Shoreline WA – On Monday, Aug 17th, at their regular meeting, Shoreline City Council unanimously passed Res567 opposing Brian Heywood’s anti-trans, homophobic, and misogynistic initiatives I-001 and I-638, with Mayor Robertson and Deputy Mayor Pobee absent. Sponsored by Councilmembers Laura Mork and Chris Roberts, the effort is the result of a request to agendize and pass the collaborative Fortify!/No Hate in WA State model resolution made during Pride month in June.
What we asked for: Fortify! WA against Anti-Trans Initiatives and Wealthy Extremists
What we got: Res 567 Opposing 001 and 638 (amended staff report)
Councilmember Chris Roberts gave an impassioned speech about why he had cosponsored the resolution, relating his understanding of the difficulties faced by the Trans community. The other present councilmembers also shared their reasoning
behind their support, and that was all promising.
Unfortunately, while the resolution got the job done by registering the Council’s opposition to the initiatives, the language it used did not meet the urgency of the moment or the extremity of Brian Heywood’s efforts, unlike a stronger resolution passed by Tacoma in late July. That resolution both called it like it is (“genital exams”) and went a step further, directly encouraging Tacoma voters to vote against these initiatives in November (which, following their precedent, has been added to the Fortify!/No Hate model resolution).
Amendments made by CM Roberts improved the language and corrected errors, but its “neutral” language still risked whitewashing the reality of Heywood’s initiatives and normalizing the unreasonable.
So while Res567 is a victory, it’s bittersweet, as it was not the repudiation that these initiatives deserve. I believe having a stronger mobilization showing for the initial ask might have encouraged the council to take and use more of the model resolution’s provided language. In this case, it was a “quiet” ask the Shoreline Pride Raising event, unlike the large mobilization for the initial ask for February’s Res560 to protect immigrants.
The lesson: For many reasons, it’s ideal to build and show power for the initial ask.
The final resolution also chose to not take a stand on money in politics or encouraging voters to better vet the initiative petitions that they sign.
Another facet of this was the participation of allies.
Despite the risk that such public advocacy brings, the trans/queer community showed up to the meeting, sharing some horrifying stories of harassment/bigotry while advocating for themselves and their right to exist in peace.
Allies… not so much, which is a bummer. These initiatives are really bad, not just for the trans/queer community, but for girls and women as a whole. Soccer star Megan Rapinoe makes that case in no uncertain terms in her article Anti-Trans Legislation Isn’t About “Protecting Girls”—It’s About Distracting Us From What Matters.
There are more opportunities out there, however, so c’mon, allies, let’s show up. These are your city councils, your most local elected officials, folks who live in your community and, because of having been elected to local office, more likely to rise up the ladder.
If you’re concerned about who’s running for higher level office, then start looking at who’s running for city councils. In 2026, Rep Cindy Ryu and State Senator Jesse Salomon both started at Shoreline City Council. In the August primary for higher office, two Shoreline CC members and two Edmonds CC members were on the ballot.
I really hope that more allies will see the importance of turning out to see these resolutions agendized and passed. The next opportunity is Mountlake Terrace on September 17th.
So Mountlake Terrace folks, get your friends to sign the petition and show that they support opposing these initiatives. The best way to garner support: Get hard copy signatures. Go to local, friendly protests. Ask to table in front of the library or other public spaces.
Let’s be clear: Brian Heywood got (conned) almost 450 THOUSAND people to sign his petitions. Yes, they were paid signature gatherers, but that’s still a staggering number of people who were asked and consented to sign.
Edmonds, Lynnwood, Kenmore, and Woodinville have also shown interest in the effort, so let’s get LTBTQIA2+ allies and women/girls’ rights advocates on board with both showing support for the Fortify!/No Hate model resolution (online petition here) and showing up to YOUR city councils ask them to agendize and pass that resolution, letting them know this is important to you.
The trans community came out to advocate for their rights as well as the rights of cis-girls and women, especially those of color, because they see that, while they are the first target, the ultimate goal is the greater oppression of women.
It can’t just fall on our trans siblings to be doing this work to protect their rights and lives, as well as those of cis-girls and women. And we all need to be paying attention to our most local elected officials, who might just eventually run for higher office.
The Right has been historically very effective at targeting local officials and getting serious results, essentially using our own tools against us. We need to take that back, we have the platform of issues to do that, and Fortify! WA exists to make that happen.
Media Hits:
https://www.ospreynews.net/p/shoreline-council-rejects-anti-transgender-initiatives