Upper Darby Township is the latest Pennsylvania municipality to aggressively come out in support of its LGBTQ+ residents. On Aug. 20, the township announced that it was declaring itself a “safe haven” for the LGBTQ+ community and for gender-affirming care.

The mixed Democrat and Republican Upper Darby City Council passed Resolution 30-25 unanimously. The resolution was spearheaded by Upper Darby’s first out LGBTQ Councilmember, Jess Branas, and community activist Kyle T. McIntyre.

To announce the vote, Branas and McIntyre released a press statement to the public that says, in part, “At a time of escalating attacks against LGBTQ+ communities nationwide, including record numbers of anti-trans bills, Upper Darby is making clear that hate and discrimination have no place here. The township is committed to protecting human rights, privacy in healthcare, and the dignity of every resident.

“By passing this measure unanimously, Upper Darby continues to lead as one of the most diverse municipalities in Pennsylvania and reaffirms its role as a community where all people regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, or background can live safely, authentically, and with pride.”

Branas, who introduced the Resolution in Council, expressed surprise at the unanimity of the vote.

“I was shocked, to be honest,” she said. “Especially when considering how conservative much of my district is. But delighted.”

The Upper Darby vote comes on the heels of the passage of similar resolutions elsewhere in the state. In April, Allentown was the first municipality to declare itself a safe haven in Pennsylvania, followed in June by Delaware County Council voting unanimously to pass a county-wide safe haven resolution (2025-09).

The language in Resolution 30-25 is surprisingly strong at points, a relative rarity for municipal resolutions, which normally tend to be polite, staid and dignified. For example, after laying out a forceful and detailed argument for the need for the resolution, 30-25 proceeds thusly:

“NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Upper Darby Township Council, and it is hereby ADOPTED and RESOLVED by authority of same that the Upper Darby Township Council (“Council”) firmly states its commitment to protecting human rights for all individuals and believes that access to healthcare, education, and peaceful enjoyment of their lives are fundamental rights to all people in the Township. The Upper Darby Township hereby reiterates its commitment to transgender rights and equal protections for transgender community members and declares itself a safe township and haven for transgender people to live and seek care; and

“BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Upper Darby Township shall now and forever be considered a safe place, a sanctuary, a welcoming and supportive township for LGBTQ+ individuals and their families to live in peace and comfort; and

“BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council hereby declares Upper Darby Township a Safe Haven for Gender-Affirming Healthcare…”

The resolution proceeds to lay out an extensive and detailed policy with regards to gender-affirming healthcare that protects privacy, guarantees protection and promises support for both those seeking healthcare and those providing it.

As was the case with the Allentown resolution, Upper Darby’s resolution calls on the state government to step up on this issue. The resolution specifically states “that the Council of Upper Darby Township calls on the Pennsylvania state legislature and Governor Josh Shapiro to pass and sign a ‘shield law’ to protect licensed professional gender-affirming healthcare. Under such a law, if someone travels from a state where licensed professional gender-affirming healthcare is banned and receives such care in Pennsylvania, this law will protect the recipient and/or healthcare provider against civil or criminal charges from the banned state…”

McIntyre said Gov. Shapiro has been silent on this issue, saying, “I know that he’s playing a political game, and this has to do with the governor’s re-election race next year — but I think his silence will end up hurting him. [Shapiro] has to do his job — that’s all we are asking for.”

Nevertheless, McIntyre sees the Upper Darby vote as an important win that will encourage people to keep up the difficult work of activism.

“If people see victories like this happening, and if they keep on working, they’ll see that the dominos will start to fall,” he said. “They’ll realize that we don’t have to live in the shadows.”

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