top of page
Search

Monterey County Could Become a Sanctuary for Trans and Gender Diverse Residents: Your presence on June 16 matters.

  • Writer: Crystal Libby
    Crystal Libby
  • Jun 10
  • 3 min read

On June 16, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will vote on a resolution designating the county as a sanctuary for transgender, gender queer, non-binary, gender fluid, and intersex individuals. The resolution, authored by Sara Sturtevant, is one of the most substantive LGBTQ+ policy actions the county has taken.



The resolution includes the following commitments:

  • It commits the county to protecting the principles of California’s SB 107, meaning county resources cannot be used to facilitate out-of-state investigations or prosecutions related to gender-affirming healthcare.

  • It directs the Health Department to ensure patients have access to gender-affirming care within the county system and through referrals.

  • It names the Rainbow Connections Network of Affirming Care, a collaboration of local providers and community organizations, as a structure the county will actively expand.

  • It explicitly covers county employees, affirming their right to work without discrimination or harassment.



Seaside Passed Its Sanctuary Resolution Despite Opposition


Seaside and Marina have both passed sanctuary declarations in recent months. When Seaside City Council voted on a similar sanctuary resolution on May 21, the council passed it 4-0. Mayor Ian Oglesby defended the resolution directly, noting that uplifting the rights of one group does not disadvantage others.

“We have all kinds of people who live in our city. We should treat them all with dignity and respect.” Mayor Ian Oglesby, City of Seaside

Public opposition showed up in those chambers anyway. Residents spoke against the measure, with one calling it “a waste of breath” and another characterizing transgender identity as sin. That opposition is a preview of what community members may encounter at the county level on June 16, and it is why presence matters.

“The community is under attack, that is the reality. Rights are being stripped away.” Mel Zaragoza, President, Monterey Peninsula Pride

 

What National Data Tells Us About Care Gaps for Trans and Gender Diverse People


The Trevor Project’s 2025 National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People documents the stakes for trans and gender diverse people nationally:

  • 36% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year, including 40% of transgender and nonbinary youth.

  • 44% of LGBTQ+ young people who wanted mental health care could not get it.

  • Transgender and nonbinary young people who wanted hormones but couldn’t access them were nearly twice as likely to attempt suicide than those who could.

  • LGBTQ+ young people who reported living in very accepting communities attempted suicide at less than a third of the rate of those who reported living in very unaccepting communities.


Monterey County Board of Supervisors Chambers
Monterey County Board of Supervisors Chambers

Why Your Presence on June 16 Matters

Public comment on June 16 is the community’s opportunity to put on the record what a meaningful sanctuary designation requires. A vote without community presence is a vote without community input on what comes next.


When: Monday, June 16, 10:30 a.m.

Where: Monterey County Board of Supervisors Chambers,

168 West Alisal Street, 1st Floor, Salinas, CA 93901

Remote attendance: montereycty.zoom.us/j/224397747


Showing up on June 16 is how the community makes its voice part of the record.










References

 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page