TRANS Sanctuary
for bellingham, washington
A Project by trans Survival
Bellingham is not yet a Transgender sancturary.
Why not?
Since March of 2025, Trans Survival has successfully advocated for the city of Bellingham to consider adopting a protective Ordinance for all LGBTQIA2S+ people. This ordinance, if adopted to our guidance, would be similar to other resolutions and ordinances for Sanctuary in major cities such as our state capital of Olympia.
Bellingham City Council and the Mayor are refusing to include Sanctuary Status in the Ordinance, gutting essential protections from the proposition.
how is a city designated a sanctuary?
A city council can adopt a resolution or ordinance that states the city as a queer sanctuary. This generally means that the city would limit its assistance to federal agencies (ICE, DHS, FBI, etc) and would defend against federal laws/orders that impose on individual’s rights, especially those rights listed in the sanctuary ordinance.
Bellingham can legally be a transgender sanctuary, but it’s not. Why? What’s stopping this?
Transgender/LGBTQ+ Sanctuary is a newer idea that cities are using to defend the queer community. Sanctuary is a response to the Trump administration’s illegal targeting of queer rights. In the same way that a union strike uses its numbers to overwhelm a corrupt authority, Sanctuary connects cities together to oppose unconstitutional infringement by the federal government. The city of Bellingham can claim Sanctuary status, specifically in the LGBTQ+ ordinance being voted on RIGHT NOW.
Throughout the course of our campaign, we have delivered 100+ speeches directly from Trans and Queer community members to City Council and the Mayor, pleading the importance of Sanctuary. Yet, they still refuse to include Sanctuary in the Ordinance. They claim that “not enough” people in Bellingham understand what Sanctuary is supposed to mean.
Join us, advocate for them to adopt sanctuary, show them what sanctuary means to you.
Why is this important?
Existing marginalized groups have come under more intense oppression and threat since Trump’s inauguration in January. Reproductive rights are being removed, immigrants are dehumanized and criminalized even with legal documentation, and transphobia is at an all time high. We see it in our laws, we see it in our society’s behavior: Incriminating human beings for their sexuality/identity while they are beaten and harassed in public. Transgender people in America can go to jail for identifying as transgender. We can lose our documentation for being transgender (meaning we can also be deported). We have lost access to healthcare, to serving in the military, to using restrooms, even holding drag shows/pride.
Innumerable first amendment rights have been eroded, even removed in 2025. State and federal bills have effectively segregated and dismantled queer rights in a matter of mere months. Centuries of queer progress have been undone and continue to dwindle as the first year of a four year presidency reaches its 6 month point.
Sanctuary defends all marginalized communities by educating the nation. It begins a conversation about the constitutional legitimacy of federal actions, and allows to stand up for our rights as well as state’s rights. It is a symbolic defense, and yet the most notable one we know for a new political world. Sanctuary helps trans people in Bellingham, but it also helps immigrants in California. Our shared sanctuary with other states and cities diminishes the threat that we face together.
Our nation put out an executive order claiming only two genders. Shortly after, England’s Parliament gave a near identical message. By the same token, Sanctuary status and the ordinances attached can act as an example to follow. Instead of other countries continuing our colonial/racist/homophobic precedent, they could follow an example of progressive peace. We have limited tools to fight a malpracticing and overindulgent federal government. Sanctuary is one of the only tools that we have seen actually work.
What can I do about it?
Talk
Write, call, or email the mayor’s office, the city council, as well as your neighborhood reps. Share your feelings about sanctuary, explaining that you understand what it means and how it benefits us (or if you have other opinions share those too!)
Mayors Office
Phone: 360-778-8100
Email: mayorsoffice@cob.org
Mail: 210 Lottie Street Bellingham, WA 98225
City Council Contact Directory:
attend
Attend the public city hall meetings, especially July 7th and July 21st. Come speak using the public comment or attend in solidarity. Your presence supports the queer community of Bellingham. Attend Transgender marches, rallies, meetings, and get-togethers. Show face and make connections. We want to know you.
connect
Join the trans survival discord: https://discord.gg/UYZWy8T2kQ
Follow the Instagram @trans_survival. Join our newsletter below.
Connect to people in your community and outside of it. Advocacy starts at a community level, so build relationships with your neighbors, your representatives, and with your advocates.
view current resources
& past actions
Current resources
View our Open Letter to the Mayor and City Council Imploring them to adopt Sanctuary status to the proposed Ordinance.
public comment at city hall
View hundreds of minutes of testimony about the necessity of Sanctuary directly from Trans and Queer community members at City Council Public Comment below.
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