NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council passed a resolution on Tuesday declaring the North Adams a sanctuary for the LGBTQIA-plus community. 

 

The vote was 6-3 with Councilors Peter Oleskeiwicz, Wayne Wilkinson and Bryan Sapienza opposed. 

 

"The LGBTQIA plus community is under attack. It is being persecuted at the national level, not necessarily in North Adams," said Councilor Andrew Fitch, who had spearheaded the resolution. "This is an opportunity for us as city leaders to say that we support the community here."

 

More than a dozen residents — members and allies of the transgender community — spoke in favor of the resolution, and expressing the fear they've felt in the wake of attacks on the transgender community. Just this weekend, a bomb threat was called into an adult drag story hour in Pittsfield. Several in the packed audience spoke of how they'd left other areas of the country and found safety and support North Adams. 

 

"A statement can be powerful. It can ripple through a community," said Skyler Brooks. "We need to strengthen our community and protect the most vulnerable people from targeted attacks from this current administration.

 

"I believe that everyone is is owed life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, and that includes transgender people."

 

A woman said she and her family were "ex-pats" from Texas, and had specifically chosen to come to Massachusetts because they thought it would be safer for their daughters.

 

"To know that our hometown, our newfound hometown, our new family, openly supports us and our livelihood matters," she said, with emotion. "It matters every day, and being amongst a room full of support in Massachusetts to me, the most solace I can't even articulate. In a sea and a barrage of hate, we have this. We have the majority of our voices in support."

 

Not all were in support: two speakers advocated for the resolution to be on the November ballot rather than voted on by a small group.

 

"This is a safe community. You said this is the safest it's been," said Robert Lefebvre, referring to a commenter before him. "So why does it have to be a sanctuary? Why do we have to lift up a group of people over other people? I think all people have equality in this in this community."

 

Leah Lefebvre said she opposed the resolution and was sorry if people were hurt by it. 

 

"We are already a sanctuary. We do not need to put sanctuary in ordinance in order to clarify that it is. And I'm sorry, you guys feel targeted. That is awful. It should never happen to anybody, ever," she said. "But I do think that it is fair to have everybody have a voice in this, not just the people in this room."

 

Jessica Sweeney, a former city councilor, asked those in the room who were uncomfortable speaking publicly on the resolution to raise their hands — and many of them went up.

 

"I don't want to live in a place that won't stand up for us," said one speaker.

 

(The resolution is not an ordinance, or law, but a statement of values and commitment to a policy.)

 

More than 800 bills have been filed at the state level across the country that would affect transgender individuals civil rights, families, civil rights, clothing, education, employment and ability to play sports, use restrooms and access care, and another 35 at the federal level. 

 

The resolution notes that transgender people are more likely to experience homelessness and violence, have higher rates of unemployment and more likely to be affected by discrimination. It cites a number of state laws that support equal treatment and protection based on gender diversity.

 

The document "reiterates [the city's] commitment to trans rights and equal protections for trans community members and declares itself a sanctuary city and a place of safety for trans and gender diverse people" and it resolves that the city will not cooperate with state or federal policies that harm gender diverse persons and will ensure equal access to health care, housing, education and employment. 

 

"All we have to do is say yes to this," said Fitch. "This is very simple in my mind. I was nervous to submit this because this could be voted against. This could be a no vote tonight. I think we have to do this. I think it's a really simple thing to say yes."

 

Co-sponsors Lisa Blackmer, Deanna Morrow and Ashley Shade took turns with Fitch reading the resolution into the record. 

 

"This is not about special rights. This is about equality. It is about protecting the most marginalized and vulnerable people in our community at a time when the most vulnerable people are disparaged and attacked by their own government," said Shade, who is transgender.

 

"It is our duty and responsibility stand up for them and stand by civil rights of all human beings, especially the most vulnerable."

 

Blackmer said she's heard some say passing resolutions was out of their purview, even though it's been done in the past. (In 2017, the council declared the city a "safe and inclusive" community.)

 

"There seems to be a real disconnect between the way things used to be and now. I find these to be extraordinary times calling for extraordinary actions," she said, adding she was not sure how acknowledging someone's human rights takes anything away from someone else. 

 

"Honestly, I'm tired of the white male patriarchy thinking they are somehow superior to you, pushing their values, and I put 'values' in quotes, on the rest of us," Blackmer said.

 

Councilor Keith Bona acknowledged he had not always voted for resolutions in the past, thinking they were weak and didn't do much. 

 

"This is different," he said. "There's nothing here that I see that says we're giving someone special treatment. This is just saying everyone should have equal health care, equal safety."

 

He pointed out that the council was elected and "when the election comes, if the voters don't like it they can vote me out."

 

The gathering broke into applause a couple times during Blackmer and Shade's comments, and snapped fingers when one speaker reminded the no votes that they would remember come election time.

 

Several in the audience called on the councilors who voted no to state their reasons. During councilor's concerns, Sapienza said he didn't agree with the resolution but wanted "everybody to feel safe to walk the streets of city of North Adams like everybody else."

 

Oleskiewicz said he didn't like resolutions and to not take the no vote as against their lives. 

 

"We were all elected to make the city safe as a whole for everybody, not just focused on one particular group at a time," he said.

 

Shade said she appreciated her colleagues willingness to explain their vote. 

 

"I will just point out people who voted no never had fear the way that we have," said Shade. "And I think that something to take away, something to think about. Some people have never had that fear." 

 

Shade, who defied doctor's orders to attend the meeting after a medical episode, said she was amazed at how so many had spoken out.

 

"The one constant thing that I heard that makes my heart so happy is that so many of you feel safe here. There's nothing more important than feeling safe in your home," she said. 

 

"As long as I'm breathing, I will do everything I can to make sure that you are safe, that every person that lives in this city is safe and feels welcome."

 

Mayor Jennifer Macksey also read a proclamation for Transgender Visibility Day on Monday; the council voted without discussion to approve a purchase and sale agreement for Sullivan School; and Chris Cozzaglio, congressional aide to U.S. Rep. Richie Neal, spoke on the ways the office helps constituents in the Berkshires.