The city of Worcester, Massachusetts, is now a sanctuary city for transgender and gender-diverse people, a development advocates hope will inspire similar actions elsewhere in the country.
The Worcester City Council voted to approve the new resolution on February 11. It comes amid the barrage of attacks President Trump has launched against trans people during the first weeks of his second term, but was specifically prompted by allegations from Thu Nguyen, Worcester’s first openly nonbinary city councillor, of bigotry from fellow council members. These reportedly included being referred to by Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson as “it.”
Worcester has pledged to not cooperate with policies targeting trans and gender-diverse residents. While it won’t expand any rights or add any services, it means the city will not expend resources on prosecuting anyone for charges related to pursuing gender-affirming care.
The concept is borrowed from the immigrant rights movement, which has seen many cities in the United States pledge to resist or limit enforcement of anti-immigrant policies. Trump’s first term prompted a resurgence in sanctuary-city declarations amid Immigrations and Customs Enforcement deportations.
Worcester isn’t the first to declare itself a trans sanctuary city, but the practice is still not common.
West Hollywood, Sacramento and San Francisco all made similar declarations in 2024. In some cases the declaration is a response to attacks on trans people at the state level, as when Kansas City became a sanctuary city in 2023. In others, such as when Ithaca, New York, passed a similar resolution later that year, it’s a statement of solidarity inspired by state-level policies that protect trans rights.
Sanctuary policies are largely symbolic, but that symbolism can foster a more welcoming environment in a time of uncertainty and fear.
“Our transgender community is under siege from multiple fronts—discriminatory laws, societal prejudice and systemic barriers to essential services,” Amore Cano, co-founder and vice president of the Atlanta-based trans and immigrant rights organization Poder Unides, told Filter. “Establishing sanctuary cities in Georgia would be a monumental step in affirming our right to exist and thrive without fear.”
Sanctuary policies are largely symbolic gestures, but that symbolism can foster a more inclusive and welcoming environment for trans residents in a time of uncertainty and fear. Georgia, for example, has proposed at least seven bills that would be detrimental for LGBTQ+ people in the state. And nationally, at least 29 non-cisgender people were murdered in the US between January and September 2024. Taking a stand against criminalization of gender-affirming health care is taking a stand against the severe psychological distress and risk of self-harm that comes from denying that health care.
By prioritizing the safety and dignity of trans people, jurisdictions can take a stand against discriminatory practices and set a precedent for others to follow.
“When we protect our transgender citizens, we’re not just upholding their rights,” Cano said. “We’re enriching our communities.”
Photograph via City of Worcester
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