Bloomington’s city council has declared the municipality a “safe haven” for gender-affirming healthcare.
The 8–0 vote on the resolution came at the council’s regular meeting on Wednesday night. The tally did not come to 9, because Isak Asare was absent.
The resolution will need Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson’s signature to count as enacted, but had mayoral support ahead of the council’s vote, in the form of a letter from Thomson.
The unanimous vote among those present was a bit unexpected, given a memo submitted by councilmembers Dave Rollo and Andy Ruff on Tuesday as an information packet addendum. In the memo, the two indicated their intent to abstain on the vote, citing a need for more clarity on the question of gender-affirming healthcare for minors.
Gender-affirming healthcare includes medical treatments, like hormone therapy and surgical procedures, as well as mental health support, and social services to help people align their physical appearance with their gender identity.
The memo from Rollo and Ruff concludes: “It is a serious matter, however, to support a policy that may be harming, not helping children.”
In city council chambers, after the roll call vote, the several dozen supporters of the resolution gave the unanimous vote sustained applause. Continue reading “City council declares Bloomington a ‘safe haven’ for gender-affirming healthcare”
