Ethics complaints filed against Mayor Lily Wu over transgender proclamation
At least three ethics complaints have been filed against Wichita Mayor Lily Wu over a proclamation recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility, according to the city.
One complaint that was obtained by the Wichita Eagle alleges that Wu violated the city’s code of ethics because the mayor’s signature was not on the proclamation.
“I just wanted to do something. I just needed to do something,” Wichita resident Helen Reicher said about filing the complaint.
Wu did not read the proclamation at Tuesday night’s meeting, a duty the mayor traditionally performs while presiding over meetings. Wu did read proclamations at the same meeting for Developmental Disability Awareness Month and Into the Light Day. The mayor’s signature line was missing from the Transgender Day of Visibility proclamation but the other proclamations contained it.
A city ordinance explains that the mayor has several duties, including presiding over council meetings and signing all resolutions and proclamations.
The complaint cites several parts of the city’s code of ethics including one that says city officials will “conduct themselves” to “maintain public confidence.”
Other parts cited address favoritism and remaining impartial on policy matters regardless of family relationships, business interests or religious affiliation.
“By selectively excluding a marginalized group while signing proclamations for others, the mayor has engaged in an action that unreasonably benefits or excludes specific groups at the expense of the city’s commitment to equity,” the complaint filed by Reicher reads.
Reicher said she doesn’t normally engage with city government, or even pay much attention to it. But as a queer Wichitan, and as someone with LGBTQ family members, she felt compelled to do so.
“All I want is for my kids to be able to walk about in the world, being their authentic self and being safe while they do it,” Reicher said. “It breaks my heart that I don’t feel that they are safe in my country anymore or my city.”
Ethics complaints are not made public until a final determination is made.
Before a determination is made, complaints are reviewed and investigated by the city’s ethics board.
“Multiple ethics complaints regarding the same issue likely would be combined in the investigation by the ethics board,” the city said in a statement to The Eagle.
The Eagle has reached out to the mayor for comment about the complaints.
Earlier Thursday, Wu said the proclamation “segregated” the transgender community.
This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 3:48 PM.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect that Mayor Wu did not refuse to read the proclamation at the March 18 City Council meeting, rather she yielded the floor to the members who voted in favor of the proclamation. The mayor has said that she did not ask for her signature to be removed from the proclamation about the transgender day and that its omission was the result of a clerical error.