COLUMBIA — The Columbia City Council is scheduled to vote on an ordinance declaring the city as a safe haven for the LGBTQ community Monday night.
If passed, the ordinance would also make enforcing state or federal laws related to punishing those seeking, receiving or providing gender-affirming health care “the lowest priority within the city.” The city would also decline or de-prioritize information requests from other jurisdictions related to that jurisdictions’ own laws punishing gender-affirming care.
Two amendments to the original ordinance would add enforcement of any law restricting bathroom usage or drag performances to the low-priority list.
Local attorney Paul Harper said they are not trying to circumvent other laws, but rather re-order priorities.
“As a community we’re saying, ‘We see you, we understand you, we want you to be in our community,'” Harper said.
Harper said he and two others worked to write the ordinance. They pulled language from two related ordinances in Kansas City and Lawrence, Kansas.
The push for a safe haven ordinance began in late 2023 when MU’s branch of the Young Democratic Socialists of America prepared a proposal similar to the final ordinance and brought it to the Nov. 6 council meeting. This came after the state legislature banned transgender youth from accessing gender-affirming care. It also restricted transgender Missourians from participating in school sports as the gender they identify as.
Sanctuary City campaign co-chair Perrin Dowse said she was devastated when the bills were passed.
“I remember when I read that was put out, I nearly completely broke down,” Dowse said. “It became very evident that we needed to do something to protect our community.”
The council is also expected to vote on the outdoor storage of roll carts and the sale of the former IBM building located at 2810 LeMone Industrial Blvd.
City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in Council Chambers.
