In the midst of this outpouring of transphobic legislation, some good news for the queer and trans community came on May 10 when the Biden administration restored federal nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people in healthcare settings, essentially reinstating Obama-era protections that the Trump administration diminished.
Although resolutions do not technically pull weight in terms of influencing the state legislative process, Gilmore Richardson believes it important to communicate her voice and those of her colleagues when it comes to trans students being able to engage in athletics.
“I think silence means agreeing, and when you don’t agree with something, I think it’s our duty to speak out against what we see or hear happening, particularly in Harrisburg,” she said. “We need to let them know that discrimination, harassment or bullying, particularly against young people, is just not acceptable.”
Throughout her City Council career, Gilmore Richardson has worked to bolster minority rights, including those of LGBTQ communities.
While working as legislative aide to former Councilmember Blondell Reynolds Brown, Gilmore Richardson worked on the Equal Benefits Bill, which provided benefits for all city employees and their partners.
“I hope to continue to join with others, particularly here in our city to stand against [HB 972] and collaborate with partners like Einstein Health to provide solid data and information that’s counter to the information that’s included in the bill,” Gilmore Richardson said.”
She plans to stay informed of other issues that affect young people in Philadelphia and in the whole of Pennsylvania, “to make sure that the communities we represent, particularly young people, are safe, healthy and equitable, and that means in every way.”
City Council members were set to vote on the resolution on Thursday, May 13. In addition to the resolution’s co-sponsors, Councilmembers Jamie Gauthier, Kenyatta Johnson and Cindy Bass also plan to vote favorably.
“This bill is not about finding ways to add any equity or equality to women sports,” Bass said via email. “It’s not about trying to find ways to uplift, enhance, further, support, or in any way be of assistance to women and girls when it comes to athletics. This bill is a mean-spirited attack, and the intent behind it is clear: this is an anti-LGBTQ attack as part of a hateful Republican agenda.”
In the spirit of speaking up in the face of what many councilmembers believe to be a discriminatory bill, Gilmore Richardson added, “I just felt like we had to say something. To our other colleagues we say, ‘we are listening to what you say, but we are watching what you do.’”
Michele Zipkin is a reporter for the Philadelphia Gay News, where this story first appeared. Capital-Star Editor John L. Micek contributed additional reporting.
