Seattle Sues Trump Administration: GSBA Responds

GSBA Official Statement

On Thursday, July 31, the City of Seattle took the legal step of filing suit against the Trump Administration, challenging a federal rule that threatens to undermine local protections and funds for those seeking gender-affirming and reproductive care. At a press conference announcing the suit, leaders from across sectors stood in solidarity—and GSBA’s very own Gabriel Nueman (he/him) stood among them.

Representing GSBA and the LGBTQ+ business community, Gabriel delivered a powerful message: “Our access to health care should not depend on where we live, who we are, or who we love.” In just three minutes, Gabe spoke to the core of GSBA’s mission—economic equity, community connection, and human dignity.

He named what many of us know too well: that our communities, especially trans and gender-diverse people, have long faced systemic barriers to care. When those barriers are codified at the federal level, it takes all of us—business leaders, advocates, elected officials—to push back.

Mayor Harrell’s announcement was twofold: the City of Seattle is suing the Trump Administration over a proposed federal rule that undermines access to gender-affirming and reproductive care, and at the same time, introducing local legislation that would strengthen Seattle’s own protections in direct response. The proposed ordinance builds on previous laws from 2023 and sends a clear message—Seattle will not be complicit in discriminatory healthcare policy.

Gabriel centered what matters most: behind every policy are the people it impacts. “We have employees, entrepreneurs, and students who cannot afford to travel across state lines for basic health care,” he said. “Seattle must remain a place where they are safe, seen, and supported.”

We’re proud to have Gabe representing GSBA. His words echoed what so many in our city already know: that access to care must be protected for all, especially those most often denied it.

This isn’t about optics. It’s about safety, dignity, and real lives.

“Good morning,

My name is Gabriel Neuman, I use he/him pronouns, and I’m proud to represent the over 1200 members of GSBA, Washington’s LGBTQ+ and allied Chamber of Commerce. I want to thank Mayor Harrell, City Attorney Davidson, and City leaders for taking this bold and necessary action. I also thank you from a personal level as a member of the transgender community.

Let’s be clear about what’s at stake. President Trump’s executive orders attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion, and what they call “gender ideology,” are not just political stunts. They are direct assaults on our communities and on the systems that protect people from discrimination and allow them to thrive.

These federal directives seek to erase LGBTQ+ identities, silence conversations about systemic racism, and punish cities that believe in equity. And they do so by putting a price tag on our values through threatening critical federal funding that supports public safety, health care, small business recovery, education, and workforce development.

Seattle has never backed down from standing up for what’s right — not when it’s unpopular, and not when it’s inconvenient. We know that our strength comes from our diversity. We know that equity is not a side project, it’s the foundation of a thriving economy and a safe, healthy community.

In the LGBTQ+ business community, we’ve seen firsthand how inclusive policies lead to stronger workplaces, more resilient businesses, and better outcomes for everyone. When DEI is under attack, it’s not just a culture war, it’s an economic issue, a workforce issue, and a human rights issue.

This lawsuit isn’t about partisanship, it’s about partnership. It’s about protecting our city’s ability to serve everyone. It’s about ensuring that workers of every background are welcomed and respected. And it’s about defending our right to speak honestly about race, gender, identity, and history without fear of retaliation or funding cuts.

We thank the City of Seattle for taking a stand, not just for our community, but for every city, every nonprofit, and every worker who refuses to be bullied into silence.

Together, we are saying: discrimination has no place in our policies, in our contracts, or in our funding priorities.

Thank you.”

For any question, comments and concerns please reach out to Gabriel Neuman, JD; GSBA Policy Counsel and Government Relations Manager, gabrieln@thegsba.org

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