With LGBTQ+ rights on the chopping block during the next term, Councilmember Rue Landau is seeking input from the community aimed at reinforcing Philadelphia’s laws to safeguard vulnerable groups. Introduced on Nov. 21, Landau’s resolution authorizes the Committee on Law and Government to hold hearings with the intent of strengthening Philadelphia’s existing laws to protect immigrant rights, LGBTQ+ individuals and reproductive freedoms in the face of changing policies.
The Trump Preparedness Hearings are designed to bring together city officials, community leaders and advocacy groups to examine the existing policies and determine potential vulnerabilities. From there, proactive strategies will be developed to ensure Philadelphia’s laws do not fold in the face of federal law. With Project 2025 set to dismantle many existing protections, Landau is seeking input from fellow leaders who can help contribute to such precautionary measures.
“The big question is, what is Donald Trump going to do when he’s in power again, to try to roll back those protections and ensure that Philadelphia does not have the power to protect these groups?” asked Landau. “I’ve been a civil rights and housing lawyer for my entire professional career, and his plans that he’s already outlined, both verbally and in documents like Project 2025, are frightening.”
As Philadelphia’s first openly LGBTQ+ councilperson, and with a career devoted to advocacy, Landau is deeply impacted by Trump’s threat to upend existing rights. Utilizing her expertise as a housing and civil rights lawyer, Landau has spent decades assisting low-income families in Community Legal Services and Legal Aid, and by running two city agencies, including the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations and the Fair Housing Commission.
She has seen success working with government agencies like the Philadelphia Housing Authority, challenging them to help their residents by creating fairer laws for local families. The ongoing fight remains so personal to her because she has been involved in creating many of the protections that are being threatened by the new administration.
“I was one of many architects in building the civil rights legal structure that we have in order to ensure that Philadelphia is a wonderful place for us to all live, work and play, free from discrimination, bias and harassment,” she said. “All of this work has been done with intention, and it is outrageous and painful to think that our federal government will work to dismantle what we’ve done.”
Constituents that Landau has worked hard to build trust with are worried, calling and texting her office often as they face the fear of what is to come. She spoke of transgender residents who are worried about losing access to their hormones and of immigrants who are terrified of deportation. She described their alarm as substantiated in reality because of the messages coming from the incoming administration.
Landau wants to send a message to the public that the city will work to ensure that Philadelphia’s laws are strong enough to defend the rights of immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, reproductive rights and other marginalized members of the community. Getting input from these groups is a priority for Landau. She is seeking nonprofit leaders and activists, as well as city officials, to testify and speak about the real threats looming and what they think should be done to protect the constituency.
“Many of these leaders were running their nonprofits during Trump’s first term and they can give us important insight into what we need to do now to ensure that we’re protecting all Philadelphians,” said Landau. “Now it’s time for local governments like Philadelphia’s to stand up and say, ‘We are here to protect all of our communities, to make sure Philadelphia stands united and stands strong against any of the threats or attacks that come from the federal government.’”
This action comes after Landau spearheaded the LGBTQ+ Equity Hearings. This event was designed to push back against the threat of legislation introduced to restrict the rights of trans people, and address key disparities LGBTQ+ individuals face in housing, employment, education and health care. This groundbreaking event welcomed various speakers from the public to participate in testimonies presented by LGBTQ+ individuals.
There is not yet a date set for the Trump Preparedness Hearings, but they are planned to be held next month, before the inauguration, and will be open to the public.
“My reason for introducing the resolution is really a call to action,” Landau said. “We have to make sure that our city remains strong, standing against injustice and safeguarding our fundamental freedoms in Philadelphia.”
If you are interested in participating in the Trump Preparedness Hearings, contact Rue Landau’s office via email at [email protected] or by phone at 215-686-3420.
