How Wichita’s mayor plans to handle Transgender Day proclamation this year

A proclamation recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility during Wichita’s City Council meeting Tuesday will be handled differently than it was last year.

Wichita Mayor Lily Wu said she arranged for District 1 City Council member Joseph Shepard, who’s openly gay, to read the proclamation — and that she’ll sign it during Tuesday evening’s council meeting.

Last year, Wu did not arrange before the meeting for a council member to read the proclamation, which the mayor typically does, and her signature did not appear on it.

“I will sign in-person — all proclamation are signed at the City Council meeting,” she told the Eagle.

Wu last year said that the proclamation “segregated” the transgender community, and said her name and signature line were removed from the proclamation because of a “clerical error.”

The city’s charter ordinance explains that the mayor has several duties, including presiding over council meetings and signing all resolutions and proclamations.

The situation last year led to major fallouts for the mayor, including being found in violation of the city’s ethics policy.

Shepard said he agreed to read the proclamation when the mayor asked because he wants to avoid the same debacle this year.

“I think it put a spotlight on our transgender neighbors that took away from them and celebrating them, and they don’t deserve that,” Shepard said.

Last year was the first time a proclamation had been issued to recognize Transgender Day of Visibility. The city has previously issues proclamations recognizing Pride Month, which Wu signed.

According to city documents, Shepard and council members Maggie Ballard, Mike Hoheisel, and Becky Tuttle all voted in favor, via email, of the proclamation being issued this year. Wu and council members Dalton Glasscock and J.V. Johnston did not respond to the email vote.