As Trump is Inaugurated, West Hollywood Reiterates Willingness to Fight Against Erosion of Civil Liberties

Today, as Donald Trump takes office as president after one of the most contentious and divisive elections in modern times, the City of West Hollywood has issued a statement affirming its plans to push back against widely expected efforts by the Trump administration to curb LGBT and women’s rights.

The statement reiterates the City Council’s decision on Dec. 5 to:

— Direct the city manager to convene a staff working group to respond to proposed actions by the new administration that contravene the city’s core values;

— Authorize the mayor and city manager to send letters opposing proposed appointees who have a history of supporting programs and policies which are contrary to the city’s core values;

— And increase the city’s programming about threats to civil rights and civil liberties.

“West Hollywood is founded on celebrating people for who they are and we will continue to set an example through our core values, our policies, and our actions,” said Mayor Lauren Meister. “In West Hollywood, we treat people with respect, dignity, and thoughtfulness. In West Hollywood, we don’t tolerate intimidation, harassment, or violence. And, in West Hollywood, we pull together when we face adversity.”

“Regardless of what happens in Washington, West Hollywood will remain a beacon of inclusion and equality,” said Councilmember John Heilman, the mayor pro tem. “As a Ccty, we have reaffirmed our core values and our commitment to women and girls, to a full array of reproductive health care, and to equality — full equality — for the LGBT community. We are prepared to fight to protect the rights of our residents.”

The City of West Hollywood has begun monitoring proposals by the incoming administration and has been communicating its objections about several key appointee nominations to chairs and ranking members of U.S. Senate committees during confirmation hearings. Focused attention is being paid to large-scale policy changes that may have a direct negative impact on West Hollywood’s residents, including:

— Threats to repeal the Affordable Care Act (known as Obamacare);

— Threats to dismantle environmental protections;

— Threats to LGBT people’s and women’s rights, and

— Threats to economically disenfranchised people and to housing.

“Mr. Trump made it very clear he intends to go after Roe v. Wade and I hope that gay men in West Hollywood and elsewhere realize that Roe v. Wade is, in fact, the lynchpin that holds our equality together,” said Councilmember John Duran. “Without privacy rights under Roe v. Wade, the struggle for LGBT liberty, equality, and the freedom to marry would not be available to us today. We’re prepared to do battle once again and we hope that young people link arms with those of us who’ve been around for a while longer, so that we all stand strong during the upcoming years.”

The City of West Hollywood has declared that it will remain a sanctuary city and that it will not participate in any effort to deport immigrants living or working in the City.

In the upcoming months, the city will offer programming to focus attention on threats to civil rights and civil liberties and, the statement says, the city will continue fighting vigorously to protect the lives and well-being of its community members.