County commissioners to review sanctuary measures

Presenter: Public comments ask Lane County to protect undocumented immigrants, reproductive rights, and gender-diverse individuals. On Dec. 17:

[00:00:08] DJ Kelly-Quattrocchi: My name is DJ Kelly-Quattrochi. I’m a small business owner. I provide diversity, equity, and inclusion-focused support to local nonprofits, to higher education, to government agencies.

[00:00:22] I was the chair of the Lane County Equity and Access Advisory Board during the COVID-19 pandemic, and most recently I supported the equity program as they relaunched their Equity Program Advisory Board.

[00:00:34] I am a mixed-race and queer resident of our great county, and I’m here to talk today about continued support for the Lane County Equity Program and this idea of becoming a sanctuary county as well. Lane County is one of the largest counties in the state and whether or not it feels like it, it is rather diverse as well.

[00:00:56] It’s important that we keep the programs here that are really supporting the equity movements within the county administration to ensure that the administration continues to look and feel like the residents. One of Lane County’s values focuses on equity and respect, and I did just want to remind you all that we need action, not just words.

[00:01:18] Specifically, you’ll hear today some folks talking about becoming a sanctuary county and specifically ensuring safety for our immigrant population, providing gender-affirming care to our trans residents, and safeguarding women’s reproductive rights. Lane County must live its values as an organization and the need to continue to center our work that the equity program supports, as well as this idea of a sanctuary county.

[00:01:42] Centering equity takes momentum. It takes persistence and it takes courage. This board has previously shown their understanding of this. They have acknowledged Pride Month, Indigenous Peoples Day, they’ve passed a resolution acknowledging racism as a public health crisis, and historically, every equity-focused resolution that has come forth before this board has been passed unanimously.

[00:02:06] Your continued leadership reminds us that justice begins here, with our community leaders. I hope that I can continue to trust you all, and that you keep the work of the equity program central to this work, and consider the request of becoming a sanctuary county.

[00:02:22] Anna Lardner: My name is Anna Lardner and my pronouns are she, her. I’m here today because commissioners all talked about the need for specific action items and not just requests for generalized statements. And today I want to talk about one of those specific action items, one that DJ, who’s amazing, introduced in his own statement.

[00:02:41] I’m also here because the county has a track record, unfortunately, of being reactive and not proactive. And I want us to be proactive today in considering this request.

[00:02:52] A few weeks ago, back on Dec. 4, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Skrmetti v. Tennessee. Skrmetti v. Tennessee was a major gender-affirming care case in which the Supreme Court considered whether or not states could ban gender-affirming care for minors. Based off of early analysis of that as well as, if you listen to the arguments, it looks like that will be upheld and states will be able to ban gender-affirming care for minors by the state legislature.

[00:03:17] We don’t currently have this challenge in Oregon, but that could change, and it could definitely change at the federal level. In addition, Trump has indicated that he is interested in potentially going after birthright citizenship, which is part of our constitution. It is unclear if he can actually do this, but the threat of him doing it is scary enough, and we need to take preemptive action to prevent things like this from affecting our county’s residents.

[00:03:43] Back on Saturday, I spoke at a Eugene Human Rights Commission panel and talked about this. DJ was there as well, and I talked about the need for a specific sanctuary county policy that would cover all organizations and all agencies under the Lane County government umbrella.

[00:04:00] A sanctuary county would offer protections not just for reproductive health care, but also for undocumented immigrants, as well as for gender-affirming care, gender-diverse individuals and all folks in the LGBTQ community.

[00:04:13] To some extent, the county already has protections against cooperation with federal law enforcement. The sheriff’s office has similar protections. specific protections. There are loopholes to those. Those also depend on federal interpretations of laws. What if Oregon’s sanctuary law at the state level was to be ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in its 6-3 conservative majority?

[00:04:36] Would we go with what the law said or we go with what is right? Legality is not morality in times like this and it is important that we institute procedures and policies—our sanctuary county policy in particular—in order to safeguard Lane County’s values and people.

[00:04:53] Same with gender-affirming care: A federal ban would likely impact people here in the county. And we need to ensure both the ongoing continuation of care, as well as protections for discrimination for those people.

