What can Arcata do for trans rights?

The rights of transgender people to healthcare access and human dignity have been under attack in the United States. What can Arcata do to protect transgender residents, especially youth who are particularly vulnerable?

All health care should be strictly a decision of the person involved and their health care provider.   The current administration has no business getting between them, or deciding what types of care to fund.

I love seeing what is happening in Eureka with the donation-based Chrysalis Care Clinic.     Arcata should offer whatever support it can for solutions like that which are not dependent on federal support that can be cut any time the administration changes.

By using Arcata City resources to support and fund efforts like this, we can protect our transgender neighbors and their rights to control their bodies and identities.

Arcata has already taken steps to support our transgender community. In 2025, we declared Arcata a sanctuary city for Two-Spirit, transgender, gender-nonconforming, and intersex people. This year, we again recognized Pride Month and raised the Two-Spirit and Intersex Inclusive Progress Pride Flag at City Hall. I’m proud of that work, and I want to make sure we keep moving forward.

We need to make sure our city policies protect transgender residents from discrimination and harassment and that everyone is treated fairly when accessing City services. We should regularly review our policies and services to see where we can do better. Our transgender youth especially need our support. We can work with local healthcare providers, schools, and community groups to help make sure they have access to healthcare, mental health resources, and safe spaces. We also need to do everything we can to protect people’s privacy and safety, particularly our young people, who can be especially vulnerable.

As my colleague shared, healthcare decisions should be made by individuals and their healthcare providers, not politicians. I agree that we need to reduce our dependence on federal funding that can be cut when administrations change. Chrysalis Care Clinic in Eureka is an example of community members coming together to help fill a gap in gender-affirming care, particularly for youth. Arcata should explore what support we can provide to community-based efforts like this and how we can help ensure transgender residents, especially young people, can access the care and support they need.

I stood in solidarity with Centro del Pueblo when its Sanctuary Garden was vandalized, its signs and murals were defaced, and community members faced harassment because of their immigrant identities. I share this because protecting one vulnerable community is connected to protecting others. The people targeted may be different, but everyone deserves to live without fear, harassment, or discrimination. I supported the City’s efforts to help improve security, including funding for a security system. We need to do more than declare our support for vulnerable communities. We need to stand with them and take practical action to protect their safety and dignity. That same commitment must extend to our transgender residents, especially our youth.

We can’t control everything happening at the state and federal levels, but we can take action here in Arcata. We can strengthen our own policies, work with community partners, and speak up when our residents’ rights are threatened. Many of us choose to live in Arcata and call it home because we value a community that is caring, accepting, and looks out for one another. We need to live up to those values by making sure everyone, including our transgender neighbors and young people, feels safe, welcome, and respected. That means following through on our commitments and standing up for one another when it matters most.

Our Trans Brothers, Sisters and Siblings, have been targeted by the new far right to deadly extremes. Chastized by the President himself and scapgoated to divert attention from the President’s role in  devastating wars and the worst rape rings in history. The attacks and diversion of funds from support services to the Trans community have been cluster of cruel and unusual punishment. 

In Arcata we can support Open Door restoring its services for Trans health care and gender affirming care. We can lobby the state for the funds to expand their mental and physical well - being. We can use Equity Arcata to teach students and all people in Arcata how to be supportive and how not to exclude people who are trans. 

We can We can include Trans people in our subsidized murals and placards uplifitng their contributions and normalizing their inclusion in all aspects of Arcata life. We can consult with Queer Humboldt and the rainbow group in Two Feathers to get more ideas on what or city can do - and do it!

Viva!

-Blase