Portsmouth City Council scrapped its LGBT sanctuary city proposal on Monday evening after over four hours of testimony on the resolution. But the controversy isn’t over yet, as Portsmouth City Councilman Andy Cole told SCDN that a different LGBT resolution will soon be on the table, with details forthcoming.
The proposed resolution, sponsored by Councilman Sean Dunne, would have declared Portsmouth a “Gender-Affirming Healthcare Safe Haven” and would have required the city government to advocate for sex change surgeries for both minors and adults. Further, the resolution would have directed the city government to ignore state and federal laws aimed at restricting a minor’s access to sex-change procedures, including genital surgery.
The resolution was drafted by the Shawnee State University Young Democrats, a partisan political group at Shawnee State University. Although Portsmouth City Council members are elected in non-partisan elections, partisan groups have recently made attempts to influence city council races. The Young Democrats recently hosted an event featuring Councilman Dunne, along with 5th Ward candidate Edwin Martell, who also supports the LGBT sanctuary city proposal.
The meeting attracted a wide array of citizens, medical professionals, pastors, college students, and other interested parties. Testimony on the proposed legislation lasted for over four hours, although council did take a short break in the middle of the meeting.
Four medical professionals spoke, and each one of them urged the city council to reject the LGBT sanctuary city proposal. Dr. Greg Hudson, MD, testified that European countries that had previously encouraged sex-change operations and medication for LGBT patients have all backtracked and restricted such procedures. “When things fly in the face of nature and common sense, maybe we should give pause and ask if this is a political agenda or if it is really a medical issue,” Dr. Hudson said.
Susan Sammons, a nurse practitioner in Portsmouth, noted that the suicide rate for minors who receive sex-change operations and medications is 19 times higher than that of the general population. “You were elected to protect this community, you were elected to protect the vulnerable, especially our children” Sammons told council. “Tonight, I ask, will you stand with vulnerable children or with political activists demanding irreversible harm?”
Several Shawnee State students, including members of the LGBT community, spoke in favor of the proposed resolution. One student identifying as transgender, Violet Warnock, claimed to be a victim of stalking by a “neo-Nazi” in the Portsmouth community. “I live every day in fear,” Warnock said. “I do not feel safe here.”
Other community members also spoke in favor of the resolution. Lorry Swain, a pro-Palestine activist from the city, emphasized that the resolution’s basis was in equal rights for all. “This is not about special treatment, it is just a statement about equal treatment,” Swain said.
One elected official took to social media to support the LGBT sanctuary city resolution. Jamie Carver, a current Portsmouth City School Board Member, argued that parents should not be informed by school districts if their child socially transitions to a different gender at school, stating that “if a child is causing no harm to themselves or anyone else their privacy should not be violated.”
Other elected officials argued against the LGBT sanctuary city resolution. Judge Steven L. Mowery of the Portsmouth Municipal Court commented that the resolution was “a ridiculous exercise in divisive politics, engineered by a guy (Dunne) who serves on Council but who has brought a lawsuit against other Council members.” He continued, “Many say he just loves to cause controversy. Well, mission accomplished.”
The next Portsmouth City Council meeting will take place on May 19th at 6:00 p.m. Council is expected to consider a different version of the LGBT sanctuary city proposal at that meeting. No details have been released about the updated proposal.
