Seattle passes protections for abortion and gender affirming care

The Seattle City Council has passed two pieces of legislation related to abortion protections and gender affirming care.

One measure makes it a misdemeanor to interfere, intimidate, or threaten someone seeking an abortion. The other measure adds new civil rights protections for those people, as well as those seeking gender-affirming care.

It also allows the city's Office of Civil Rights to investigate claims of discrimination against someone based on their pregnancy outcome.

The measures are slated to go into effect 30 days after Mayor Bruce Harrell signs them.

Both bills were sponsored by Councilmembers Tammy J. Morales, Lisa Herbold, and Dan Strauss.

Councilmember Tammy Morales also plans to introduce a proposal on Friday, Aug. 12, that would regulate pregnancy crisis centers to make sure they don't make false or misleading statements to people they are trying to dissuade from having an abortion.