100 signatures reached
To: Springfield City Council President Michael A. Fenton, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and all Springfield City Councilors
Make Springfield a Sanctuary City for LGBTQ+ People
The Petition
We, the undersigned residents of Springfield, Massachusetts, respectfully urge the Springfield City Council to pass a resolution declaring Springfield a sanctuary city for LGBTQ+ individuals, with special protections for transgender and gender-diverse people.
What Sanctuary Status Means
By declaring Springfield an LGBTQ+ sanctuary city, our City Council would commit to:
What Sanctuary Status Means
By declaring Springfield an LGBTQ+ sanctuary city, our City Council would commit to:
✅ Protect healthcare access - Ensure LGBTQ+ residents can access gender-affirming care without fear of prosecution
✅ Refuse cooperation with discrimination - Not use city resources to enforce federal or state policies that harm LGBTQ+ people
✅ Maintain inclusive city services - Keep all city services accessible regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation
✅ Provide safe harbor - Offer refuge for those fleeing discriminatory laws in other states
Have Springfield Join a Growing Movement
Massachusetts has a proud history of LGBTQ+ leadership. Springfield would join other Massachusetts cities leading the way: Northampton (October 2024), Worcester (February 2025), Boston, Cambridge, North Adams & Pittsfield (March 2025), Greenfield and Salem (April 2025), Easthampton and Waltham (June 2025).
Massachusetts has a proud history of LGBTQ+ leadership. Springfield would join other Massachusetts cities leading the way: Northampton (October 2024), Worcester (February 2025), Boston, Cambridge, North Adams & Pittsfield (March 2025), Greenfield and Salem (April 2025), Easthampton and Waltham (June 2025).
Our Ask is Simple
We ask the Springfield City Council to:
We ask the Springfield City Council to:
- Pass a resolution declaring Springfield a sanctuary city and place of safety for LGBTQ+ individuals
- Commit city resources to protecting, not prosecuting, our LGBTQ+ neighbors
- Recognize the importance of gender-affirming healthcare as a matter of health, privacy, and equality and ensure that those rights are upheld for all residents and visitors to the greatest extent permitted by law
- Send a message that Springfield welcomes everyone with dignity and respect
Time is Running Out
With New Hampshire banning trans youth healthcare, the Supreme Court upholding Tennessee's ban on youth gender-affirming care and Trump’s trans military ban while also threatening marriage equality, and attacks on LGBTQ+ rights escalating nationwide, Springfield must act.
Our LGBTQ+ neighbors - including transgender youth whose lives depend on access to healthcare - need to know that Springfield stands with them.
Springfield is already showing leadership. Our city runs the Safe Spaces Program serving LGBTQ+ youth in grades 6-12 through summer and after-school programming focused on advocacy, social-emotional learning, and community building.
Sanctuary city status would strengthen and protect these vital programs while ensuring all LGBTQ+ residents have the safety they deserve.
Why is this important?
Why Springfield Needs to Act Now
Our LGBTQ+ neighbors are under attack. Recent events show why sanctuary cities are more crucial than ever:
- Supreme Court threats: The Supreme Court is being asked to overturn marriage equality in a case they'll consider this fall. SCOTUS has also upheld Tennessee's ban on youth gender-affirming care and Trump’s trans military ban
- Right next door: New Hampshire just became the ONLY state in New England to ban gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth, making Massachusetts a critical refuge for families across our border
- Nationwide bathroom restrictions: 19 states now restrict where transgender people can use public restrooms - increasingly people get harassed to prove their gender
- 988 LGBTQ+ Suicide Hotline Faces Funding Cut: HHS proposes ending government funding putting thousands of young lives at risk
- Local hate crimes: Even in progressive Northampton, Pride flags were stolen and burned in the streets
Springfield can be a beacon of safety and inclusion!
Sign this petition to show Springfield City Council that our community demands action.
Sign if you are:
· A Springfield, MA resident who supports LGBTQ+ rights (your signature carries the most weight with City Council)
· A Western Massachusetts resident who cares about regional LGBTQ+ safety
· Anyone who believes all people deserve safety and dignity
· Ready to make Springfield a sanctuary for our most vulnerable neighbors
Springfield resident signatures will be highlighted when delivered to City Council, with broader regional support noted separately to show the widespread concern for LGBTQ+ rights in our area.
Every signature matters - sign now and share with your friends, family, and neighbors across Western Mass!
Important Note: This is a community advocacy petition to demonstrate public support for LGBTQ+ sanctuary status in Springfield. This is not an official ballot initiative or legally binding referendum. The petition will be delivered to Springfield City Council to show community demand for action on this issue.
Organized by Rise Up Western Mass Indivisible (RUWMI)
Organized by Rise Up Western Mass Indivisible (RUWMI)
#SpringfieldSanctuary #LGBTQRights #MassachusettsValues
How it will be delivered
Springfield resident signatures will be highlighted when delivered to City Council, with broader regional support noted separately to show the widespread concern for LGBTQ+ rights in our area.