ATHENS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio University students championed a resolution passed this month by Athens City Council declaring the city a "safe haven" for transgender people seeking gender-affirming care. The resolution was approved unanimously by city council on March 3, and calls on the city of Ath ens to advocate against criminal prosecution for those providing, seeking, or receiving gender-affirming care. Athens' resolution also advocates for policies that protect trans individuals from discrimination, for pop-up and travel clinics offering gender-affirming care, and to address "current and potential threats to the safety and the rights" of LGBTQ+ residents. "We've done in the past really strong, bold resolutions ... and so we have a track record of that and I think this is a great continuation of that tradition," said Councilmember Michael Wood, while thanking the various student groups who aided in drafting and building support for the resolution. DOGE cancels $699K OSU research grant examining cannabis use in LGBTQ+ women Athens residents and Ohio University students who spoke during the March meeting all advocated in favor of the resolution, including first-year student Indigo Steiner who said they knew they were transgender well before becoming an adult. Steiner grew up in Logan and said they weren't able to access gender-affirming care until moving to Athens. "Moving to Athens and subsequently getting access to gender-affirming care has drastically changed my life for the better," Steiner said. "My self-confidence, my quality of life have dramatically increased." Spencer Stein, a second-year medical student, pointed to research from The Trevor Project that found 61% of trans youth who were taking gender-affirming hormones were concerned about losing access to this care. Stein also cited the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, which found that 81% of trans U.S. adults have thought about suicide, and 42% have attempted it. "I am standing before you today, not only as a medical student desperate to ensure fair and equitable access to healthcare but as a transgender person seeking to be more than just another statistic," Stein said. Council's resolution notes that Athens is one of 13 Ohio cities that have banned conversion therapy, which are techniques that falsely claim to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. Cities like Athens have passed these conversion therapy bans because Ohio's Statehouse has yet to implement a statewide ban. Grove City to pay healthcare insurance costs for low-income residents Instead, the Statehouse has advanced legislation that opponents deem "anti-LGBTQ+," like a law to ban certain healthcare for transgender youth that was partially blocked by an appeals court on Tuesday. Other measures include an education law that advocates say will result in the "outing" of students and cause an increased number of LGBTQ+ youth to call a crisis hotline. Ari Faber, one of several trans candidates to run for the Statehouse last November, argued during the March meeting that these Ohio bills are why it was important for council to pass the resolution. "It tells transgender people that Athens is a place where they are valued, protected and affirmed. Community support, such as this resolution, saves lives," Faber said. "When cities like Athens step up to affirm and protect the right to this care, we provide hope." ...read more read less