To the Members of the Portsmouth City Council:

We, the undersigned residents, taxpayers, and stakeholders of the City of Portsmouth, Ohio, respectfully petition the Council as follows:

FIRST, we strongly urge Council to reject any resolution declaring Portsmouth a "Safe Haven" for gender-affirming healthcare. We believe it is not in the city’s best interest to pursue any municipal policy or resolution that seeks to offer special sanctuary or safe haven status for gender-affirming healthcare, for any individual. Furthermore, we are particularly concerned about any such resolution that does not explicitly exclude minors from its provisions.

As residents and stakeholders of Portsmouth, we want our city to support upholding Ohio's SAFE Act (Ohio Revised Code sections 3109.04, 3129.01-06), which was enacted to protect minors from irreversible medical interventions until they reach the age of majority. We believe any city policy or resolution that conflicts with or undermines the spirit of this important protection exceeds municipal authority and contradicts the best interests of our children.

SECOND, We, the undersigned residents and stakeholders of Portsmouth, respectfully petition the Council to pioneer and adopt a resolution declaring the City of Portsmouth a "Family Empowerment Community," affirming the primacy of parental rights in child rearing, and requesting the Administration to implement family-centered initiatives as a positive alternative that:

• Supports all families within our community
• Promotes family-centered and family-strengthening services
• Encourages a healthy community experience for children.

A sample resolution is provided below for consideration:

WHEREAS, the City of Portsmouth strives to uphold and promote strong families and create equitable policies that make Portsmouth a welcoming and supportive community for all families raising children; and

WHEREAS, parents and legal guardians have the primary right and responsibility to direct the upbringing, education, and healthcare of their children, with reasonable accommodation for the best interests of the child; and

WHEREAS, parental notification and involvement in minor children's healthcare and educational decisions are recognized by Ohio law (including Ohio Rev. Code section 3109.04, 3109.54, 3129.01–.06) as essential to children's welfare; and

WHEREAS, children benefit from stable, supportive family environments and the City has a vested interest in promoting the strength and stability of all families; and

WHEREAS, the City wishes to partner with diverse community organizations, family counseling services, and support agencies that provide "Family Empowerment" services to families without discrimination; and

WHEREAS, this Resolution is advisory in nature, requires no additional City expenditures, and is intended to guide the internal operations of City government within existing resources and in full compliance with federal and state law;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, OHIO:

SECTION I. DECLARATION OF POLICY 

The Portsmouth City Council hereby declares that the City of Portsmouth shall be known as a "Family Empowerment Community," affirming our commitment to parental rights, child welfare, and strong family support systems. This Resolution is a non-binding statement of principles that operates within the City's existing legal authority and does not create any new regulation, requirement, or private right of action.

SECTION II. GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

The Council encourages the Administration to consider the following principles in implementing existing City programs and services:

(a) Parental Notification 

• City-funded programs should maintain guidelines ensuring parents or legal guardians are notified and involved in healthcare and educational decisions affecting minors, subject to existing legal exceptions for emergency care or cases where notification poses a demonstrated risk to the minor.

(b) Family Support Services 

• Programs that strengthen families, including parenting education, financial literacy, youth mentoring, and family counseling services, may be prioritized within established budget allocations, ensuring such services are provided without discrimination.

(c) Community Spaces 

• Family-friendly environments should be promoted in City facilities.

(d) Child Protection 

• Policies that enhance child safety and welfare should be maintained, ensuring age-appropriate activities and materials in City-sponsored programs while respecting the diverse backgrounds of all families.

(e) Community Partnerships 

• Collaboration with faith-based and community organizations that provide family support services is encouraged, with clear requirements that all City-funded programs remain accessible to all qualifying families.

Conclusion:

While we strongly support nondiscriminatory services for all families, we submit this sample resolution as an alternative to any proposal that would establish Portsmouth as a sanctuary for gender-affirming healthcare for minors, in alignment with the spirit of Ohio’s SAFE Act and with respect for parents’ rights to direct medical decisions for their children. We recognize that a child’s environment plays a critical role in their healthy development and believe our city should actively serve as a positive, supportive environment where all children and families can thrive.

Petition Details:

1. When signing this petition, please enter the city where you currently reside. The petition welcomes signatures from both Portsmouth residents and other stakeholders in the city.
2. If you are a resident of Portsmouth, kindly include your Ward in parentheses after your city, for example: Portsmouth (1st Ward).
3. After signing, Change.org may prompt you for a donation. Please note that making a donation is completely optional and is not requested by the petition organizer. You may simply skip this step.
4. Photo Credit: Max-Sells.org