LGBTQ Commission asks Seattle to declare state of emergency to increase resources for ->-bleeped-<-eshttps://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/05/lgbtq-commission-asks-seattle-to-declare-state-of-emergency-to-increase-resources-for-trans-refugees/ 🔗Faefyx Collington (21 May 2026)
The Seattle LGBTQ Commission has petitioned the city's mayor, Democratic Socialist Katie Wilson, to declare a civil state of emergency to accommodate the massive influx of LGBTQ+ people. More specifically, the group hopes to make available resources to support the trans, nonbinary, and two-spirit refugees the city has received from Republican-led states that have threatened trans rights.
In a letter to the Mayor, the Seattle LGBTQ Commission said, "Due to the rapid influx of 2SLGBTQIA+ persons seeking refuge in Seattle for increased safety needs, civil rights protections, and access to essential services, the Seattle LGBTQ Commission formally recommends that City leaders declare a civil emergency that ensures an effective and empathetic response to protecting these internally displaced persons (IDPs) at a time of urgent crisis for our community."
Since the 2024 election, a huge number of trans and nonbinary people have moved or considered moving from their home states to one with better trans protections. An October 2025 survey by the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) suggested that between November 2024 and June 2025, roughly 9% of trans people in the United States moved to a different state, with 43% considering a move.
Gallup estimates there are roughly 4.5 million trans people in the country, meaning over 400,000 people (and their families) have relocated. As anti-trans legislation has only ramped up since June 2025, it's safe to assume that the number of people relocating has also increased. Those people (including one LGBTQ Nation spoke to last year) are relocating to LGBTQ+-friendly cities like Seattle.
