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WHEREAS, protecting transgender, nonbinary, and intersex persons and ensuring that they are able to live free of fear is a priority of the City of Pittsburgh; and,
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WHEREAS, transgender, non-binary, and intersex persons are valuable members of our community, all of whom contribute to Pittsburgh's vibrant diversity; and,
WHEREAS, the Trevor Project reports that every day, 1,920 LGBTQ young people attempt suicide, 73% have experienced discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and more than 2 in 3 transgender and nonbinary youth don't live in gender-affirming homes; and,
WHEREAS, at least five Pittsburgh-area radio stations continue to air a viscous anti-transgender advertisement paid for by the America First Legal Foundation; and,
WHEREAS, this transphobic advertisement is part of a nation-wide campaign to scapegoat the LGBTQIA+ community and in particular, terrorize transgender, nonbinary, and intersex persons; and,
WHEREAS, this advertisement ridicules life-saving gender-affirming care and promotes the false idea that transgender youth are a threat, when the facts are trans youth, in particular POC, are at the highest risk of violence, bullying, depression, self-harm, and suicide because of the bigoted climate in which they live; and,
WHEREAS, these radio stations have the ability to shape and influence viewpoints in our region and intentionally allow a despicable advertisement to air to their thousands of listeners; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh does not accept radio stations' defense that the advertisement is not an endorsement of the sponsor's values or opinions; and,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, Pittsburgh City Council unanimously denounces the advertisement targeting transgender, non-binary, and intersex persons and recognizes the harmful impact on these persons which may result from this hateful rhetoric; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Pittsburgh City Council calls on all the radio st...
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