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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPROCLAMATION Transgender Awareness JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners FROM: Adiel McKnight,Deputy Clerk of the Board DATE: November 10,2025 SUBJECT: PROCLAMATION re: Proclaiming the Week of November 13-19,2025 as Transgender Awareness Week STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Transgender Awareness Week is a week when transgender people and their allies take action to bring attention to the community by educating the public about who transgender people are, sharing stories and experiences, and advancing advocacy around issues of prejudice,discrimination, and violence that affect the transgender community. ANALYSIS: Each year between November 13-19, 2025 people and organizations around the country participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise the visibility of transgender people and address issues members of the community face. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact. RECOMMENDATION: Approve Proclamation re: Proclaiming the Week of November 13,2025 as Transgender Awareness Week. REVIEWED BY: J.5 D. Peters, County Administrator Date PROCLAMATION TRANSGENDER AWARENESS WEEK WHEREAS,Washington state law protects the rights of transgender people to be free from discrimination and to enjoy all the privileges and protections granted to all people, including full enjoyment of public accommodations, employment,and participation in all aspects of civil life; and WHEREAS,Jefferson County Board of Commissioners supports our colleagues at the City of Port Townsend and the YMCA of Jefferson County in upholding state law and denounces the harmful rhetoric and misrepresentations of our community that have been directed toward these valued institutions and the diversity of people they employ and serve; and WHEREAS,the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law study found that transgender people 16 and over are four times more likely to be crime victims than cisgender people; and WHEREAS,half of all transgender people are sexually abused or assaulted during their lifetimes according to the US Department of Justice; and WHEREAS,PBS News Hour reported that 2021 was the deadliest year for transgender people with a record number of transgender murder victims; and WHEREAS,the FBI reported that hate crimes against transgender and gender non-conforming people increased 587%between 2013 and 2019;and WHEREAS, many transgender people raise children, have grandchildren, and are the center of loving families; and WHEREAS, Jefferson County celebrates and honors the presence of transgender people and the myriad additions they make to the fabric of our communities; TRANSGENDER AWARENESS WEEK NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners does hereby proclaim that Jefferson County values our transgender residents and visitors and urges all people to be respectful, welcoming, and kind to all people, regardless of gender identity. We further proclaim that discrimination and prejudice, in any form,particularly against transgender people,are unwelcome and have no place in Jefferson County. PROCLAIMED this 10th day of November 2025. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SEAL: Heidi Eisenhour,Chair ATTEST: Heather Dudley-Nollette,Member Carolyn Gallaway,CMC Greg Brotherton, Member Clerk of the Board