Lake Worth Beach declares itself ‘sanctuary city’ for LGBTQIA+ community

LAKE WORTH BEACH, Fla – The City Commission of Lake Worth Beach adopted a resolution to become a sanctuary city for LGBTQIA+ individuals and their families during Tuesday night’s meeting.

The resolution passed unanimously led by Lake Worth Beach Mayor Betty Resch.

“The City of Lake Worth Beach continues to welcome diversity and encourages that all individuals in the City contribute to the quality of our lives and should be treated fairly, with respect and dignity, and with full human rights,” the report justifying the resolution reads.

“Due to the extensive state and local legislatures who have already introduced over 600 hateful laws targeting the LGBTQIA+ community the City strives to continue to honor a movement that has grown stronger, more vibrant, and more inclusive with each passing year,” the report added.

The resolution noted 491 related “anti-LGBTQIA+ laws” in 46 states have been passed during 2023, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

“In this hostile environment, cities, counties, and states across the country are taking steps to support and protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and gender-expansive people, especially youth,” the resolution reads.

The city’s proclamation follows a number new laws in Florida circling around LGBTQIA+ issues.

In education, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law prohibiting a school from mandating students or teachers use preferred pronouns not based on biological sex.

“We’re not doing the pronoun olympics in Florida. It’s not happening here,” DeSantis had said.

DeSantis also signed a bill requiring restrooms and changing facilities in K-12 schools be separated based on biological sex at birth. Republicans said the measure was in an effort to protect women in bathrooms.

Recently, the Florida legislature passed a bill to ban sex reassignment surgeries and medications for minors, which DeSantis ultimately signed.

“This is not science. This is a cult that is focused on the abuse of children,” the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Randy Fine, R-South Brevard County, said on the House floor.

In the city’s staff statement, Lake Worth Beach proclaimed itself as a “safe and welcoming” haven for the LGBTQIA+ community.

According to the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, Lake Worth Beach is the first city in Florida to adopt itself as a sanctuary city for LGBTQ+ people.