Seattle city council allocates $300,000 in taxpayer funds for 'trans refugee crisis'

The Seattle City Council will allocate $300,000 in taxpayer funding to transgender and queer nonprofits to help with the so-called "trans relocation crisis." The budget amendment was unanimously approved on Tuesday.

The decision was made in response to LGBTQ activists who have been pressuring the city to assist with an alleged influx of transgender people, described as "trans refugees," who have reportedly moved to Seattle to escape conservative-run states that have banned taxpayer-funded sex change surgeries, particularly for minors.

The taxpayer funds will come from the city's JumpStart Fund, which offers housing assistance and economic recovery initiatives. The program began during the COVID-19 pandemic. It pulls tax revenue from the city's largest companies.

It's unclear which LGBTQ nonprofits will be awarded the money.

"I want to state to our queer and trans community directly. You belong in Seattle. I am glad you are here. You deserve dignity and respect, and we're going to do the work to live up to our promise of being a welcoming city," said Democrat council member Mercedes Rinck, who drafted the proposal.

In May, Seattle's LGBTQ Commission requested that Seattle’s socialist Mayor Katie Wilson declare a state of emergency over the trans relocation crisis. The group demanded services for trans newcomers, such as emergency financial aid, transportation, housing assistance, safety planning, legal help, community support, and access to sex change procedures. Wilson has not yet declared a state of emergency.

In response, Mayor Wilson's Office formed a "Trans and Queer Interdepartmental Team (IDT)" in July, a city-led initiative aimed at financially supporting the "transgender refugees." This includes cosmetic and elective procedures for transgender people.