We, members of Concerned Clergy of Olympia (CCO), express our deep gratitude and support to the Olympia City Council for their recent resolution declaring Olympia a sanctuary city for the LGBTQIA2S+ community. CCO is a cohort of progressive clergy committed to social justice and collaboration between and through our religious traditions, and as spiritual leaders, we affirm the inherent dignity and worth of all people, and welcome this move to create a safe and inclusive community.

We are concerned with the growing proliferation of legislative and executive action targeting trans individuals and youth. Laws that seek to shame and exclude, and that target young people in particular, cause physical, emotional, and spiritual harm. We applaud the City Council for taking this action and lend our support as faith community members and leaders.

We celebrate the beloved wholeness of LGBTQIA2S+ persons and the respectful representation of history and culture within our faith communities, schools, public spaces, and our systems of medical and mental care for all people according to what is most supportive for them. We are committed to a societal vision of inclusion, welcome, and safety for all people and particularly call on allies and allied institutions, like the City Council, to continue to show up and stand up for the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

Acknowledging the previous resolutions proclaiming Olympia’s support and protection for immigrants and those seeking reproductive freedom, we once again join our voices with yours to proclaim that we are all created in the image of God, that the doors to our tent are open and wide, and that we must extend our sanctuaries to protect the most vulnerable among us.

– Presented to Olympia City Council on February 11, 2025