In an unanimous vote, Seattle City Council on Tuesday, Aug. 11 approved a budget amendment that will see $300,000 worth of city funding put towards local LGBTQIA+ organizations to address the influx of Trans and gender diverse refugees coming to the city. In addition, Seattle City Council voted 7-1-1 (with Councilmember Bob Kettle voting no, and Councilmember Maritza Rivera disqualified from voting due to owning a rental property) to ban “junk” rental fees for tenants.  

The council chamber was filled with standing room only at the meeting’s start, as over 100 people both in-person and online gave public comment to City Council primarily regarding the two pieces of legislation. The day’s speakers consisted mostly of progressive advocates, representatives, and community members, whom the majority of which urged the council support both measures. The meeting was also attended by a handful of conservative figures, such as Brandi Kruse and members of the King County Republican Party, who shared their opposition to the funding. 

The budget amendment sponsor, Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, in her remarks on the legislation affirmed to the city’s Trans and gender diverse communities that “you belong in Seattle, and you deserve dignity and respect.”

She also highlighted the current plight driving Trans and Queer people to relocate, and cited how in 2025 830 anti-trans bills were introduced and 62 passed across the country. 

Other council members spoke in support of the Trans community (and the LGBTQIA+ organizations addressing the crisis) before their vote. Councilmembers Eddie Lin and Kettle both shared their sympathies for the city’s Trans population each saying, “it is difficult when people are fleeing oppression and violence” from Councilmember Lin, and “Hopefully, Seattle can be that welcoming place where people can find peace and solace” from Councilmember Kettle. 

Seattle City Council President Joy Hollingsworth shared similar sentiments, and said of the one-time funding measure that “it’s a small drop in the bucket, but it’s a start.”

However, Councilmember Dionne Foster gave the most succinct comment saying only “Trans people belong here. Period. That’s it.”

Although Councilmember Rivera earlier in the meeting expressed her intention not to support any proposed budget amendments as a matter of procedure, telling her colleagues that they were “putting the cart before the horse” with 2027 budget planning starting next month, she decided in the end to vote in favor of the proposed funding.