[00:05:06] So again, I encourage the county here to be proactive and not reactive, and take this action before these threats come to pass to insulate our county and our people from these threats.

[00:05:17] Amanda Noble Flannery: Hello, my name is Amanda Noble Flannery. My pronouns are she/her.

[00:05:21] Thank you for the recent and important progress that’s been possible because of the Board of County Commissioners and county programs prioritizing equity. The equity strategic plan reflects thoughtful community engagement, a commitment to transparency and an understanding of the need for systemic policy change.

[00:05:39] Additionally, I want to celebrate many board resolutions like racism as a public health crisis, acknowledging Pride Month and committing to an annual hate and bias report; acknowledging Indigenous People’s Day and committing to an intergovernmental Tribal relations work group; the reinstatement of the Equity Program Advisory Board after a two-year break; the unanimous voting by this board on every equity initiative brought forward: Ferry Street Village Monument Project, the Native Potlucks, the Equity Program Advisory Board are all examples of investments in community trust-building.

As you know, what you communicate with your words, your votes, and your budget matters. Just as equity programs increase trust, removing them can be detrimental to the work that has happened over the years to gain the community’s trust in government and to all of the systems and programs.

[00:06:30] Equity work requires persistence, vigilance, and the courage to face systemic challenges head-on. The community is paying attention and will continue to hold you accountable for delivering on the equity strategic plan promises.

[00:06:44] Local governments serve as a crucial buffer against potential inequities or rollbacks at the state or federal levels. We rely on you to be an unwavering layer of protection for our diverse communities.

[00:06:56] I echo what DJ and Anna’s comments about the sanctuary county with strengthened protections for undocumented immigrants, reproductive health care, queer people and gender-affirming care for all ages and discrimination protections for all transgender and gender-diverse individuals.

[00:07:14] Your leadership and equity reminds us all that justice begins at home. I’m asking that you keep equity a priority and that you communicate with all of our communities why you are doing so.

[00:07:24] Jacob Griffin: My name is Jacob Griffin. And last night when I was preparing for this, I realized that the last time I spoke to you was almost exactly 25 years ago, when I appeared here as the acting library director to talk about providing library service to the rural areas. I left soon after that for Berkeley but when I left here, I said, no matter what, I’m coming back here when I retire.

[00:07:50] The reason I came back is because Lane County is such, was such a welcoming and diverse county. I was, at that time, a lesbian. And it was very hard to be a department head pretty much anywhere as an out lesbian, and I was hired here, accepted here, promoted here, and cared for here. And that made a tremendous difference to me in both my job and my life. I feel very engaged here.

[00:08:17] Unexpectedly, at 62, I transitioned. And while everyone else has talked about the importance of what you need to do, I want to talk about the importance of being trans and being happy. Nothing in my life gives me the joy that discovering at 62 I had been in the wrong body and now was in the right body. And what I need you to do is to protect me and that joy and all the trans children that are growing up in your community.

[00:08:49] The French Society of Endocrinologists two days ago announced that there is no reason to ban puberty blockers. There is no reason not to give children appropriate gender care. We need to keep that in mind. We need to care for our children. And so I am asking you to create a sanctuary county, to create a situation in which our children can feel safe and celebrated as who they are, and get to grow up to be the people that you want in your community to help grow it.

[00:09:19] And I remind you that we are looking for care for undocumented workers, for reproductive rights, and for queer safety and health care.

[00:09:29] Amie Annsa: My name is Amie Annsa, and I’ve been out as a transgender woman for the last 13 years. I’ve seen a lot of really great changes, and I’ve seen a few not-so-great changes, and we’re right in the throes of one of those right now.

[00:09:44] As a community, we are very scared. We don’t know if we can grow our family. We don’t know if we can get the surgeries and the hormone treatments that we need. I have four children, two of which are trans.

[00:09:59] One of them is currently doing hormone replacement therapy, and they’re 16. And it saved their life. And people will die, kids will die, if they’re not able to get the care that they need, and transphobia, unfortunately, is alive and well in Oregon and in Lane County. And although it is better in Lane County than a lot of other places, people who come here are often taken aback by anti-trans undercurrents.

[00:10:26] A lot of good work has been done by the state, city, and county governments, including the Equity Program Advisory Board being reinstated, and Lane County’s Equity Strategic Plan. It’s a great start, but it needs to continue and it needs to expand.

