City County members in Portsmouth, with 17,485 residents just across the Ohio River from Kentucky, have listened to more than five hours of testimony both for and against a resolution that would make the city a welcoming destination for the LGBTQ community.
While President Donald Trump signed an executive order threatening to freeze federal funding for sanctuary cities, a federal district court judge in California issued an injunction last month blocking the administration from withholding those funds.
The legal battle continues
Proponents see the Portsmouth resolution as a symbolic gesture to show the community as accepting of LGBTQ interests and underscoring its commitment to inclusivity. It’s seen as an update to previous anti-discrimination protections passed by the city five years ago.
The city council on Monday voted to table the resolution proposed by councilman Sean Dunne, a sociology professor at Portsmouth's Shawnee State University.
Joey Sandlin, a pastor and also a Portsmouth councilman, explained on Washington Watch Thursday that the resolution originated among “young Democrats” from Shawnee State.
“They have a club over there, the Young Democrats Club. They put it all together and presented it to the council,” Sandlin said.
Portsmouth is a welcoming community by nature and doesn’t need to single out special-interest groups, he told show host Jody Hice.
“[The resolution] basically is affirming that Portsmouth is an open and welcoming community to the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as affirming for gender healthcare," said the pastor. "A lot of the community, including myself, don't feel like there needs to be a special resolution towards any one group ….”
The city already describes itself as where southern hospitality begins, Sandlin noted. “It’s a very loving, giving and welcoming town. This resolution is just a farce. It’s not necessary at all.”
Sandlin argued the resolution would put Portsmouth in direct contradiction with multiple state laws recently passed such as the SAFE Act and the Parental Notification Act.
Ohio’s Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act prohibits gender transition treatments for minors and bars biological males from competing in girls’ and women’s sports.
The SAFE Act passed because both chambers of the state legislature voted to override the veto of Republican Gov. Mike DeWine.
“We think it’s vital that we protect our children, and we are resisting this on all fronts,” Sandlin said.
Resolution will be revisited soon
For now, it remains in the discussion phase before potentially advancing for a vote, Sandlin explained. The council next meets on May 12 when six members will decide the resolution’s fate.
“We’re working very diligently and praying that this thing just dies on the discussion floor and it’s not moved up to legislation to be passed as a resolution,” Sandlin shared.
The Center for Immigration Studies map shows 13 sanctuary states and 220 sanctuary cities and counties across the U.S.
“We’ve had an outpouring of support from the county and the city of Portsmouth to say please stop this here and not move it up to where it has a chance of becoming a resolution. We’re praying and fighting the good fight,” Sandlin said.
