Spokane council member rejects gender-affirming care ordinance with swath of amendments
Apr 9, 2025, 10:35 AM | Updated: 10:37 am
Spokane Council Member Jonathan Bingle is attempting to add five new amendments to an ordinance protecting gender-affirming care for LGBT communities. If passed, the amendments would further define policies around protections for transgender individuals.
“I have five amendments going forward, making it to where we affirm everybody’s access to gender affirming care,” Bingle said on “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH. “No. 1, it says no city dollars, directly or indirectly, should be used for puberty blockers. No. 2, it protects the parents’ right to know. No. 3, it protects conscientious objection. No. 4, it says no men in women’s bathrooms.”
Lastly, his fifth proposed amendment would bar men from competing in women’s sports.
Do the amendments have a chance at passing?
The legislation also defines sex as the biological indication of male and female, barring the use of phrases such as biological male or biological female. Although he doesn’t expect the amendments to pass, Bingle is worried the Legislature might snuff out the discussion entirely.
“Because there’s a super majority on our city council (and) they like to play procedural games, I have every indication that they might shut down debate early,” Bingle said.
Even though he is discouraged, Bingle is determined to bring his side of the conversation to light, even if the Legislature puts an end to his proposed amendments.
“Is it fair to say the intention behind all of your amendments is just about getting the conversation going and raising awareness?” Jason Rantz asked Bingle. “You don’t think any of your amendments will pass, right?”
“Correct, absolutely none of my amendments will pass,” Bingle answered. “And the frustrating thing about this is, like I said, this is largely regulated by state and federal agencies, so this is mostly performative. But every opportunity that I get, where I get to protect the vulnerable, i.e. women and children, I am not going to miss that opportunity. We’re going to stand up for those who are seemingly being overrun right now by an ideology.”
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