Worcester, Massachusetts, has officially declared itself a transgender sanctuary city, becoming one of the first in the country to do so since Donald Trump took office. The city council passed the resolution in a 9-2 vote, vowing to protect transgender, non-binary, and LGBTQ+ residents from federal and out-of-state efforts to restrict gender-affirming care.
While the resolution is not legally binding, it commits the city to refusing cooperation with any authorities seeking to detain or investigate individuals for providing or receiving gender-affirming healthcare. Worcester joins cities like San Francisco, Pittsburgh, and Sacramento, which had already adopted similar measures before Trump’s re-election.
The move is a direct response to Trump’s recent executive orders, which define gender strictly as male or female and ban federal funding for transgender medical treatments. During the vote, supporters filled the council chambers, with some delivering speeches and even poetry readings.
Advocates argued that Trump’s policies make local action necessary. “When the president of the United States says you do not exist, it should matter at our local level,” said Joshua Croke, a co-founder of an LGBTQ+ nonprofit. Worcester had previously allocated $500,000 for LGBTQ+ resources, further solidifying its stance.
As Trump continues rolling out policies affecting transgender rights, Worcester’s decision signals growing resistance at the city level. Whether more municipalities follow suit remains to be seen.