[00:10:40] We need to know that we’re going to be okay, and we need to know that you are with us. We need to know that no matter what happens under this new administration, that local government, which is the government that most affects people’s daily lives, is going to protect us and fight for us.

[00:10:57] There are so many organizations here in Lane County and nationwide, that are advocating for the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming people. But we can’t do it without you.

[00:11:07] I am echoing the statement that I support an enhanced sanctuary county for undocumented immigrants, freeing them from any federal immigration law enforcement and any cooperation with federal law enforcement. I also want protections for reproductive health care, LGBT and trans folks, especially when it comes to gender-affirming care, and then of course housing and job discrimination.

[00:11:33] And there’s just so much on the line here. I work with the community a lot in my volunteer work and we’re at a loss. We don’t know what to do. We don’t know who to talk to. We don’t know where to go. And people are coming here from all over the country because they know that Lane County is a place that cares about them and their values and their lives and their health. And I want that to continue. I’m desperate for it to continue.

[00:12:00] Nichi Linder: My name is Nichi Linder. My pronouns are she and her. I am here to address comments specifically made by Commissioner Loveall in the December 3 meeting, you said, Commissioner Lovell, that ‘Diversity is not Springfield’s top priority, inclusion is.’ You also said that ‘we don’t spend a lot of time talking about how we’re different,’ and that is very concerning to me. This is concerning to me because we are different. We have different needs and failing to recognize those do not actually make us more inclusive. It makes us less inclusive and less equitable.

[00:12:36] People struggling to put food on the table have much different needs than those who are figuring out where to invest their excess cash. Working families have different needs than those who do not need to struggle with paying or finding child care in a state that is made up of mostly child care deserts.

[00:13:00] Disabled folks like myself have different needs than those who are able-bodied, and refusing to acknowledge difference doesn’t make those needs go away, it simply prevents you from seeing them and governing in such a way that everybody’s needs are met.

[00:13:17] Without acknowledging diversity and the myriad ways our communities show up in the world, you are likely unaware that those needs even exist.

[00:13:27] For example, before I became disabled, I likely wouldn’t have noticed that this part of this building lacks elevators. And yes, I did see the wheelchair lift, and as an ambulatory wheelchair user, I would have used that if I was coming in with my chair, but it is not appropriate for those of us who are ambulatory, but still struggle with mobility issues.

[00:13:52] The three ADA accessible parking spots outside of this building were taken by the time I arrived, and I nearly had to turn around. I was running very late due to an inability to find parking here. I likely wouldn’t have understood that we need more accessible parking. I wouldn’t have noticed these things if I didn’t experience it myself, lived with someone who experiences it themselves, or heard from someone who experienced it themselves.

[00:14:26] Refusing to acknowledge diversity only leaves you with blind spots (and I apologize to the blind community if there’s a better way to say that). Without acknowledging difference, you cannot possibly expect to govern in an equitable way that takes everybody’s needs into consideration, because you simply won’t be aware of them.

[00:14:46] Our incoming president has stated that he intends to go after programs and funding that support our most marginalized communities. It will be absolutely incumbent upon our local leaders and imperative that you ensure our community does not suffer as a result of these attacks on programs and funding that ensure that we all have a fair shot in this country and in this county.

[00:15:10] Please do not take diversity out of diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is critically important to maintain everybody’s viewpoints so that you can understand our community’s needs.

[00:15:22] Kenji Shimizu: My name is Ken Shimizu and I wanted to talk about my experience with the equity program. I’m the owner of small photography business here in our community. For the past four years, I’ve been working on a project called The Diversity Project with the hope of creating a visual representation of underrepresented groups, and raising awareness of understanding of each community and the future generations.

[00:15:45] The first series of this project was showcased in downtown Eugene, the OSU Museum, and featured in publications like Vogue. The positive feedback I received from the community has been incredibly encouraging. It’s inspired me to continue, which is why I’m working on the second version now.

[00:16:03] Undertaking a project like this requires a significant amount of personal time, and producing large scale prints is costly for a small business, even with interest from local venues that are willing to display our work.

