolution, but an ordinance, I don’t see the need for it,” Waterman said, which mirrored his statements from December on a preference for a city resolution rather than an ordinance.

Public comments Monday in favor of passage encouraged adoption of the amendments as there is at least one Missouri bill focused on transgender bathroom and locker room access and at least two banning public drag performances. Personal experiences living in Columbia also were cited.

Comments against the ordinance cited city protections already in place, seeming creation of special protected classes and concerns it still could mean skirting of state law, among others.

 

Join The Conversation. Leave a Comment.


We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.