Board of Commissioners Recognize Transgender Day of Visibility; Establishes Gender Affirming Policy Committee
Washtenaw County, MI – The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution that annually recognizes March 31st as Transgender Day of Visibility in Washtenaw County. For the past several years, the Board has recognized this day with a flag-raising ceremony on the morning of March 31st in front of the County Administration Building. The approved resolution will mark this day on county calendars every year moving forward.
“I am proud to be a part of our community where our elected officials are willing to annually recognize Transgender Day of Visibility and fly the Transgender Pride Flag over our government buildings,” said Jason Morgan, Commissioner for District 8. “It’s a symbol of our commitment to fostering a diverse and welcoming community, and a reminder that we have more work to do to improve the lives of transgender individuals in every corner of our County.”
In addition to recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility, the resolution also established a Gender Affirming Policy committee to work on creating and reviewing policies with a gender-affirming lens. The resolution specifically highlights the creation of a Gender Affirming Documents and Forms Policy to ensure the use of best practices for collecting sex and gender identity.
“Whether you work for Washtenaw County or are accessing services here, we want to make sure we are using best practices to affirm your gender identity and collect good information,” said Katie Scott, Commissioner for District 9. “In light of recent actions elsewhere to take away the rights and belittle the needs of the transgender and gender non-conforming community, the creation of a Gender Affirming Policy committee is an important step to ensure every individual is treated with dignity and respect in Washtenaw County.”
The Transgender Day of Visibility Flag Raising Ceremony will be held at the County Administration (220 N Main St, Ann Arbor) on the morning of March 31st. More details about the event will be released soon.
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The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners is comprised of nine elected officials representing different Washtenaw County communities. The current Board will serve from January 2021 through December 2022.
Click here to find the list of Commissioners by district.
You can stay up to date on the latest from the Board of Commissioners by visiting Washtenaw.org/BOC, or by following them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Contact: Peter Lindeman | [email protected] | 734-417-4021