[00:16:17] Recently I was awarded funding from Lane County Equity Program, which has truly changed the course of this project. With this support, I can now produce the prints for the communities that are eager to showcase the importance of presentations. It’s also allowing me to photograph more community members with the potential of displaying these images in public spaces for those who might not engage with social media.

[00:16:42] This is the most significant support I’ve received for both my art and the cause I believe in. While these are not exact quotes, I’ve received feedback like, ‘It was so nice to see my people being represented,’ and ‘I finally felt like I’m not alone.’ Many people have reached out asking how they can be part of this project and share their own community stories.

[00:17:08] I believe that continuing to represent all community members visually will help foster familiarity, strengthen our sense of connections, and keep our community united. I came here to give a big thank you to the equity program for their invaluable support and providing all of us a sense of community and support. So many community members deeply appreciate what they do. Thank you so much.

[00:17:33] Presenter: Commissioner Pat Farr:

[00:17:35] Commissioner Pat Farr: I’m going to be asking for a statement or declaration regarding Lane County as a sanctuary county, which will include providing agenda time for local agency testimony. I’ll also be asking for a DOJ presentation on the Oregon sanctuary law and a discussion regarding the provision of gender-affirming medication in Lane County health clinics. And also a discussion on the security and employment of our local workforce.

[00:17:59] Presenter: Commissioner David Loveall:

[00:18:01] Commissioner David Loveall: I feel your fear, I feel your concern, I hear your concern, and I am committed to doing something about that.

[00:18:08] So I have been in my life in a position to where I understand the plights of many people on many different continents of my life; to pave the way for the care of people, to nurture their needs, and to stay with them to whatever level of success they aspire to.

[00:18:23] That’s been my life work as a missionary in this world and it continues to be my life work as a governmental official. So I am encouraged that you brought that to our attention and that you’re holding us accountable and I appreciate that because I need to be held accountable. I work for you.

[00:18:37] The thing that I think is a very interesting statement that Amie (Annsa) made was that we’re at a loss and don’t know what to do. But people come here from all over. So, I look at that statement and I hear what you’re saying and feel what you’re saying that sometimes we’re at a loss of what to do. But I think I also hear in that statement that Lane County is doing a lot right. If we’re not doing a lot right, then people wouldn’t be coming here.

[00:18:58] So I’m hoping that at least those words that I spoke today can at least subside some of your fears because, we have a Board of County Commissioners here that are committed to doing the right thing and that’s what I think we’ll be doing in the future.

[00:19:10] So I’m hoping that you’ll trust us and that you’ll allow us to make mistakes if we make mistakes and right the ship when we need to. But I think we’re on the right course.

[00:19:18] Presenter: Commissioner Laurie Trieger.

[00:19:20] Commissioner Laurie Trieger: I really appreciate everyone who spoke and particularly to my queer community. I have the privilege of a sort of passing queerness that a lot of the folks who came to present today do not have. And I very much appreciate you bringing your full selves, your joy, your anguish, your fear, your hope.

[00:19:36] My goal and my life’s work is to make a world where people don’t have to come and ask of folks with greater privilege and power to have the same rights that those folks sitting here at the dais have, that you’re not asking for our protection—it is a given. That you’re not asking for laws to change; that those laws that put those barriers and those inequities in place never passed in the first place.

[00:19:58] And I just want to point out, as well, when we talk about gender-affirming care, we can talk specifically about gender-affirming care for trans people, but gender-affirming medical care exists for all people. There are many, many people on a broad spectrum of all gender expressions and stages and ages of life, and gender-affirming care starts as simply as any one of us walking into a doctor’s office and being addressed by the pronouns that we use.

[00:20:23] Our clinics that we operate here at Lane County do provide gender-affirming care. And we do that also for folks who are in our custody, who are in the criminal justice system, whether they’re youth or adult.

[00:20:34] So, we are doing a lot right at Lane County, but you’re right, it is at risk for us as well because this incoming administration has made indications that are antithetical to the values that we hold here.

[00:20:45] And so we do need to put a local firewall around those protections. Many folks within our organization hold multiple identities, as do their family members. So we owe it to ourselves as an organization and to the constituents in the community to do this work.

[00:21:00] Presenter: Lane County commissioners will discuss becoming a sanctuary county.