The City of West Hollywood works diligently to defend the fundamental rights of its community members including LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, older adults, people of color, immigrants, women, and others.

Our city is one of the most outspoken advocates anywhere for the legal rights of LGBTQ+ people. More than 40 percent of residents in West Hollywood identify as LGBTQ+. We also pride ourselves on being a safe space for all, regardless of nationality or immigration status. The City has a commitment to promoting social justice and equal rights.

In 1984, West Hollywood Cityhood was proposed by an unlikely coalition of LGBTQ+ activists, AIDS/HIV healthcare advocates, older adults, and renters. These groups came together to form a city like no other with progressive policies and strong tenants’ rights protections. Through tireless determination, the City of West Hollywood was officially incorporated as an independent City on November 29, 1984. Previously, West Hollywood had been an unincorporated section of Los Angeles County. During its four-decade history, West Hollywood has become one of the most influential small cities in the nation. No other city of its size has had a greater impact on the national progressive public policy agenda.

There have been many “firsts” in the City of West Hollywood. West Hollywood was: the first city to ban Saturday night specials and assault weapons; the first city to declare itself a pro-choice city; the first city to call for marriage equality; where ACT UP gathered and planned protests; the first city to allow a medical marijuana collective in Southern California; and the first city in Southern California to declare itself a sanctuary city where refugees would always be welcomed.

Following the election of President Trump in 2016, and again in 2024, the West Hollywood City Council affirmed the City of West Hollywood’s commitment to its core values. At its regular meeting on Monday, December 16, 2024, the City Council of the City of West Hollywood unanimously approved several actions to respond to the incoming administration, which include:

• Reaffirming the West Hollywood’s core values of respect and inclusion for all people, especially those who have faced discrimination and marginalization and other vulnerable members of the community;
• Directing the City Manager to reconvene a staff working group to respond to proposed actions by the new presidential administration that may contravene the City’s core values;
• Authorizing the Mayor and/or City Manager to send letters on behalf of the City regarding policies, programs, and appointments that are contrary to the City’s core values and legislative priorities;
• Authorizing the City Attorney, at the City Attorney’s discretion and authority, to join the City of West Hollywood as amicus support (friends of the court) when requested in cases challenging actions from the presidential administration that are inconsistent with the City’s core value or legislative priorities; and
• Directing City staff to evaluate developing new programming and additional services in the case of programs being reduced or eliminated by the new presidential administration.

On September 15, 2025, the West Hollywood City Council received an update on the City's efforts to oppose the Trump Administration's measures that negatively impact the West Hollywood community, which include:

• Joined over 70 local governments and officials in an amicus brief in support of a nationwide injunction against Trump’s birthright citizenship order.
• Updated the City website (www.weho.org/resist) with information on the City’s actions and response.
• Signed on to US Conference of Mayor’s letter opposing H.R. 32, the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act.
• Signed on to a letter from Climate Mayors to Senate and House Tax Committees to save Clean Energy Tax Credits. Mayor Byers was 1 of 133 local government elected leaders from 39 states who signed on.
• Signed on to a mayoral letter to Congressional leadership on tax bill/reconciliation priorities.
• Signed on to Mayors Alliance's letter to Congress opposing cuts to SNAP, WIC & School Meals.
• Signed on to a local government letter in opposition to proposed changes to gender markers on passports.
• Adopted a resolution in opposition to the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to HIV prevent and treatment programs worldwide.
• Sent a letter to California State Assembly leadership on federal policies impacting arts, culture, and the humanities in California.
• Hosted a “Safeguarding Our Rights: The First 100 Days” Town Hall & Resource Fair” on April 29, 2025, which brought together leading advocacy organizations to discuss the immediate and ongoing impacts of actions taken by the Presidential Administration and was both broadcasted and livestreamed by WeHoTV on Spectrum Channel 10 and YouTube. Participating organizations included ACLU Southern California, APLA Health, CHIRLA, Equality California, Los Angeles LGBT Center, Planned Parenthood, and TransLatin@ Coalition.
• Hosted a news conference at City Hall led by Congressmember Laura Friedman’s office on the Restoring Essential Healthcare Act, a bicameral bill to reverse a federal ban on Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood clinics that provide reproductive health services.

The City regularly monitors actions by the Trump Administration that could negatively impact LGBTQ+ residents, people with disabilities, older adults, people of color, immigrants, women, and others who have been negatively targeted. Recent efforts include educating the community to Know Your Rights.  

During President Trump’s first term in office, the West Hollywood City Council approved a Resolution, in 2017, that called on the U.S. House of Representatives to initiate proceedings for the impeachment of President Trump. This came as a response to numerous violations of the Emoluments Clause of the United States Constitution, multiple violations of federal law as it relates to the employment of relatives, serious national security concerns resulting from potential interference with federal elections in 2016, and amid investigations of obstruction of justice. The City of West Hollywood joined cities across the nation in calling for the initiation of impeachment proceedings.

The City of West Hollywood has signed on to the Mayors’ Compact to Combat Hate. The initiative is led by the Anti-Defamation League and The United States Conference of Mayors and is aimed at fighting extremism and bigotry and promoting the fundamental principles of justice and equality that define the United States of America.

The City focuses on proposals that signal a dramatic shift and stand in direct contradiction to West Hollywood’s core values.

The City has always been safe haven for those seeking refuge from persecution and has been committed to operating under the spirit of a sanctuary city by not participating in any effort to deport immigrants living or working in the City.

The City will continue fighting vigorously to protect the lives and well-being of its residents, community members, and people across the nation and the globe who identify with West Hollywood’s core values.