RES 2016-14A PROHIBITING CITY BUSINESS WITH STATES THAT ALLOW DISCRIMINATIONRESOLUTION NO. 2016-14
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Bainbridge Island,
Washington prohibiting City business with states that allow discrimination
based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
WHEREAS, in 2016, North Carolina adopted House Bill 2, and Mississippi adopted HB 1523, which
overturned existing state protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender
identity, and gender expression, and institute a number of unique new restrictions on transgender people;
and
WHEREAS, South Carolina, Tennessee, and several other states are considering similar legislation; and
WHEREAS, under these laws, North Carolinians and Mississippians are legally barred from any
bathroom or locker room that does not match the gender assigned on their birth certificate, putting
transgender men and women in an impossible situation; and
WHEREAS, discrimination should have no place in the laws of our country; and
WHEREAS, these discriminatory laws not reflect the values of the City of Bainbridge Island, or the views
that a majority of citizens our country share; and
WHEREAS, the Human Rights Campaign has organized a campaign, supported by more than 130
business leaders from across the country, calling for the repeal of such discriminatory laws; and
WHEREAS, civil liberties groups have also challenged these laws as unconstitutional, filing federal
lawsuits against states that have adopted them; and
WHEREAS, the cities of Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Fe, Cincinnati, Atlanta,
Boston, Chicago, and New York, and the States of Washington, Connecticut, Vermont, and New York,
and the District of Columbia, have banned official, non-essential travel to the states of North Carolina and
Mississippi;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Bainbridge Island shall refrain from
conducting business, including participating in any conventions or other business that requires City
resources, with the States of North Carolina and Mississippi, and with any other state that adopts similar
discriminatory legislation, until such time as those states have repealed the discriminatory legislation.
PASSED by the City Council this 26th day of April, 2016.
APPROVED by the Mayor this 20h day of April, 2016.
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ATTESTIAUTHENTICATE:
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Rosalind D. Lassoff, City Clerk
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK:
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL:
RESOLUTION NO.:
April 18, 2016
April 26, 2016
2016-14