The Portsmouth City Council chamber was packed wall-to-wall Monday night, but not for anything officially listed on the agenda. Instead, a crowd turned out to debate a proposed resolution declaring Portsmouth a Sanctuary City for transgender individuals and gender-affirming healthcare.
After more than four hours of heated testimony, the council scrapped the proposal — for now. But the conversation is far from over.
Councilman Andy Cole told SCDN that a revised resolution addressing LGBTQ+ protections is already in the works and will likely be introduced at the next council meeting on May 19 at 6:00 p.m. Details of the new version have not yet been released.
The Hot-Button Question: Women-Only Spaces
Among the most contentious concerns raised by opponents of the resolution was the impact on spaces traditionally designated for biological females — including public restrooms, locker rooms, showers, and sports teams.
Critics argued that allowing individuals who were born male — or who still present as biologically male — to use these spaces could compromise safety, privacy, and fairness, especially in settings like women’s athletics. Supporters countered that transgender individuals deserve equal access to facilities and protections against discrimination, citing both human rights and mental health considerations.
SSU Stays Silent (For Now)
As the debate spilled into the public sphere, SCDN reached out to Shawnee State University, a major presence in the city and a state-funded institution, to clarify its position on gender identity and access to women-only facilities.
We asked the university directly:
“One of the recurring topics was restrooms, locker rooms, and sports. Please help us explain to the public the official SSU stance on men competing in women’s sports, and using women’s locker rooms and showers.”
As of this writing, no response has been received from Shawnee State University.
Given the university’s recent history — including a high-profile free speech lawsuit involving gender identity pronouns — many in the community are watching closely to see whether SSU will weigh in on the current debate. For now, their silence leaves students, faculty, and the public without clear guidance on where the institution stands.
What’s Next?
Council is expected to revisit the issue on May 19 with a revised resolution. With public sentiment still sharply divided, another large turnout is likely.
The debate over LGBTQ+ protections, women’s spaces, and what role local government should play in these cultural questions isn’t going away — and many are still waiting to hear where Shawnee State stands.
