A growing coalition of advocates and community leaders are rallying behind a proposal to designate Calgary as a sanctuary city for LGBTQ2 individuals, providing crucial protections amid what some describe as an increasingly hostile political climate in certain regions of North America.
The initiative, spearheaded by Calgary-based advocacy group Queer Citizens United, aims to establish formal protections ensuring LGBTQ2 Calgarians and newcomers have guaranteed access to city services without discrimination, regardless of shifting political winds at provincial or federal levels.
“What we’re seeing isn’t just about creating symbolic gestures,” explains Maria Hernandez, executive director of Queer Citizens United. “This is about embedding concrete protections into our municipal framework that can withstand political shifts that might threaten vulnerable communities.”
The proposal emerges against a backdrop of increasing anti-LGBTQ2 legislation in American states and concerns about potential spillover effects into Canadian jurisdictions. Since 2022, over 500 anti-LGBTQ2 bills have been introduced in U.S. state legislatures, according to data from the American Civil Liberties Union.
Calgary City Councillor Robin Matheson has become the proposal’s most vocal supporter at city hall, arguing that municipalities have both moral and practical reasons to create formal safeguards.
“Cities are where people live their daily lives—accessing services, building community, raising families,” Matheson told me during an interview at her ward office. “When we establish sanctuary protections at the municipal level, we’re creating a baseline of dignity that can’t be easily dismantled, regardless of what happens in Edmonton or Ottawa.”
The sanctuary designation would ensure city services—from recreation facilities to transit and housing supports—remain accessible to LGBTQ2 residents without discrimination. It would also create formal training protocols for city staff and establish a dedicated office to handle reports of discrimination.
Public support for the initiative appears substantial. A recent poll by Urban Pulse Research found 67% of Calgarians support the sanctuary city designation, with strongest backing coming from residents under 45. Only 22% expressed opposition, while 11% remained undecided.
The business community has also shown remarkable engagement. Over 120 Calgary businesses have signed a public letter supporting the initiative, including energy sector players, tech startups, and hospitality venues.
“Creating an explicitly welcoming environment isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s smart economics,” says Terrence Wong, president of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. “Companies looking to attract top talent need to demonstrate their communities are safe and inclusive for diverse employees and their families.”
Not everyone supports the proposal, however. Faith-based organization Traditional Values Coalition has expressed concerns about religious freedoms, while fiscal conservative group Taxpayers First has questioned the costs associated with implementing new programs.
“We support treating everyone with dignity, but we have serious questions about creating special categories of protection that might infringe on religious expression,” said Pastor James Williams of Calgary Faith Alliance in a written statement to Mediawall.news.
The proposal’s backers counter that religious freedoms and LGBTQ2 protections aren’t mutually exclusive. “This isn’t about forcing anyone to change their beliefs,” Councillor Matheson emphasizes. “It’s about ensuring city services—funded by all taxpayers—remain accessible to all residents regardless of identity.”
Implementation costs remain a subject of debate. City administration estimates suggest establishing the program would require approximately $1.2 million annually, covering staffing, training, and community support programs. Advocates argue these costs represent a tiny fraction of Calgary’s $4.9 billion operating budget.
The sanctuary city concept isn’t unprecedented in Canada. Toronto established limited sanctuary protections for undocumented immigrants in 2013, and Montreal has implemented certain protections for vulnerable communities. However, Calgary’s proposal would be the first to explicitly focus on LGBTQ2 individuals.
Dr. Elena Martinez, a political scientist at Mount Royal University who studies municipal governance, sees the proposal as part of a broader trend of cities stepping into rights protection roles traditionally left to higher levels of government.
“What we’re witnessing is the municipalization of human rights,” Martinez explains. “As cities grow more diverse and face challenges from polarized politics at provincial and federal levels, they’re increasingly asserting authority to protect vulnerable residents.”
The proposal has particular resonance for transgender Calgarians like Sam Chen, who volunteers with the city’s LGBTQ2 youth support network.
“For trans kids especially, knowing your city has your back regardless of what’s happening in broader politics creates a foundation of safety,” Chen told me during a community forum at the Central Library. “It’s the difference between feeling like you belong somewhere and feeling like your existence is constantly up for debate.”
City Council is expected to debate the proposal next month, with a public hearing scheduled for June 18. If approved, Calgary would begin implementing the sanctuary framework in early 2025, potentially setting a precedent for other Canadian municipalities.
For Queer Citizens United’s Hernandez, the momentum behind the proposal reflects Calgary’s evolution. “This city has changed tremendously over the past decade,” she says. “Creating formal protections isn’t radical—it’s simply catching our governance up to who we already are as a community.”
