San Francisco vows to resist Trump administration on LGBT rights
The city of San Francisco has passed a resolution vowing to resist any backslide on LGBT rights under the Trump administration.
Though President-elect Trump claimed that he would “protect our L-G-B-T-Q citizens” while running for election, every single member of his Cabinet appointed so far is opposed to LGBT rights.
LGBT activists have concerns about a number of Trump’s policies. His running mate Mike Pence has confirmed a plan to dismantle Barack Obama’s protections for LGBT people, as part of an ‘immediate’ review of executive orders issued by President Obama.
The President-elect Trump has also pledged to sign the Republican-backed First Amendment Defence Act, a law that would permit forms of anti-LGBT discrimination on the grounds of religion.
He is also unlikely to continue President Obama’s use of executive powers to block anti-LGBT legislation from Republicans in Congress, with the GOP platform backing plans to enshrine ‘gay cure’ therapy in religious freedom legislation and attack same-sex adoption.
In its response to events since the election, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors – to which gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk was famously elected prior to his assassination – vowed to resist the administration.
In its 11-point resolution, the Board of Supervisors says: “There will be no conversion therapy, no withdrawal of rights in San Francisco.
“We began hosting gay weddings twelve years ago, and we are not stopping now. And to all the LGBTQ people all over the country who feel scared, bullied, or alone: You matter. You are seen; you are loved; and San Francisco will never stop fighting for you.”
Noting the surge in hate incidents following the election, it continues: “We condemn all hate crimes and hate speech perpetrated in this election’s wake.
“That although the United States will soon have a President who has demonstrated a lack of respect for the values we hold in the highest regard in San Francisco, it cannot change who we are, and it will never change our values.
“We argue, we campaign, we debate vigorously within San Francisco, but on these points we are 100 percent united.
“We will fight discrimination and recklessness in all its forms. We are one City. And we will move forward together.”
Trump took less than 10 percent of the vote across San Francisco.
