Supervisors reaffirm support for LGBTQ+ community

The Santa Cruz County Supervisors Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution to reaffirm the county’s support for its LGBTQ+ residents and for women. 

While the county already has a resolution to do so on its books, the move is in reaction to the hardline stance by President Donald Trump’s administration against LGBTQ+ rights.

Since his first day in office, Trump has kept those campaign promises by signing executive orders that changes U.S. policy to recognize only two genders and ban transgender people from serving in the military.

He has also ordered the dismantling of the federal government’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, which have roots in the 1964 Civil Rights Act and seek to reduce workplace discrimination based on  religion, race, sex and color.

Supervisor Monica Martinez, the first queer woman and Latinx woman to serve on the board, said she brought forth the resolution as a way to bolster support for the LGBTQ+ community in Santa Cruz County, which in 1975 became the first county in the U.S. to adopt a non-discrimination policy for its employees based on sexual orientation.

“In a world where hate and prejudice are being emboldened, we need to do everything that we can to stand together,” she said. “This is our message to the communities that are being attacked that ‘you are welcome here, and we have your back.’”

Supervisor Justin Cummings agreed. 

“I see this as a declaration of our resistance as a county to an oppressive tyrant who seeks to divide us,” he said. “This is a commitment to supporting all the residents within our community.”The resolution follows a similar one approved in December supporting the immigrant community. The Monterey County Board of Supervisors and the Watsonville City Council later passed ones of their own.